Literacy Buffalo Niagara has provided reading, ESL, digital and health literacy instruction for adults and families since 1965.

ABOUT LBN

Our Mission

Literacy Buffalo Niagara advances adult and family literacy by mobilizing well-supported volunteers, delivering innovative, learner-centered instruction, and forging strong community partnerships.

Our Vision

Every individual develops the critical literacy skills needed to navigate and contribute meaningfully to our world.

Our Values

POSSIBILITY

We provide an environment where every person is supported in their growth and inspired by hope, opportunity, and the promise of their future potential.

EMPATHY

We welcome each person with warmth, kindness, and grace — honoring them with compassion and respect, and creating spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

CURIOSITY

We embrace diverse perspectives and celebrate the spark that fuels creativity, encourages risk-taking, drives bold ideas, and leads to innovative, action-oriented solutions.

INTEGRITY

We demonstrate thoughtfulness and competence in all we do, earning trust through our reliability, accountability, and steadfast commitment to our mission.

CONNECTION

We create authentic relationships — fostering collaboration, equity, and belonging through meaningful interactions and shared purpose.

History of LBN

1955

Laubach Literacy International is started by Dr. Frank Laubach in Syracuse, NY. His motto is “each one, teach one.”

1962

Literacy Volunteers of America is founded by Ruth J. Colvin in Syracuse, NY.

1965

The Buffalo chapter of Literacy Volunteers is formed.

2002

Laubach Literacy International and Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. merge to form ProLiteracy.

2012

Literacy Volunteers of Buffalo & Erie County, Inc. merges with Literacy Volunteers of Niagara County to become Literacy New York Buffalo-Niagara, Inc.

2020

LNYBN becomes Literacy Buffalo Niagara.

Learn more about our organization and how you can do your part for literacy.

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

2025-2026 Program Year Achievements

We recruited and trained 40 new volunteers
We served almost 200 adult students
Staff supported 150 active volunteer tutors
Volunteers provided over 8,000 hours of instruction and other volunteer services
75% of students demonstrated improvement in their literacy skills

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

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