Actor Sean Astin and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa pledged their support to help eradicate illiteracy to Literacy Network's Executive Director Jennifer Boxer. (PRNewsFoto) LOS ANGELES, CA USA 09/08/2005

 Leaders Address How Problem of 3.8 Million Low-Literacy Adults in the County
      Is Being Tackled; Mayor to Assemble More Resources Toward Literacy

    LOS ANGELES, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Actor
Sean Astin, and LAUSD Board member Jose Huizar joined over 200 literacy
providers at the Literacy Network of Greater Los Angeles' Literacy Summit to
share their plans for eradicating illiteracy and learn about innovative
methods to combat the problem in the region.  According to a 2004 United Way
report on the state of adult literacy in Los Angeles, 3.8 million adults
(53% of L.A. County's working age population) have low literacy skills, posing
a serious barrier to their employability.  Literacy Network Chair Steven
Koltai and Executive Director Jennifer Boxer also offered a progress report on
the five-year Action Plan designed to address literacy and achieve a more
qualified workforce for Los Angeles.
     (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050908/LATH147 )
     "We raised awareness of the problem and began implementing a coordinated
workforce literacy system that links providers with businesses to ultimately
enable millions of adults in our region to get family-sustaining jobs," said
Boxer.  "This system works because our providers collaborate with us to design
programs that meet the needs of their users, whether children, adults or
employers."
    Best practices shared at the Summit included the use of technology to
teach basic literacy skills to non-English speakers, techniques for teaching
adult learners, and methods for teaching literacy to formerly incarcerated
youth.  Mayor Villaraigosa and School Board Member Jose Huizar addressed the
audience on school reform and fostering an educational environment that helps
children complete high school.
    "Literacy is crucial to creating job opportunities, supporting workers and
their families and eradicating poverty in our region," said Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa.  "Literacy must start in homes and classrooms by giving the
children of Los Angeles the best education possible to enable them to pursue
their goals and become engaged citizens.  I am committed to assembling the
resources needed to build the skills of our workers and our children."
    Sean Astin, a board member for the National Center for Family Literacy
encouraged others to follow his lead and volunteer to eradicate illiteracy.
"By volunteering, you can help adults, children, and families learn to read
and incorporate literacy into their everyday lives."  The Literacy Network is
currently recruiting 200 volunteers.  To volunteer, or to learn to read, call
1-800-707-READ or visit http://www.literacynetwork.org.

    Literacy@Work Action Plan Progress Highlights

      *  Until 2005, there was no system for implementing workforce literacy;
         only a variety of independent entities offering adult literacy
         classes.  The new system is linking providers with businesses to meet
         their specific needs.

      *  A core group of 14 adult literacy providers was selected in spring
         2005 to develop and pilot workforce literacy programming and create
         partnerships between providers and employers.

      *  Volunteer recruitment and tools are now in place.  Training is slated
         to begin in 2006.

      *  Standardized workforce literacy tools are in development and will be
         completed in 2006.

      *  WorkSource Centers will now participate in Literacy@Work programming
         which will provide workforce literacy skills to job seekers in need.

    About The Literacy Network
    The Literacy Network of Greater Los Angeles is an 11-year old umbrella
organization with over 200 members from the five-county greater Los Angeles
area, Kern and Santa Barbara.  Its goal is to increase the number and quality
of literacy programs in the region.  The Network supports and promotes
individual, family, and workplace literacy efforts through networking,
partnerships, resource-sharing and public awareness.  For additional
information, or to download a Workforce Literacy report please visit
http://www.literacynetwork.org.