Rewriting the Future
Literacy service providers, educators, business leaders, legislators and passionate volunteers are determined to break the intergenerational cycle of low literacy in our state.
Literacy 2030 unites these stakeholders under an admittedly aspirational and yet important goal — reaching 100 percent literacy in the Midlands of South Carolina by the year 2030 — and works to connect, equip and support them for the journey.
The Community Foundation believes in the power of collaboration to change lives. By gathering the varied spectrum of literacy nonprofits around one common goal, we improve organizational efficiency, grow community awareness and transform lives in the Midlands.
The Foundation undertook a six-month regional planning process that brought the community together to address an issue so large that no one organization can solve it alone. We worked with the national organization Literacy Powerline to assist in this process.
We now have several reports that, together, help paint a picture of the state of literacy in the Midlands and its efffect on our community. The Needs Assessment Report outlines what literacy services are available in each county and what services are missing. This report also defines benchmark steps along the journey to 100% literacy by 2030.
The Economic Impact Study from The University of South Carolina School of Library and Information Science focuses on how literacy and education impact our state and local economies.The Funding Analysis Report will enable organizations to view funding sources for all organizations and also determine what additional funding opportunities are available.
In addition to the reports for the Community Foundation, the literacy service providers who participated in this planning process determined goals and priorities they wish to pursue both individually and collaboratively. These are outlined in their Regional Literacy Plan.
The indicators for how we measure the success of Literacy 2030 throughout the next 18 years are outlined in these reports. The research will help us to determine ways to strengthen what is working, fill in the gaps of what is not working and focus on next steps to bring us to 100% literacy. These reports will assist us on the journey to improve the literacy rates in the Midlands, thus positively impacting our education system, our economic future and the stability of our state.
We believe that by 2030, we will see a community transformed. In March we will unveil the literacy plan and the next steps to move us toward our goal.
Get involved: join us in transforming our community by 2030