Adult learners and tutors working on job applications and career research at the Literacy Alliance Learning Lab.
Literacy and continuous learning are foundations for adult learners with goals of improving their quality of life and career potential. Recognizing the power of building individual skills and identifying job opportunities, two major grant makers invested in the Literacy Alliance’s Integrated Education and Training (IET) program.
The Kenan Trust focused its investment on increasing community access for adult literacy and education and an evaluation of student retention to identify ways of supporting learners over the long term. Mr. Kenan believed that, “A good education is the most cherished gift.” The Trust understands that not everyone got the chance at that education early in their lives. Robby Russell, Grant Officer for the Trust says, “The Foundation Trustees were very interested in the innovations the Literacy Alliance put in place. Their foresight increased access to adult education. The Trust wanted to provide them the opportunity to continue those innovations to increase student persistence in their education.”
This partnership with the Foundation will also be joined with a related grant from the United Way of Northeast Florida to implement the first job placement effort in our community for adult learners who are also working toward attainment of their diploma at the same time.
With both of these investments, the result will be a holistic continuum from basic skill building to job placement and economic security for adults in the Northeast Florida community.
