The Literacy Council

10/19/2026

Central Alabama employers: literacy programs tailored to the needs of businesses who want to help their employees grow.

Workforce literacy training covers reading and writing, industry-specific instruction, numeracy, and digital literacy.

How it works:
1. Business consultation on your employees' needs
2. Employee literacy assessments
3. Enrollment in classes or one-on-one tutoring

For businesses with multilingual employees, ESOL is often the place to start.

Serving Jefferson, Shelby, Walker, St. Clair, and Blount counties.
Request program information:

Custom literacy, numeracy and digital skills training for your workforce. Consultation, assessment and instruction for Central Alabama businesses.

10/02/2026

We're excited to share that Lori Graphos has been named Interim Executive Director of The Literacy Council of Central Alabama! A former high school English teacher and Samford University adjunct, Lori brings 18 years of classroom experience and a lifelong passion for literacy to TLC. We're also grateful to Dr. Bryan Johnson for his leadership and impact. Read the full announcement:

The Literacy Council of Central Alabama names Lori Graphos interim executive director, bringing 18 years of classroom experience to the role.

09/21/2026

We know that 58% of Central Alabama adults need better literacy skills. Many of them are not searching for help online. They are not walking into programs on their own. They are quietly managing, the way adults with low literacy have always managed, by working around what they cannot read. The people in the best position to change that are not us alone. They are you. Community members, family, neighbors, faith leaders, social workers, and organizations that already have relationships with the adults who need us most.

58% of Central Alabama adults need better literacy skills, and most will not seek help on their own. Learn what functional literacy for adults really looks like and how your family, church, or organization can help connect people to support.

09/01/2026

Adults with low literacy are not a group that exists somewhere else. They are already in your workplace. They are on your team, in your department, in your facility.

When we talk about workplace reading skills in the context of adult literacy, we are not talking about a productivity issue. We are talking about adults who carry a quiet daily burden that the people around them may never notice. And we are talking about what you can do to help.

Adults with low literacy are already in your workplace, quietly managing it alone. Learn how to recognize the signs, make respectful referrals, and connect people to adult literacy support in Central Alabama.

08/24/2026

Most adults with low literacy never tell anyone. Not even family. The silence is not stubbornness, it is shame.

If someone you care about may be struggling, how you bring it up matters more than what you say. Read the full blog for a gentle way to start.

Someone you love may be quietly living with low adult literacy. Learn how to recognize the signs, open the conversation with care, and connect them to adult literacy support that can help them build reading confidence at their own pace.

08/20/2026

Want to level-up your computer skills by learning Microsoft Word? Come join us on Tuesdays starting in September and learn to create, edit, print, and share documents and more!

08/17/2026

You do not need to be a teacher. You need to be someone who shows up.

Many of the adults we serve have quietly carried low literacy for years. They are not looking for a classroom. They are looking for one trusted person who is consistent. We train every volunteer before they ever meet a learner, and our staff supports you the whole way.

Read the full blog to see what tutoring really looks like and whether it might be a fit for you.

Thinking about volunteering as a literacy tutor? Learn who you will be supporting, what Adult Basic Literacy tutoring looks like in practice, and how our training prepares you to show up well for adults with low literacy in Central Alabama.

07/27/2026

Have you ever been at work and felt nervous when a computer screen changed or a new task popped up? Maybe it was an email you did not understand or a system you had never used before. Moments like that can make anyone feel unsure.

Basic computer skills for adults help build confidence at work and support career growth. Learn how digital literacy and workforce development programs empower adults to succeed with technology.

06/09/2026

Join us Thursday, June 18 for the Second Annual Birmingham Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee! Buy tickets starting at just $5, register a team to compete, or become a sponsor using the link below:

https://birminghamspellingbee2.swell.gives/

06/02/2026

It is never too late to start. For many adults, low literacy does not mean low potential. It means they never had the right support until now.

From building everyday confidence to opening doors to better jobs, adult education is changing what is possible for people right here in Central Alabama. We broke down 6 real ways it is making a difference in 2026.

Read the full blog to see how literacy support could change the next chapter for you or someone you love.

Discover how adult education support opens new opportunities in 2026. Learn how adult learning programs, adult literacy services, and workforce readiness education help adults build skills and confidence.