In King County alone, 13% of the adult population is estimated to be functionally illiterate.

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 defines literacy as “an individual’s ability to read, write, speak in English, compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job, in the family of the individual and in society.”  This is a broader view of literacy than just an individual’s ability to read, the more traditional concept of literacy.  As information and technology have increasingly shaped our society, the skills we need to function successfully have gone beyond reading, and literacy has come to include the skills listed in the current definition.  (The National Institute for Literacy)

Our mission is to build a literate community by providing learner-centered instruction and promote self-sufficiency to adults in English literacy and basic life skills.

Our vision is a society that understands and supports the needs of adult learners, and that recognizes and values life-long learning.  We see Literacy Source as a service provider that makes effective use of our resources to offer adults the tools and support they need to reach their goals.  We are a model of what can be achieved by a non-profit, community-based organization with:

• students, staff, volunteers and a board of directors that reflect the diversity of our community,
• widely recognized, respected, replicated programs and organizational structure and a stable financial base,
• the flexibility and accessibility to serve, without delay, anyone who needs our services,
• partnerships with public and private enterprises to help further our mission, and
• the ability to help our students to break the cycle of illiteracy and enrich their lives

• Support: We support and encourage our students, staff, and volunteers in their endeavors to improve themselves and the community.
• Respect: We recognize and appreciate the dynamic diversity of our community, and maintain a welcoming atmosphere that is respectful to all.
• Flexibility: We understand that people learn in many different ways and we develop curricula that match each student’s learning style with the best practices available.
• Innovation: We commit ourselves to providing the most appropriate and effective services to our students. We encourage collaboration among and between staff, volunteers, and students to develop effective teaching methods for adult learners.
• Integrity: We are accountable and pledge to do everything within our ability to assure that the needs and expectations of students, staff, volunteers, donors and neighbors are met or exceeded.
• Excellence: We strive for excellence in all areas of our agency. We continually review and evaluate research in adult learning, revise our curricula when appropriate, and share the best practices we develop with the adult literacy community. We believe that through this commitment to program excellence, students are able to achieve their goals and sustain their commitment to learning.
• Celebration: We celebrate the successes and triumphs of students, the dedication of our staff, volunteers, and donors, and the power of a literate community.