TORONTO, Nov. 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Frontier College, Canada’s charitable literacy organization, today announced a name change to United for Literacy, signaling an ambitious next chapter in its 123-year history of creating access to literacy for people of all ages and backgrounds. As an organization committed to removing barriers to learning, the new name better reflects its mission, values, and aspiration to mobilize a national movement that spotlights the power of literacy.
“We believe literacy is a human right,” said Mélanie Valcin, president and CEO, United for Literacy. “As an organization we reexamined our role and realized we needed a name that really spoke to what we do and why it matters. United for Literacy clearly describes our purpose, values, and approach. We mobilize volunteers, partners, and communities in a common cause: to ensure everyone has the skills and confidence they need to reach their goals through the power of literacy.”
Fostering literacy in all communities has never been more important. More than one million children in Canada—at least one in eight—are not reading at grade level. Children who face systemic barriers, such as poverty, are struggling the most.1 Research shows that children in lower socioeconomic communities are almost two times as likely to be behind in early development skills as compared to their higher socioeconomic status peers.2 Early gaps in schooling or socioeconomic factors mean many people are playing catch-up from the beginning.
In contrast, improving literacy improves people’s lives. Canadian data shows that people with higher levels of literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills report better health and stronger connections with their communities and society. Literacy upgrading also has a positive impact on higher earnings and job retention.
United for Literacy’s programs are free and involve a learner-centric approach—tailored to a person’s skills, interests, experience, culture, and goals—engaging the learner in deciding what they want and need to learn. This is the organization’s fourth name change since 1899, reflecting how it has adapted to the changing needs of the people and communities it supports.
About United for Literacy
Formerly Frontier College, United for Literacy is the national registered charity dedicated to improving the lives of children, youth, and adults through literacy. Since 1899, our All Welcome! approach and innovative services have been transforming every place into a learning place. In the past year, nearly 25,000 children, youth, and adults in over 211 urban, rural, and remote places across Canada (including 137 Indigenous communities) gained access to free, inclusive literacy and numeracy programs, in person and online, supported by nearly 2,000 trained volunteer tutors.
Contact:
Meredith Roberts
United for Literacy (formerly Frontier College)
416-624-6778 cell
mroberts@frontiercollege.ca
1 Source: Deloitte LLP. An Economic Overview of Children's Literacy in Canada
2 Source: Pan-Canadian Public Health Network
