Portland Literacy Council

Mission

Portland Literacy Council supports adult literacy to foster a thriving and equitable community. 

Bottom Line for Portland

Literacy enables us to function in society, to achieve our goals, and to develop our knowledge and potential. Unfortunately, 20% of adults in America have low literacy levels. This means 1 in 5 of us struggle to fill out a job application, read a prescription bottle, or help our children with homework. The impact isn’t just on the individual but extends to economic growth, workforce readiness, and healthy communities.

And low literacy is a problem right here in Oregon. Nearly 250,000 adults do not have high school credentials and over 160,000 Oregonians do not speak English very well or at all. There are almost 74,000 Oregonians without high school credentials and who do not speak English. Tutors who have taken Portland Literacy Council training classes are able to meet the needs of these community members through 1:1 tutor and online small group sessions as well as in-classroom teaching assistants.

For 31 years Portland Literacy Council has been working to improve adult literacy and change lives for the better by training volunteer tutors. We offer high-quality, low-cost courses to prepare tutors for English language learning, GED readiness and adult basic education. Partners across the Portland metro area such as Portland Community College, Multnomah County Library, and Beaverton Literacy Council rely on the training we provide to prepare the tutors they need to deliver their programs.  PLC is unique in its role in the Portland metro adult literacy community. We train as many as 300 people each year and those tutors go on to work with multiple learners.

Quote

"I really benefit from this development hour in improving my language. Yes, my language is getting better, and I'm learning a lot. The teachers (and tutors) with us are very kind, and we truly thank them for their efforts. It's a wonderful and clear benefit for all of us." ~Ahmed A. PCC student

Incentives

10% discount off purchase for PLC constituents at Broadway Books during Nov, Dec and Jan.

Partner(s)

PLC is excited to partner with:

• * Broadway Books for a special 10% discount on purchases for participants.
• * Street Books as we collaborate to provide tutors for ESL or non-English speakers.
• * Literary Arts -visit our booth in the Exhibit Hall at the annual Book Festival!
• * Library Foundation in collaborative efforts to raise literacy rates among families in our local communities.
• * SOAR Immigration Legal Services is a long standing partner of PLC, providing tutors and training for people studying for the Citizenship exam.