Thousands of Latinos to Benefit From 10x10 Literacy Campaign

The U.S. Census estimates that more than 202,000 L.A. County Spanish speaking adults were not able to attend school as children and do not have basic literacy skills. Adult literacy correlates directly to better employment, improved school readiness for children, advancement in learning English as a second language, and improved health.

"Our Leamos learning software is a flexible way for Latino adults to access literacy instruction in the home, workplace and community centers," said Melanie Stephens, Executive Director of Centro Latino for Literacy. "Lack of literacy skills handicaps our community and prevents them from reaching their full potential."

"The L.A. economy needs its entire workforce to perform to their highest potential. Without literacy, workers cannot get goods, and cannot benefit from job training programs to improve their skills and move up the economic ladder," said Jack Kyser of Kyser Center for Economic Research.

Yolie Flores Aguilar, Vice President of the LAUSD School Board, said "Most research shows that poverty and mothers' educational levels are the two factors that most influence children's ability to succeed in school. Teaching mothers to read will make a tremendous difference for their children."

Centro Latino for Literacy will hold a press conference on literacy in L.A. County and its effects on employment, economy and education in the Latino community. This event is open to members of the media, nonprofit organizations, businesses and local government.

WHAT: 10x10 Press Conference Event

WHEN: September 2, 2009 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: Centro Latino for Literacy

1721 West 8th Street, Suite A, Los Angeles 90017

WHO: Speakers include: Yolie Flores Aguilar, LAUSD School Board; Jack Kyser, Kyser Center for Economic Research; Hector Tobar, L.A. Times; John Kobara, California Community Foundation; Veronica Tostado-Span, Cisco Entrepreneur Institute; Mercedes Meza, Leamos alumni; and Melanie Stephens, Centro Latino for Literacy.

About Centro Latino for Literacy

Centro Latino for Literacy teaches Latino immigrants to read and write, giving them the essential skills and confidence to participate more fully and independently in society, and uplift themselves and their families into more promising lives for generations to come. Centro Latino has taught basic literacy skills to more than 2,500 Latino youth and adults, and has provided functional skills -- such as basic math, grammar, financial literacy, health literacy, computer skills and English -- to an additional 5,000 Latinos. For more information on Centro Latino for Literacy, call (213) 483-7753 or visit our websites: www.centrolatinoliteracy.org and www.leamos.org.