When Silvia Gomez came to America, she could speak a little English, but couldn’t read or write in English. That changed when she attended an adult literacy program funded by United Way at The Women’s Center of Tarrant County. Now the 36-year-old mother of three can help her children with homework, which has enabled them to excel in school. Her increased literacy skills also come in handy in her work at an assisted living center. Gomez obtained her citizenship after finishing the literacy program and voted for the first time during November’s presidential election. She is working on earning her GED credentials.

The new Tarrant Literacy Coalition established and led by United Way is working to increase the number and quality of adult literacy programs available locally. United Way research shows that current programs serve fewer than four percent of the people who need them. Literacy is a problem not only for people who speak English as a second language, but also for those who drop out of high school or graduate with limited skills.