LiteracyCNY Mission, Vision, and Values
LiteracyCNY, formerly Literacy Volunteers of Greater Syracuse (LVGS) was founded by Ruth J. Colvin in 1961. Mrs. Colvin read an article in the local paper indicating there were more than 11,000 adults in Onondaga County who were “functionally illiterate,” and wondered why nobody did anything about it. So she did! Ruth developed a tutoring method in partnership with colleagues at Syracuse University, and that initial effort grew into Literacy Volunteers of Greater Syracuse. Through Church Women United, the Literacy Volunteers movement spread across New York State, and eventually, the national organization, Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. was founded in 1972.
LiteracyCNY Mission: To provide adults in Central New York with the literacy tools and skills that they need to be contributing, productive, and engaged members of the community. We do this by advocating for adult education, providing instruction, and partnering with other community based agencies. Improving Adult Literacy makes our community stronger.
LiteracyCNY Vision: A fully literate Central New York.
LiteracyCNY Values:
Respecting all community stakeholders, including students, volunteers, and colleagues;
Partnering and collaborating to strengthen community capacity;
Focusing on individual student learning goals; and
Providing leadership and advocacy for adult literacy.
