OUR MISSION:
The South Baldwin Literacy Council is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, dedicated to providing literacy instruction to help people in our community make a better life for themselves and their families.
OUR STORY
The South Baldwin Literacy Council was established in 1983 as a volunteer-based, non-profit organization. We serve the communities and residents of Baldwin County, Alabama through a wide array of educational services and programming. Through the generosity of donations and grants, the South Baldwin Literacy Council provides services at a low-cost or free-of-charge for local residents. Our mission is to empower community members of all ages, races, and backgrounds through educational equality.
Currently, the South Baldwin Literacy Council is composed of seven staff members, a board of directors, and a large network of volunteers who work together to improve the lives of students in our community. We are committed to meeting the learning needs of our community - specifically South Baldwin County. We offer services to learners of all ages, backgrounds, and educational levels. We currently offer a variety of Adult Education Classes, ESL Classes, Youth Educational Programs, and an in-person and online GED Program. Please click here to learn more about upcoming events.
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As we embark on our fortieth anniversary, we look forward to highlighting the many accomplishments that the South Baldwin Literacy Council has made over the last forty years. In addition, we would like to take the time to thank our sponsors and volunteers for their support. Without your donations - financial and temporal - we would not have been able to continue this valuable effort over the last forty years. We eagerly anticipate continuing the good work that has been done. If you would like to join us in improving the lives of Baldwin County residents, please click here.
COMMUNITY NEED
Illiteracy is a vast issue in the United States that is staggering and widely unknown. More than 43 million adults in the United States cannot read, write, or do basic math above a third-grade level. Low literacy skills impact far more than the individual. The societal impacts of low literacy rates are increased rates of poverty, crime, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and medical and mental health costs (NCES, LiteracyCenter, 2018). The South Baldwin Literacy Council is located in Foley, AL. Despite this, our impact stretches across all of southern Baldwin County. Ten percent of Baldwin County residents left high school prior to earning their high school diploma - leaving a large population of students seeking to earn their GED. Local schools have large populations of students that are unable to read on grade level. This fact alone qualifies these students for our one on one reading intervention services. Furthermore, students who are unable to read proficiently by the third grade are four times more likely to drop out prior to graduation (ProLiteracy, 2019). In addition, these previously prevalent issues were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. When classrooms transitioned to virtual learning, many students struggled. Younger students fell behind and older students left school in their frustration. The services that we provide cater to students from all educational backgrounds and levels. Approximately five percent of Baldwin County's population is comprised of those with Hispanic or Latino origins. A large portion of this population eagerly wants to learn English to improve their employability, enhance their communication skills, and ultimately become better and more involved community members. The South Baldwin Literacy Council also partners with various substance abuse facilities, homeless shelters, and other non-profits in the area to increase our impact. Learn more about literacy in the United States, here.
OUR TEAM
The South Baldwin Literacy Council is composed of seven staff members, a board of directors, and a large network of volunteers who work together to improve the lives of students in our community. Each of us contributes to the overall mission of the South Baldwin Literacy Council in various ways. From tutoring to administration, fundraising to arts-and-crafts, we are always working to improve the lives of those around us. Click the links below to learn more.