Literacy Council of Central Alabama
Deep Dives
Deep Dives are free site visits to selected nonprofit organizations that serve critical socioeconomic needs in Alabama. The CEO describes the work of the organization, its history, challenges, and needs. A tour of the facility provides a deeper understanding. Participants may optionally use a provided checklist to make observations and discuss what they observed and learned. Recommendations can be sent to the CEO. This Deep Dive is limited to 25 participants. Please send an email to our Events Chair to reserve your seat and you will receive a confirmation and checklist by reply by email to: John Whitman.
The Organization
The Literacy Council’s (TLC) vision is a community where each person achieves their maximum literacy potential. TLC achieves this vision through a mission to improve the lives of adults and their families through literacy education that teaches people to read, write, and speak English. In 1991, the United Way of Central Alabama, the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, and the Junior League of Birmingham created The Literacy Council (TLC) to help adults battling illiteracy. During the first 20 years of operation The Literacy Council served as a support agency. To meet the needs of the people in our region, in 2012 the agency made a strategic shift to provide direct service, offering adult basic literacy and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs. Since TLC began offering direct service the number of hours of learning provided and the number of people served has grown exponentially every year. In 2013 TLC attained accreditation from ProLiteracy, the largest adult literacy and education organization in the nation. In 2014 TLC partnered with Jefferson State Community College to offer GED preparation courses. In 2016 TLC launched a family literacy program to address the intergenerational effects of literacy. In 2016 TLC added a new program in the Kingston/North Avondale area of Birmingham. And in 2017, TLC began providing programing in North Birmingham at the Salvation Army’s Center of Hope. TLC will pilot a workplace literacy program in 2019.
TLC serves women and men ranging in age from birth to 87 in the five counties of Central Alabama – Blount, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, and Walker. Some work day jobs and attend evening classes. Many fall below the poverty line. Some are recovering from addiction and are working to secure a job to keep them on their path to recovery. Some want to move up in their current jobs. All are fully committed to learning in order to preserve their health, maintain their homes, further their education and support their children’s education, and provide for their families. In 2013 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) stated, “Literacy is a fundamental human right and the foundation for lifelong learning. It is fully essential to social and human development in its ability to transform lives. For individual, families, and societies alike, it is an instrument of empowerment to improve one’s health, ones’ income, and one’s relationship with the world.” Literacy programs are essential to addressing systemic change and socioeconomic issues.
The Dive Leader
Katrina Watson assumed leadership of The Literacy Council of Central Alabama (TLC) in March 2017 as President and Executive Director. In this capacity, she has increased TLC’s budget, philanthropic partnerships, and community impact. Under her leadership, TLC received the Birmingham Business Journal’s Nonprofit Award for agencies with an annual budget of $500,000 - $1,000,000. Katrina serves on the board of the Children’s Policy Cooperative of Jefferson County and previously served on the board of the Birmingham Public Library. She is a member of the Birmingham Change Fund, a group of philanthropists who house their funds at the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. Katrina earned her bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis and her Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where she was inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha International Honor Society. A Certified Fund Raising Executive, Katrina teaches an undergraduate fundraising course in the spring semester at UAB. Katrina has been recognized as a Rising Star by the UAB National Alumni Society, Top Influencer Under 40 by Birmingham magazine, and Outstanding Young Professional by B-Metro magazine. Katrina and her husband have two young children.