Literacy DuPage, Local Nonprofit

Literacy DuPage recruits and trains tutors who teach adults English.

Since 1972, we’ve been equipping a big hearted army of tutors to sit side-by- side with adults who cannot understand, speak, read, or write English in DuPage County. We provide volunteers with materials, techniques and confidence they need to help adults shatter language barriers and experience a whole new world of communication and connection. After tutors complete training sessions they are matched with their adult learner. The learner and tutor decide on a convenient meeting time and place – often at the local library.

Instruction is highly personalized and free. The learner chooses specific goals - understand street signs, apply for a job, tell a bedtime story, or decipher prescription labels - and the tutor offers practical instruction to help the learner achieve their goals. This highly personalized approach produces results, builds relationships, and strengthens families and communities.

Every year, Literacy DuPage serves more than 500 adult learners in more than 30 communities throughout DuPage County. But right now, our waiting list includes 200 more people who hope to be matched with a tutor. Generally, learners come to us with English literacy skills below ninth-grade level. Some are native English speakers, but most are immigrants, representing 35 first languages and 30 countries.

Thanks to our volunteers, more than 100,000 adults have gained the life skills they need to survive and thrive in their communities, with many more waiting to learn. We dream of matching every one of them with a Literacy DuPage tutor.

Please call 630.416.6699 if you learn more about how to influence this work, serve your community and change lives!