Building an Educated Workforce and Empowering People To Dream
Literacy Texas, a Regions Bank customer and nonprofit organization, is addressing critical literacy challenges in Texas under the leadership of Executive Director Jenny Walker. The organization serves as a support network, collaborating with over 300 nonprofits and government agencies to improve adult and family literacy through resources, training, and advocacy.
Key statistics reveal that 28% of Texas is at level one for reading, and 40% of the population reads at a third-grade level. The organization focuses on developing workforce skills, improving digital literacy, and bridging the technological divide, particularly in rural communities. Low literacy rates nationally cost the U.S. approximately $200 billion in safety and health issues and over $2 trillion in lost productivity annually.
Literacy Texas, cliente della Regions Bank e organizzazione non profit, sta affrontando le sfide critiche dell'alfabetizzazione in Texas sotto la guida del Direttore Esecutivo Jenny Walker. L'organizzazione funge da rete di supporto, collaborando con oltre 300 organizzazioni non profit e agenzie governative per migliorare l'alfabetizzazione degli adulti e delle famiglie attraverso risorse, formazione e advocacy.
Statistiche chiave rivelano che il 28% del Texas è a livello uno per la lettura e che il 40% della popolazione legge a un livello di terza elementare. L'organizzazione si concentra sullo sviluppo delle competenze lavorative, il miglioramento dell'alfabetizzazione digitale e il superamento del divario tecnologico, in particolare nelle comunità rurali. Le basse percentuali di alfabetizzazione a livello nazionale costano agli Stati Uniti circa $200 miliardi in problemi di sicurezza e salute e oltre $2 trilioni in perdita di produttività annualmente.
Literacy Texas, cliente de Regions Bank y organización sin fines de lucro, está abordando los desafíos críticos de la alfabetización en Texas bajo el liderazgo de la Directora Ejecutiva Jenny Walker. La organización actúa como una red de apoyo, colaborando con más de 300 organizaciones sin fines de lucro y agencias gubernamentales para mejorar la alfabetización de adultos y familias a través de recursos, capacitación y promoción.
Estadísticas clave revelan que el 28% de Texas está en el nivel uno de lectura y que el 40% de la población lee a nivel de tercer grado. La organización se centra en desarrollar habilidades laborales, mejorar la alfabetización digital y cerrar la brecha tecnológica, particularmente en comunidades rurales. Las bajas tasas de alfabetización a nivel nacional le cuestan a EE.UU. aproximadamente $200 mil millones en problemas de seguridad y salud y más de $2 billones en productividad perdida anualmente.
리터러시 텍사스, 리전스 은행의 고객이자 비영리 단체는 제니 워커 전무의 지도 아래 텍사스의 중요한 문해력 문제를 해결하고 있습니다. 이 조직은 300개 이상의 비영리 단체 및 정부 기관과 협력하여 자원, 교육 및 옹호를 통해 성인 및 가족 문해력을 향상시키는 지원 네트워크 역할을 합니다.
주요 통계에 따르면 텍사스의 28%가 읽기에서 1단계이며, 인구의 40%는 3학년 수준에서 읽습니다. 이 조직은 직업 기술 개발, 디지털 문해력 향상 및 기술 격차 해소에 중점을 두고 있으며, 특히 농촌 지역에서 그렇습니다. 낮은 문해율은 매년 미국에서 약 2000억 달러의 안전 및 건강 문제와 2조 달러 이상의 생산성 손실을 초래합니다.
Literacy Texas, un client de Regions Bank et une organisation à but non lucratif, s'attaque aux défis critiques de l'alphabétisation au Texas sous la direction de la directrice exécutive Jenny Walker. L'organisation sert de réseau de soutien, collaborant avec plus de 300 organisations à but non lucratif et agences gouvernementales pour améliorer l'alphabétisation des adultes et des familles grâce à des ressources, de la formation et du plaidoyer.
Des statistiques clés révèlent que 28% du Texas est au niveau un pour la lecture, et que 40% de la population lit au niveau de la troisième année. L'organisation se concentre sur le développement des compétences professionnelles, l'amélioration de l'alphabétisation numérique et la réduction de la fracture technologique, en particulier dans les communautés rurales. Des taux d'alphabétisation faibles à l'échelle nationale coûtent aux États-Unis environ 200 milliards de dollars en problèmes de sécurité et de santé et plus de 2 trillions de dollars en perte de productivité chaque année.
Literacy Texas, ein Kunde von Regions Bank und gemeinnützige Organisation, geht unter der Leitung von Geschäftsführerin Jenny Walker kritischen Alphabetisierungsherausforderungen in Texas an. Die Organisation dient als Unterstützungsnetzwerk und arbeitet mit über 300 gemeinnützigen Organisationen und Regierungsbehörden zusammen, um die Alphabetisierung von Erwachsenen und Familien durch Ressourcen, Schulungen und Interessenvertretung zu verbessern.
Wichtige Statistiken zeigen, dass 28% von Texas auf Stufe eins beim Lesen ist und 40% der Bevölkerung auf Drittklasseniveau liest. Die Organisation konzentriert sich auf die Entwicklung von Arbeitsplatzfertigkeiten, die Verbesserung der digitalen Alphabetisierung und die Überbrückung der digitalen Kluft, insbesondere in ländlichen Gemeinden. Niedrige Alphabetisierungsraten kosten die USA jährlich rund 200 Milliarden Dollar an Sicherheits- und Gesundheitsproblemen sowie über 2 Billionen Dollar an Produktivitätsverlusten.
- Partnership network with 300+ nonprofits and government agencies enhances service delivery and reach
- Comprehensive approach combining literacy, workforce skills, and digital training
- Severe literacy challenges in Texas with 40% of population reading at third-grade level
- Significant digital divide limiting access to essential online services
- staff resources to address extensive community needs
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 16, 2024 / Regions Bank
This Regions customer and community partner is helping thousands write their next chapter. Meet its visionary leader here.
By Kim Borges
Jenny Walker can immediately spot the signs.
People who say they've forgotten their glasses when they're asked to read aloud. Or who always order without looking at the menu.
One in every five Americans struggles with literacy; and 54 percent of people read at below a sixth-grade level.
"Imagine being at a first grade reading level and having second-grade student as a child," said Walker. "That's what gets me out of bed in the morning and what keeps me up at night."
Literacy is an issue offering anyone valid cause for concern given lower reading rates are estimated to cost the U.S.
Walker has been on a personal mission to advance literacy from her early public school teaching days to her current role as executive director of the Texarkana-based nonprofit and Regions Bank customer Literacy Texas. But she's the first to tell you no one can do this work alone.
That's why Walker and her team collaborate with 300-plus fellow nonprofits and government agencies across the Lone Star State, including the Literacy County of Bowie and Miller Counties and 100 Families, two Regions Bank community partners. Walker formerly led the first nonprofit and helped establish the second.
Our great network of community partners and corporate partners like Regions Bank offer the support we need. And there's a really big need in Texas for the work we're doing.
"Our organization serves as a backbone of support," explained Walker of Literacy Texas's role connecting and equipping adult and family literacy programs through resources, training, networking and advocacy. "Our great network of community partners and corporate partners like Regions Bank offer the support we need. And there's a really big need in Texas for the work we're doing."
How big?
"Texas is at a 28 percent level one for reading, and 40 percent of our population reads on a third-grade level," said Walker. "That means people can put together short passages of text, but struggle with completing basic forms like job applications, medical history forms and back to school packets for their children."
Just eight months into the job, Walker is already implementing her vision to address those struggles.
We also want to help them with life skills; we're focused on providing holistic support. If we didn't pick up those pieces, no one else would.
Jenny Walker
"We're helping people develop workforce skills like writing resumes," she said. "We also want to help them with life skills; we're focused on providing holistic support. If we didn't pick up those pieces, no one else would."
The greatest challenge Walker and her team are working to resolve?
The digital divide - from both a navigation and a geographical perspective.
"We're helping improve computer and digital literacy and getting out to our rural communities to connect people with broadband technology," Walker said. "So many forms like food benefit applications are online now. Some of us take technology for granted because we use it every day, but a large part of the population does not. Vocabulary terms like ‘upload' can be challenging and intimidating. We do a really good job of making things more intuitive."
Walker understands where Literacy Texas's clients come from - literally. She proudly calls on her hometown roots advocating for the organization at events like National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week in Washington, D.C., in September.
Through the support of our community partners, we're not only contributing to an educated workforce, we are empowering people to dream - some of them for the first time in their lives.
Jenny Walker
"Look at little ol' me from Texarkana," Walker said about making the trip. "I think people in small towns sometimes feel stuck; I've felt that before. But I've learned I'm not stuck. I've learned you can do big things in a small town. I don't allow being from a small town to hold me back from taking advantage of big opportunities."
It's the same message she imparts to Literacy Texas's nonprofit partners and those they serve.
"Early on, I asked myself, ‘How can we support those we serve with our small staff and their big dreams?'" she said. "That's where things like computer and digital literacy come in; they're powerful tools we can share and help people leverage. Through the support of our community partners, we're not only contributing to an educated workforce, we are empowering people to dream - some of them for the first time in their lives."
Check out these Regions Bank and Regions Foundation community partners promoting youth literacy:
View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Regions Bank on 3blmedia.com.
Contact Info:
Spokesperson: Regions Bank
Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/regions-bank
Email: info@3blmedia.com
SOURCE: Regions Bank
View the original press release on accesswire.com
FAQ
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