For 25 years, nonprofit educates those who fall through cracks | Community Spirit

“Two years ago, I could barely say ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ in English,” Joares Lass said in a 2009 speech. “The smallest daily activities used to be a real challenge for me: eat, ask for direction and find a job.”

Lass wanted to learn in order to be a better father for his son and feel better about himself, but he could not afford tutoring classes. Then he found Fremont’s Literacy Source. He improved his English, earned his GED and started classes at Renton Technical College.

“Today, I have clear goals and conviction in my own potential,” Lass concluded his speech at the 2009 Literacy Source Annual Breakfast. “[Literacy Source] is improving our community.”

Literacy Source, a nonprofit community learning center, was founded in a basement at St. John’s Lutheran Church on Phinney Ridge. They had an electric typewriter, child-sized chairs and a small budget.

On May 4, Literacy Source is celebrating its 25th anniversary. In the past quarter-century, it has grown into an independent nonprofit with its own home at 720 N. 35th St. across from the Fremont Library and a $500,000 annual budget, all the while providing free education to non-English speakers and others who have fallen through the cracks of public education.

“Our mission is even more important now, 25 years later, than it was when we started,” said Ann Helmholz, founding executive director of Literacy Source. “There is a real need for continued education.”

Literacy Source offers classes in adult basic education, English as a second language, speech, computer skills, workplace skills and much more in order to help learners hold jobs, earn a living wage and contribute to their community.

Keenan McAluney, Literacy Source development director, said the organization’s volunteers try to tailor their instruction to what their students need at that point in their life or job.

Helmholz calls it “just-in-time learning.” People come in and say they have something they need to accomplish in their life, and the volunteers help them achieve that goal, she said.

The more than 200 “incredibly passionate” people that volunteer their time at Literacy Source are the reason it was able to reach 25 years, Helmholz said.

Newby Herrod, a former Literacy Source board member who started volunteering with the organization in the mid-90s, said the nonprofit has always been volunteer-focused. It makes sure volunteers feel involved and that what they are doing is important.

The just-in-time learning system helps with that sense of satisfaction, said McAluney, who started as a volunteer himself.

“As a volunteer, it’s so rewarding to see adults immediately apply what they are learning,” he said.

Herrod said there aren’t too many adult-focused education programs. But in many cases, it can be more important to tutor an adult than an 8-year-old because the knowledge and skills imparted on an adult trickle down to their family and community, he said.

“I don’t know about you, but I didn’t learn how to read in school,” Herrod said. “I learned to read sitting on my parents’ and my grandparents’ laps.”

When Literacy Source started, it concentrated on people who had trouble reading and writing, especially non-English speakers, Helmholz said. Now, because of the incredible change in requirements for what is needed to get a living-wage job, provide for a family and get along in the world, the organization has had to branch out to include more people and more skills, she said.

Literacy used to be being able to sign your name; now there is so much more to it than that,” Helmholz said.

Despite the changing demographics of Literacy Source’s learners, the need for adult education services isn’t going anywhere , Herrod said.

“There’s always going to be a need for Literacy Source,” he said. “If you can’t read and you can’t do simple math, you can’t get a job.”

But, like with most other nonprofits weathering the recession, Literacy Source’s future is up in the air.

Because of the debate at the state level over funding education versus funding other needs, Literacy Source needs financial support to keep the lights and the heat on and make sure its learners have a place to study, Helmholz said.

McAluney said he hopes the community is informed about the need for adult literacy programs and will make use of one of the many opportunities to get involved and show their support.

Literacy Source has never been bold enough to create a 10-year plan, Herrod said. He said the goal has always been to just make sure the doors will be open tomorrow.

“Let’s hope we have a 50th,” he said.

The 2011 Literacy Source Annual Breakfast takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. May 4 at Seattle Pacific University. 2011 Librarian of the Year Nancy Pearl will be the guest speaker. To reserve a spot at the breakfast or make a 25th anniversary donation, visit the Literacy Source website.