Community Organizations
The Literacy Connection partners with many community organizations. We participate in not-for-profit events, such as the United Way Day of Caring. The Literacy Connection also works with all members of the District #509 Area Planning Council - which includes Elgin Community College, YWCA Elgin, and School District U-46 Adult Education Program and other members to coordinate services to avoid duplication and improve student placement in appropriate programs. The Literacy Connection refers potential learners who are too high for its programs to these members for assistance, as well as those seeking GED or Citizenship. Members refer students who need extra or personalized educational assistance to The Literacy Connection. Ecker Mental Health Center, Centro de Información, PADS, Community Crisis Center, the Association for Individual Development and DHS provide student referrals.
In addition, the Family Literacy program has collaborative links with primary community partners: Channing Elementary Schools, the office of Early Childhood Education at School District U-46, and Gail Borden Public Library. Additionally, several organizations participate as educational partners, providing speakers and educational programs for the parents, such as Centro de Información, Kane County Health Department, Cityof Elgin Fire Department, and the Elgin Police Department.
The agency was a participant in the Grand Victoria Foundation’s Capacity Building Program for four years. The agency is currently a Study Group participant in the three-year ProLiteracy Dollar General Program Accountability Training program. Staff regularly attends conferences and professional development training through ALRC, IACEA, Literacy Volunteers-Illinois, ProLiteracy, Thinkfinity.org, and more.
Our organization continues to work with the Literacy for Adults Partnership (LFAP) with Literacy Volunteers-Western Cook County, Literacy DuPage and Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley to benchmark “best practices” and to increase literacy awareness and volunteer tutor recruitment. LFAP worked with the Taproot Foundation to brand and build a dynamic partnership website, too.
