By Jessica Kitchner
In Genesee County, nearly 1 in 5 adults struggles to read above a basic level. In Flint, the rate may be as high as 1 in 3. These aren’t just alarming statistics. They’re silent gatekeepers, holding people back from opportunity, employment, financial stability, civic engagement, and – most importantly – the dignity that comes from navigating life with confidence and independence.
So ask yourself: What does literacy actually look like?
It’s reading a bedtime story. Helping with homework. Attending parent-teacher conferences.
It’s navigating medical forms, understanding a paycheck, and managing emails and finances.
It’s casting a vote, texting a friend, following a recipe – even reading this article.
Literacy is a human dignity.
These are everyday acts many of us take for granted, yet they remain out of reach for too many. Literacy goes far beyond reading and writing. It’s confidence. It’s agency. It’s the ability to parent, to work, to vote, to heal, and to hope.
We live in a world saturated with data. As professionals, we absorb statistics, graphs, and trends – but in doing so, we can forget what those numbers actually represent. Behind every data point is a person. A family. A future. I could fill this space with distressing figures about literacy rates or workforce readiness. But instead, I want to focus on something far more human: untapped potential.
We know the number: 100 hours. According to national research by ProLiteracy and Dr. Stephen Reder, just 100 hours of adult literacy instruction can lead to an average $10,000 increase in annual income. These are dollars that flow directly back into local commerce. Learners are more likely to earn credentials, pursue workforce training, find employment, and support their children’s education. Literacy isn’t just personal. It’s economic infrastructure.
That’s the threshold – the catalyst where confidence builds and change begins. But learners don’t get there alone. That’s why the Flint & Genesee Literacy Network is launching the Volunteer Tutor Alliance – a grassroots initiative to recruit, train, and place volunteer tutors across our region’s Adult Learning Centers and throughout the county. When 100 hours of tutoring meets 100 hours of determined learning, we don’t just move test scores. We move lives. When adults gain literacy skills, the benefits ripple across generations. A parent’s literacy is one of the strongest predictors of a child’s success. In Flint, where 62% of children under age 5 live in poverty, we can’t overlook adult education. If we want strong students, we must invest in the adults in their lives.
The region’s top job skill? Communication, as listed in over 21,000 job postings this quarter. And communication starts with literacy. Without it, adults are shut out of jobs they’re capable of doing. In Flint, investing in adult literacy isn’t goodwill. It’s workforce strategy. No literacy, no workforce.
Literacy is not a luxury. It’s a strategic investment in the health, workforce, and future of our region. Literacy is everyone’s business. Every hour matters. Every relationship matters. 100 hours can change a life. 100 hours can uplift a family. Together, we can transform our community.
If you’re effortlessly reading this, you’re experiencing a privilege we rarely talk about: literacy. Think about that.
Awareness is the first step, but action must follow. Literacy shapes everything from workforce readiness to a child’s future. Help us turn awareness into impact. Support the Volunteer Tutor Alliance by volunteering, donating, advocating, or simply sharing the need. Learn more at FlintLiteracyNetwork.org.