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Help an adult improve their English and their life

The Literacy Connection needs more volunteer tutors. Sadly, 60 adults remain on our waiting list to share their goals with someone who can tutor them.

Can you give just 1-2 hours per week to help someone achieve their literacy goals? You will impact your life and someone else's life in a profoundly positive way.

Imagine if you or a loved one struggled with literacy or communicating in English. Wouldn't it be wonderful to know that there are tutors out there who can and want to help?

Last year, tutors helped 224 adults achieve goals that included getting a better job, helping their children with their homework, and becoming U.S. citizens.

The next Literacy Connection Tutor Training takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, Sept. 12 and 19, at Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in downtown Elgin.

On Sept. 12, the first hour will be an introduction to The Literacy Connection's tutoring program and the remaining time is the training. There is a $25 fee for the book and materials.

If you can't make it to the training this month, training workshops will also be held in October and November at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin. For schedules and more information, visit the website at www.elginliteracy.org.

Registration is recommended for those interested in attending. For details, call The Literacy Connection at (847) 742-6565 or email info@elginliteracy.org

The Literacy Connection serves 16 northwest suburban Chicago communities including Algonquin, Bartlett, Carpentersville, Cary, Elgin, South Elgin, East Dundee, West Dundee, Gilberts, Hanover Park, Hampshire, Hoffman Estates, Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Streamwood, and Schaumburg. The agency provides customized one-on-one adult tutoring, English conversation groups, and family literacy programs.

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U.S. Literacy Challenge

According to <a href="http://www.proliteracy.org/the-crisis/adult-literacy-facts">ProLiteracy</a>, 14 percent of adults, or 44 million, in the U.S. cannot read beyond a fifth-grade level. Forty-three percent of those with low literacy live in poverty and struggle to find work, remain healthy, and support their families. Low literacy is expensive. It costs the U.S. $225 billion in workforce non-productivity and lost tax revenue due to unemployment and $230 billion in annual health care costs. Patients with low literacy skills have a 50-percent increased risk of hospitalization.

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