History

In 1982, the Tacoma Community House Training Project was founded to provide volunteer ESL and literacy tutor training, materials, and technical assistance to programs in community-based organizations and community colleges throughout Washington State. In March 2006, the Training Project changed its name to the Literacy Network Of Washington (Literacy NOW) and added an adult literacy hotline and directory.

Annually, Literacy NOW conducts 70 workshops for 1200 participants from over 50 organizations statewide. These workshops and materials prepare 800 new volunteers to teach literacy, ESL, citizenship, and Talk Time in individual and group settings to 3,500 adult students. Additional volunteers and program staff attend literacy and ESL inservice and program management workshops. Literacy NOW also conducts intercultural communication in the workplace and library workshops.

The Literacy Network Of Washington Adult Literacy Hotline and Directory includes information about 110 organizations and the adult literacy instruction they provide at over 200 sites in Washington.

Funding

Literacy NOW’s literacy and ESL training and resources receive annual funding from the Washington State Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Section of DSHS and the Office of Adult Basic Education at the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. These services are available to literacy program managers and volunteer ESL and literacy tutors committed to eligible programs.

The Literacy Network Of Washington Adult Literacy Hotline and Directory received a portion of its start-up funding from Verizon and the Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Section of DSHS.