Literacy Buffalo Niagara’s vision is to ensure that all people in Erie and Niagara counties are literate.

OUR STORY

Our History

In 1962, Ruth J. Colvin started Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA) as a small grassroots effort to end illiteracy in Syracuse, NY. Literacy Volunteers of America/Buffalo and Erie County was founded in 1965 as an affiliate of LVA. The two main programs offered were: Basic Literacy Learning and English Language Learning.

In 2002, Literacy Volunteers of America merged with Laubach Literacy International to create a “Literacy Superpower” with nearly 1,400 affiliates called ProLiteracy America. As a result of this name change, our affiliate became known as “Literacy Volunteers of Buffalo and Erie County.”

In July 2012, Literacy Volunteers of Buffalo & Erie County merged with Literacy Volunteers of Niagara County to create Literacy Buffalo Niagara, Inc.

Our Mission

We develop literacy skills by providing free tutoring in Erie and Niagara counties through engagement and training of diverse community volunteers.

Our vision is that all people in Erie and Niagara counties are literate.

Our Impact

2019-2020 Program Year Achievements

We recruited and trained 77 new volunteers
We served 300 adult students
Staff supported 220 active volunteer tutors
Volunteers provided over 11,000 hours of instruction and other volunteer services

Learn more about our organization and how you can do your part for literacy with our digital brochure

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Low literacy makes it difficult to identify specific written information, like school rules, prescription medication inserts, and job descriptions

Overall, only 46% of Erie & Niagara County adults are proficient in literacy

People with low literacy often struggle to compare information from two different sources, such as the labels on different frozen meals

Literacy is affected by socioeconomic factors that can extend as far back as childhood, such as having non-literate guardians

People with low literacy can fill out personal forms, but struggle with more complex legal or medical forms and job applications

Literacy is affected by socioeconomic factors that can extend as far back as childhood, such as having non-literate guardians