Most of us take for granted our ability to read the morning newspaper or a good book before bed. But for a number of reasons, illiteracy affects a surprising number of central Illinois adults. To help stamp out the problem, Common Place and the Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception have formed a partnership that's benefited hundreds of our friends and neighbors-and is still going strong.

Common Place: A History of Help

Most people are shocked to learn that 48 percent of U.S. adults have inadequate or marginal literacy skills, and more than 4 million adults in Illinois are functionally illiterate, said Connie Voss, director of Adult Programs at Common Place. "More than 26,000 adults in Peoria County don't have a high school diploma and lack sufficient reading skills. In the immediate neighborhood of Common Place, where more than 1,200 families live below the poverty level, nearly 550 adults have less than a ninth-grade education. Your neighbor or someone you work with might fall into one of these categories. The inability to read is less obvious than you might think. One survey showed that 68 percent of the illiterate adults surveyed had never even told their spouse that they couldn't read."

It can be difficult for reading adults to understand what life would be like without reading, she said. "Can you imagine not being able to read a medicine label, a street sign, or your child's notices from school? How many times have you had to complete forms in your daily life in the last month? While some non-reading or low-reading adults might have particular reading challenges, many just lacked opportunity as a youth. They may have worked at an early age, had a family that moved frequently, stayed home to help the family, had a poor home environment, had medical problems that kept them out of school, or had bad school experiences. Like poverty, illiteracy is often an intergenerational problem, perpetuated by a family that doesn't value education or lacks the skills to promote it. These aren't just problems of yesterday. They're still with us. Adults who learn to read usually feel that a whole new world has opened to them. Learning to read can be a life-changing experience."

Addressing illiteracy is a perfect fit for Common Place, known throughout the community for its work with children and families. "The agency was established by a group of people from various churches in 1967," Voss said. "Today, the agency is supported not only by area churches, but also by individual and group donations, foundation contributions, grants, and fund-raising events. Common Place encourages a lifestyle of love and concern for others that recognizes the dignity and self-worth inherent in each person, while striving to eliminate the causes of poverty and other social injustices through educational programs."

This vision empowers adults and children to enhance their self-esteem, attain self-sufficiency, and seek to serve others and their community, she said. "Some of the programs working toward these ends are the Adult Literacy Program, ABC Family Literacy Program, Food Pantry and SHARE, Home Improvement Program, and enrichment and tutoring programs for students from kindergarten through high school. More than 1,900 children and 4,000 adults have been empowered for success through the programs at Common Place."

The Adult Literacy Program has been in existence at Common Place since 1979, when two neighborhood adults asked for help in reading letters from loved ones, Voss said. "The Adult Literacy Program was born, and the demand for literacy instruction still remains strong. Adult literacy enhances individual self-worth and enables adults to be successful and productive members of the community. It's an integral part of the mission of Common Place and the agency's dedication to education and individual empowerment."

The partnership between the Sisters and Common Place began a decade ago, explained Sister Mary Luke Kapraun, coordinator of the Franciscan Adult Literacy Center. "In 1994, our community leadership team for the Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception (Heading Avenue Franciscans) attended a leadership conference for religious women. At this conference, a retired Sister spoke about her ministry of tutoring adults in reading. The Sisters came home very enthused. After researching a number of already existing programs in the local area, the Common Place staff was approached about our working with them. They welcomed our willingness to volunteer, and thus began our relationship."

Progress at Their Own Pace

The Common Place Adult Literacy Program provides volunteer-based literacy instruction to adults who read and compute below the ninth grade level, Voss said. "Adult learners meet one on one with volunteer tutors or in small group classes for basic reading skills, math, life skills, computer skills, and/or enrichment activities. Study is tailored to the individual and facilitated by trained volunteer tutors. Tutor and learner pairs meet twice weekly at a time agreeable to both. Most pairs meet at Common Place or at the Franciscan Literacy Project, but some meet at libraries, churches, or other mutually agreeable locations. Learners and tutors are not only from Peoria, but from surrounding counties as well."

For their part, Kapraun said the Sisters renovated their former chapel area into a quiet setting in which a Sister can work with an adult learner. "Presently, we have six Sisters tutoring. Each has a full-time ministry but finds time to work with one to two students each week. Each adult learner comes with a specific goal: passing the GED, learning to read better, learning basic math skills, studying the Illinois Rules of the Road, filling out applications for employment or medical records, discussing parenting skills, writing a check or reading a bank statement, reading a magazine or newspaper, or even reading instructions on using a cell phone or CD player."

Voss said in addition to the help currently being offered, the literacy partnership will soon incorporate even more. "Health literacy, which is the ability to read, understand, and act upon health information, is being added to our program activities, and the agency is partnering with community entities to spread awareness of health literacy needs."

The length of time students are enrolled varies according to individual needs, she said, ranging anywhere from a few months to a few years. "While the focus is literacy, Common Place operates as a learning community and helps develop the whole person through speakers, field trips, adult learners conferences, community service, and involvement in the annual Peoria Reads! project."

In addition to the Sisters and Common Place staff, Voss said the Adult Literacy Program thrives with the help of more than 100 dedicated volunteer tutors yearly, who devote weekly time and effort to help improve the lives of others. "All volunteer tutors receive extensive training and are carefully matched with adult learners."

Adult students are recruited to the program in a number of ways, Voss said. "They come to us through churches and community organizations, through advertising on bulletin boards and elsewhere, as well as by referrals from other adult education entities that serve higher level students. Many learners know of us by word of mouth from friends or family whose lives have been bettered by Common Place programs."

Beginning-and continuing-the literacy program isn't easy for many of the participants, however. Kapraun said, "Some challenging factors for the adult learners include coping with family problems, children's illnesses, lack of a babysitter at class time, lack of transportation, and being involved with meetings for rehabilitation support groups. These can all interfere with class."

Voss said the biggest challenge the tutors face is that adult learners typically have many past and present barriers to success. "These include poverty, learning disabilities, home environment, medical problems, or basic survival issues. And they're often coupled with low self-esteem and inexperience with success. While these barriers can be the most challenging aspect of the program, watching individuals overcome these barriers and reach their goals is definitely the most rewarding part of the program."

Kapraun agreed. "It's wonderful to witness the success stories: some pass their GED or driver's test, get a better job with benefits, or even go on to a local college. Self-confidence and self-knowledge begin to blossom with each success, no matter how small it may be. Watching these individuals use their gifts and potential is very rewarding. To these adult learners, we're tutors, but we also become a trusted friend and a willing listener. The support we give can be a great motivation for the adult."

For more information on tutor training, call 674-3315. TPW