Newsworthy

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO VISITED US AT THE VOLUNTEER EXPO!

We’re grateful for the opportunity to share our mission and connect with community members interested in making a difference. We look forward to seeing many of you again as volunteers and supporters. Learn more about becoming a Volunteer Tutor, a volunteer, and/or a donor. 

COURTENAY’S BLOG

Volunteer Tutoring–a Potent Pick-Me-Up

In her first blog as our Executive Director, Courtenay Carr Heuer, shares the rewards and the surprising health benefits she experiences as a volunteer tutor.

For a great read, visit Courtenay’s Blog.

LiteracyLINKS NEWSLETTER IS OUT!

In our September 2026 edition of the newsletter, you’ll find a new feature, “Courtenay’s Blog,” where our Executive Director discusses volunteering and why it’s good for your health; an Introduction to Tutoring video that anyone considering becoming a volunteer literacy tutor will find loads of information; a comprehensive list of organizations seeking literacy tutors and how you can find the right fit for you; ESOL teaching packets; and a new Night at the Movies recommendation. Read the newsletter by clicking here.

LITERACY FACTS

• The literacy levels of parents are crucial in predicting their children’s literacy levels and educational attainment. (National Institute for Literacy)
• More than 20% of adults read at or below a fifth-grade level, which prevents them from working at jobs with a living wage, hinders their ability to vote, and impedes their ability to read a newspaper. (National Institute for Literacy)
• Adults who have not received high school diplomas are unemployed at nearly three times the rate of their peers with high school diplomas. (State of Oregon Employment Dept.)
• The single greatest indicator of children’s success is the literacy level of their parents.
  • 43% of adults with low literacy skills live in poverty
  • 36 million adults in the U.S. have low literacy skills.

  Break the cycle of poverty:
  Reach a child in need — Teach an adult to read.

STAY CONNECTED!

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Resource Center

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE A LITERACY TUTOR?

Literacy tutoring doesn’t require any previous experience, degrees, or training to begin. You can volunteer an hour or multiple hours per week. You can volunteer as an assistant in a classroom setting, one-to-one, or leading a small group. You can choose an in-person or online environment. Whatever path you choose, you can be certain it will be rewarding.

If you’re thinking about becoming a volunteer literacy tutor and want to learn what it’s like to be a tutor, start with the Volunteer Tutor Information Session.

LITERACY GROWS STRONGER THROUGH COMMUNITY

The Portland Literacy Council partners with the Portland ESL Network and other area organizations to provide a comprehensive list of area programs that need volunteers.

The following programs regularly seek volunteer tutors to work with adult learners/students. Tutors can choose to work one-to-one, with a small group, or as a program assistant. SEARCH the Portland ESL Network database for an organization, or filter volunteer opportunities for your desired location, time of day, day of the week, the time you can dedicate, and other factors. Or, contact the organizations listed here directly.

LITERACY: WHERE POTENTIAL TAKES ROOT

PLC’s 2026 Annual Impact Report is now available.  This report describes the inspiring work of PLC and the many volunteers supporting adult learners over the last year.