The Northern Nevada Literacy Council is a non-profit organization aiming to help raise literacy rates in Nevada, which also offers free access to a program that helps adults get their high-school equivalency, regardless of how much education they already have.
“I say it's never too late,” Adrienne Santiago, Executive Director of the NNLC, said. “I say come on in to come talk to us, let us get your assessments done. You may only be here for a month and have a high school equivalency. You could be that close, and it might take a little bit longer, but even if it does, we'll work around your schedule. We will help you with all the barriers that are preventing you from doing this.”
The NNLC offers this class and a few other different types of courses to their 500 students. These programs range from an eight-week course giving students a rundown to get their United States citizenship, classes helping adults receive their high school equivalency, a family reading program and a career development program for young professionals.
The professional development program represents an option for young students who, for one reason or another, can’t finish their high school programming.
NNLC works with other organizations like the Eddy House, another non-profit working with unhoused youth, to reach out to students. To help students get into the long-term career they want, NNLC helps students create a long-term career plan. They assist the student in reaching those goals on the education front by reimbursing them for equipment or tuition. In some cases, NNLC will even reimburse a student’s employer for wages to help the program’s participants land a first job.
Just like the program for getting adults their high school equivalency, it’s free of charge, and students are given a pretest to determine their education level before they enter the program.
“Even if a youth has a high school equivalency or high school diploma, we still do that assessment,” Santiago said. “We don't want to put them into a training program at TMCC or anywhere if we know that their reading level is not to where it needs to be, because then it'll just be one more knock on them to say I can't do this.”
Since the NNLC doesn’t charge for their services, the only requirement to enroll in any class is to be over 16 years of age. Santiago said she believes that higher literacy is better for everyone in the community, from better career outcomes for students and potential employers. Even something as simple as handing out a manual to an employee becomes easier with a more literate community.
“There's so many people lacking high school equivalency, and it's not something that a community can be proud of,” Santiago said. “ I believe really strongly that as communities work together, we need to work together to address these issues. I really think that it affects so many people. ”
In Nevada, a state that was recently ranked 49th in education, NNLC sees literacy and all of their community members as a way for community members to move into new career paths and get a better life for themselves and their children. Even if an adult isn’t interested in getting a high school equivalency, the non-profit’s reading program offers an opportunity for parents to get their kids involved in reading.
“Why do we always have to be last?” Santiago said. “Why is literacy not at the top of the most important things? It is the foundation for everything. It is a foundation to break the cycle of poverty. It's the foundation of entering into training, furthering your education. It's a foundation for their children.”
NNLC is currently looking for more instructors for their adult learners. Santiago said their current team was dedicated to the job, and good instructors will find joy in helping an adult, young or old, reach their dreams.
“We’re always looking for teachers and if anyone is interested in working with adult learners, we'd love to talk to them,” Santiago said. “I just think that everyone needs to just know that NNLC is here as an option, especially for our youth and helping our youth break that cycle and have options.”