Mayor Gray has been promoting this idea of DC being one city. I am sure that the mayor and myself have different ideas on how to make this idea possible. The mayor will be having a summit Saturday February 11th where perhaps he will highlight his ideas and concerns, but I will address one of my main issues with DC which is its low literacy levels.
Everyone should have the opportunity to be an effective worker, family member, partner in their children’s education, and citizen. DC has the unique characteristic of a very polarizing community with one of the highest number of college graduates as well as one of the lowest literacy levels in the United States. One in five adults in the district lacks a high school diploma, and one in three adults cannot read a newspaper or a map, much less complete a job application. The need for adult education programs is great. It is our belief that there are connections between adult low literacy and many of the social challenges facing the District today. Adult Education strengthens the workforce and economic development with learners achieving significant annual wage gains within 18 months after leaving the program. This increase in development helps to sustain the local economy.
Without the necessary resources it is impossible to make a significant difference in adult literacy within the District. Restoring $1.2 million to adult literacy can pay big dividends to the entire community. This renewed commitment to adult literacy by the government will return itself in greater DC achievements in the education of children and the increased workforce of the District. By promoting the value and benefits of an equally literate population in our community every day and advocating for increased investment in adult and family literacy programs we can improve our community as a whole and achieve our goal of making one city possible.
--Krystal
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