Literacy: It’s more than reading and writing

Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) delivers literacy programming across the Basin for all ages. Included in the programming, CBAL’s digital programs are teaching seniors about connecting through social media, how to navigate online forms and more.

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All ages hone a broad range of literacy skills through CBAL

Balfour residents Gordon and Mary Bruce were looking to improve their technology skills when they first connected with the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL), which delivers literacy programming across the Basin.

“We really didn’t know anything about our devices,” says Gordon, 76. “And as President of Balfour Seniors, I was especially interested in learning new skills through CBAL’s tech sessions so I could communicate well with members.”

For Mary, 73, completing the classes alleviated her insecurities and connecting with her peers put her further at ease.

“I attended the tech sessions in a group setting, which I felt was more advantageous because I learned something from other people’s questions,” she says. “Being a part of CBAL has woken up parts of my brain that may have been asleep for a while.”

Like the Bruces, seniors across the Basin are becoming more tech-savvy and taking their digital literacy to the next level, with new skills for navigating apps, settings and features on items like tablets, cell phones and computers. CBAL’s digital programs are also teaching them about connecting through social media, how to navigate online forms and more. Plus, the organization offers book clubs and sessions on topics like managing
money and writing memoirs.

“Seniors come to programs with a strong desire to continue learning,” says CBAL Executive Director Desneiges Profili. In fact, “Tailoring our literacy programs to different demographics ensures that learners at every stage of life have opportunities to learn and grow.”

PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES

To meet their lifelong learning needs, many people in the Basin have turned to CBAL since it was launched in 2001. For over 20 years, this organization has partnered with the Trust, which supports efforts to improve the well-being of Basin residents and communities.

In addition to seniors connecting with CBAL, so do children and youth, families, immigrants and adults across 70 Basin communities.

For example, programs like Baby Goose empower parents to sing and share rhymes with their children. This provides children with foundational reading skills even before kindergarten, which can increase their opportunities, build self-esteem and provide confidence when it comes to taking on challenges in the future.

School-aged children can practice their reading abilities with CBAL, while adults can work one-on-one with CBAL staff to improve their employment skills.

A SUCCESSFUL APPROACH

Basin residents are quick to fill up CBAL’s customized programs, led by literacy outreach coordinators who are responsive to the unique needs of their respective areas, taking a grassroots approach.

From 2022 to 2023, more people than ever engaged in CBAL’s programming: 12,471 Basin residents in total, with adults and seniors making up 5,516 of that group and kids accounting for 6,955.

Schools, libraries and other local organizations all work closely with CBAL, whose staff are dedicated to building community connections and ensuring their programs are relevant and easily accessible.

“It’s about creating meaningful connections in communities; these connections help to make people feel more comfortable in seeking literacy support,” says Profili. “Literacy is a fundamental human right.

CBAL is committed to supporting all Basin residents to embrace lifelong learning and to help them develop the skills they need to thrive.”

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