Literacy Delaware aims to reach more adults and families

With renewed energy, board growth and a dynamic strategic plan, Literacy Delaware is firing all cylinders to address Delaware’s literacy issues.

Empowering all Delawareans through literacy is an audacious goal, but tackling Delaware’s literacy challenges takes grit and determination, said Cindy Shermeyer, executive director of Literacy Delaware.

She said financial support from the Welfare Foundation was paramount in enabling the organization to focus on creating a strategic plan, redefining its mission and implementing the plan.

“Adult literacy is still our area of focus,” said Shermeyer. “What has changed for us is that we have a strategic plan driving our work forward.”

Literacy Delaware began in 1983 as Literacy Volunteers of America/Wilmington Library Affiliate. Establishing nonprofit status in 2001, the organization rebranded to Literacy Volunteers Serving Adults. After expanding to Kent and Sussex counties in 2015, it once again rebranded to Literacy Delaware, better representing its statewide work.

The new strategic plan is to leverage community partnerships to reach more adults and families in the state. Literacy is a factor in almost every social challenge communities face – poverty, social justice, and healthcare.

Shermeyer said, “We are so very grateful to the Welfare Foundation for believing in us and also PMG Strategies for guiding these next big steps in our future.”

Literacy Delaware advances literacy through training, tutoring, English-language acquisition, and advocacy for all Delawareans.

For more information, go to literacydelaware.org.