Mission Statement

We are a community literacy organization committed to working in partnership with individuals, families and communities to promote literacy. Goals of Houston Link to Learning To promote awareness and understanding of the value of literacy for individuals, families and communities. To take a leadership role to develop and maintain partnerships with individuals, families and community organizations. To offer literacy opportunities for learning. To promote learner involvement in all aspects of the society. To follow the "Good Practice Statement" for literacy. To promote the professional development of our staff, board and volunteers. To provide a centre for information and referral on literacy programs and services. To promote and use plain language.

History

Houston Link to Learning is a non-profit society that traces its beginnings back to 1982. Our primary focus is to provide free tutoring to adults in basic reading , writing and math and in other subjects as needed. Our volunteer tutors are members of the community who are trained in basic literacy awareness and tutoring techniques.

Houston Link to Learning is governed by a volunteer Board of directors from the community. These members represent agencies, industries, tutors and learners from Houston. The program is run by an administrator.Houston Link to Learning receives funding from Northwest Community College each year. Other funding for program delivery and special projects comes in the form of cost shared grants from the BC Ministry of Advanced Education and the National Literacy Secretariat.

Houston Link to Learning became registered as a non-profit organization in September of 1990 under the name of Project Literacy Houston. The name was changed to Houston Link to Learning in 1995.

In 1991 Houston Link to Learning hosted the Northern Literacy conference, a meeting of Literacy stakeholders from across the province. Resulting from this conference was the report "Project Literacy Houston: A Model for Developing a Literacy/ Learning Center in Houston, B.C." This model led to the development of the Morice Community Skills Centre in 1995.

Also in 1995 Houston Link to Learning began the Community Computer Literacy program. It consisted of Lunchroom Learning, The Link at the Library, and Summer Computer Camps. This program placed two computers in the lunchrooms at the Northwood Sawmill for the use of the workers and two public access computers at the Houston Public Library. The summer computer camps have been held each summer since in partnership with Northwest Community College.

Houston Link to Learning continues to offer Adult Literacy Services to the community of Houston from its offices in Northwest Community College. We keep a literacy resource collection for tutors and learners to use. We partner in adult and family literacy programs with other Houston organizations and work to improve the awareness of Literacy issues in the community.

All material may be reproduced and altered for use. Full acknowledgment must be given to Houston Link to Learning as the source of the material. Comments and questions about this web site may be addressed to the Webmaster

Updated July 2006

STAFF


BOARD OF DIRECTORS