Oakland Literacy Council to Celebrate 35 Years Giving Adults the Gift of Words

Bloomfield Hills, MI – Students, tutors, friends, and family members will gather for a Picnic in the Park on Saturday, September 14, 2019, to celebrate the 35^th Anniversary of the Oakland Literacy Council.  The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Paradise Pavilion at Waterford Oaks Park.  The 100+ guests expected at the picnic come from cities and townships across Oakland County and over 20 countries of origin, reflecting the diversity of Southeast Michigan.

More than 105,000 adults in Oakland County are functionally illiterate.  For 35 years, the Oakland Literacy Council has been pairing trained tutors with adults seeking to improve their English language literacy to advance on pathways toward employment, citizenship, entrepreneurship, and community engagement.   In 2018, the Oakland Literacy Council delivered 12,500 hours of instruction to adult learners.

In 2019, Oakland Literacy Council has been celebrating 35 years of service in Oakland County with its online series, 35 Faces of Oakland Literacy, highlighting the compelling stories of adult students whose lives have been transformed by learning to read and write English and the volunteer tutors and community members who have made such a personal difference in their lives.

Executive Director Lisa Machesky explains, “Through our 35^th anniversary and 35 Faces of Literacy, we have been able to shine a light on the everyday stories of our students, their struggles and accomplishments, and the passionate volunteers that have joined them on this literacy journey.”