Twenty percent of Tarrant County’s adults—about 238,000—cannot read English well enough to follow a bus schedule or read a simple story to their children. Tarrant County United Way helped establish workplace English literacy training at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel, JPS Health Network, Omni Fort Worth Hotel and Traulsen. 

All totaled, almost 75 employees enrolled in literacy classes at the four locations. The training was conducted by Tarrant County College. 

Of the 20 employees who enrolled in the first 15-week course at the Worthington Hotel to improve English communication skills, an impressive 85 percent completed the program (compared to the 55 percent completion rate traditionally seen with on campus classes in this category). The curriculum was designed to provide life skills and practical training related to hospitality service. The course was so successful that a second round of training was held. Three of the JPS students have received job promotions, and one has started college classes.