Hell�! Thank you for your on-going support of the Chicago Citywide Literacy Coalition.  We are grateful to

everyone who invested in our work, collaborated on our efforts, and trusted our mission. With you, we wereable to accomplish our goals this year, despite the uncertain and vulnerable times in our state.  At the Coalition, we believe that adults with low skills can move out of poverty when education andworkforce development programs are aligned to create a Career Pathway framework.  This belief drives allof our work.  To that end, we spent the past year researching the equity of adult education fundingdistributions.  As you’ll read in this report, our study found that nearly 70% of adult education learners do notmeet the eligibility requirements of half of the Career Pathways programs currently available.  This meansthat the majority of the 500,000 Chicagoans with low skills are unable to access the services they need tomove along a Career Pathway and into family-sustaining wages.

To address this gap, the Coalition convened 40 local and national adult education experts to learn about theresearch findings and best practices in Career Pathway programming. Moving forward, the Coalition willcontinue to bring together experts to create innovative solutions so that adult learners can move forwardregardless of where they begin their journey along the pathway.

Additionally, the Coalition galvanized adult education providers and program participants to advocate forresources and to highlight the benefits and effectiveness of adult education.  Throughout the course of theyear, the Coalition led the charge of securing a state budget by leading a rally, organizing a trip toSpringfield and through facilitating advocacy trainings.

In the past year, we have invested $75,000 into our member organizations through both our health anddigital literacy programs.  Our goal is to help programs retain learners so that they can move onto the nextstep on their Career Pathway.

Again, we are very excited to share this report with you.  We appreciate you as an important partner in ourwork, and we look forward to deepening our engagement with you in the future. Sincerely, 

Mary Kay Devine                                     

Board President                                      

Leadership

Mary Kay Devine, President Oswaldo Alvarez, Vice President

Cyndi Elliott, Secretary Lisbeth Goble, PhD, Treasurer

Kathy Allison, Founding Member Lawrence Blakley, Founding Member

Daniel Faichney Jessica Goble

Susie Karwowski Carmen Kimble, PhD

Gerardo Sandoval

1

Board of Directors

Staff Board and Staff attending the 2017 Beyond Books Awards Ceremony.

Back row: Daniel Faichney, Susie Karwowski, Lawrence Blakley, Jessica Goble, KathyAllison, Carmen Goble, Gerardo Sandoval

Front row: Jazmine Salas, Lisbeth Goble, Mary Kay Devine, Becky Raymond, OswaldoAlvarez, Cyndi Elliott, Alex Ziskind

Becky Raymond, Executive Director Dena Giacometti, Program Manager Jazmine Salas, Communications

Associate Alex Ziskind, Program Manager 

Becky Raymond Executive Director

Most programs have a minimum test scorerequirement, keeping adults with low scoresfrom accessing services. 

In order for adults with low skills to move ontocareer pathways, viable entry points need tobe created.

May 1, 2017Data-to-Action Summit 

The Coalition presented preliminary researchfindings on how adults with skills gaps accessCareer Pathway programs to a group of keyleaders in the field. Participants also developedpolicy recommendations to improve services.

40 National Experts

and Civic LeadersAttended

Launched theCareer PathwaysAdvisory Council

Supporting WhitePaper Released

May 2017

Key  Research 

Findings 

Career Pathways Programming for Lower-Skilled Adults and Immigrants: AComparative Analysis of Adult Education Providers in High- Need Cities is aresearcher-practitioner partnership between researchers at the Institute for theStudy of Adult Literacy at Penn State University and practitioners at the Coalition,the Houston Center for Literacy, and the Miami-Dade County Public Schools.Funded by the Institute of Education Sciences, the project came to an end duringthe 2016 fiscal year. 

Presented project findings at 3 Adult

Education Conferences and 

1 Summit

7 The Coalition convened 7

advocacy meetings featuringproviders and other

stakeholders.

Co-Hosted  the first Rally 

for Adult Education

100 attendees

5studentspeakers

March 29, 2017

The Coalition mobilized 30adult learners and agency

staff mobilized to Springfieldfor the Illinois Adult and

Continuing EducationAssociation's Lobby Day

30

Additional KeyAdvocacy

Milestones

Shapin� th� Career Pathway� Agend�

Leadin� th� Charg� for � Stat�Budge�

35 The Coalition trained 35 adult

learners and providers oneffective advocacy storytellingthrough two workshops.

Building a research-based and community-informed Career Pathways system. 

Nearly 70% of students do notmeet minimum requirements

Over 50% of programs have these requirements

Our advocacy work generated momentum in the field that spurred providers and their students totake action. 

2

September 30, 2016

1,048Adult Learners 8

CommunityBased 

Organizations

86% of learners reported the

program increased theirconfidence to usetechnology.

85% of learners stated that the

technology aided them inunderstanding their futureeducation and employment path. 

86% of instructors said greater use of

technology had a positiveimpact on student learningoutcomes in reading.”  

$40,000

According to one instructor, “75% ofALTIP participants that receivedclassroom instruction with technologyintegration demonstrated at least onenational reporting system gain. This isnearly twice the rate for adult educationprogram as a whole.”

One learner said, "Theteacher helped usunderstand different topics.His knowledge abouttechnology improved myskills in the use of internetand computer programs."

*

*Data taken from a survey of 200 adult learners that participated in the 2016-2017 program

Participating Organizations: B.E.S.T. Adult Volunteer Literacy Program  •  D & H Literacy Center  •  Howard Area Community Center  •  Indo-American Center   •  The Learning Center Onward Neighborhood House  •  PODER  •  Tolton Center

inthat served

Closing the Digital Divide

275Adult Learners7 Community

Based Organizations 5

Federally QualifiedHealthCenters

70%Women

60%Latino 76%

Have Children

81% of learners could 

identify a place to go if sick or seeking medical advice

75% of learners could 

successfully identify onesymptom of diabetes. 

79% of learners could

successfully identify onesymptom of heart disease.

One adult learner was diagnosedwith diabetes prior to the program.

After completing the lessons, hechanged his diet and exercise

routine. He later reported nolonger needing to use insulin or

other diabetic medication. 

The adult educators reportedthat many students expressedinterests in gaining furtherknowledge on health relatedtopics, and some even reportedan increase in enrollment in theirhealth centers.

Participating Adult Education Organizations:Centro Romero  Chicago Commons  •  ErieNeighborhood House    Greater West TownCommunity Development Project  •  HowardArea Community Center  •  The Learning Center • United for Better Living

Participant Demographics

Empowering Adults to Take Ownership of their Health

Impactin� Program�

The Coalition invested 

Through our Adult Literacy and Technology Integration Project (ALTIP), the Coalition awarded stipendsthat allowed programs to expand their digital literacy curriculum. 

The Empowerment-Based Health Literacy Program is building healthy communities by providinghealth education and connecting families to health care providers. 

$35,000The Coalition invested 

in

that linked

to

*

By the end of the program,

Partnering Health Centers: ACCESSCommunity Health Network  •  Alivio Medical

Center  •  Heartland Health Centers  •  ErieHealth Center  •  Saint Anthony’s Hospital

3

�nancial�

Donor�

4

Revenues and Other Support Individual contributions

Foundation and trust grants Service fees

Special events Release from restrictions 

Total Revenues and Support

Unrestricted

$      1,559 179,900 6,000 23,172 200,127 410,758

Program Services (79.25%)

Management and General (12.08%)

Fundraising (8.67%)

Abraham Celio Alex Ziskind

Alice Pearl's Jewelry BoxAlice Mosley

Amanda Cage Amy Killbrew

Andrea Saenz Angelica Saucedo

Anil Mudholkar Ann Darnton

Anna Mathe Arlington International 

    Racecourse Ava Schneider Barbara Grunewald

Becky Raymond Beth Schubert

Betsy Rubin Bill O'Connell

Blake Goble Bob Fittin

Bob Moncada Boka Restaurant Group

Brenda Palm Brian Bannon Bucketfeet

Burt Ziskind Carmen Kimble, PhD

Carol Larsen Carol Molnar Carole J. Walls

Carrie Thomas Chad Flores

Chicago Architecture      Foundation

Chicago Bears Chicago Cubs

Chicago Sky Chicago White Sox

Chicago Wolves Chris Bergin

Chris Kammer Christina Warden

Country House        Restaurant

Cyndi Elliott Daniel Faichney

Daniel Loftus Chicago Cubs Chicago Sky

Chicago White Sox Chicago Wolves

Chris Bergin Chris Kammer

Christina Warden Country House Restaurant

Cyndi Elliott Daniel Faichney

Daniel Loftus David KcKeown

David Pesqueira Deb O'Connell

Deborah Bennett Dena Giacometti Dining Dough

Dorothy Miaso Edward Schneidman

Edwin Pinto Edyta Drewniak

Eileen Molony Ellen Davidson Ellen Ziskind

Emily Achler Emily Doherty

Emma SchneiderEric Carle

Esther Perez George Williams College 

     of Aurora UniversityGerardo Sandoval

Half Price Books Harry and David        Chocolate

Herlinda Macias Irving Kimble Sr Ismael Alba

Jacqueline SummervilleJames Flamm

James Denosky Jan Woelffer

Janet Wright Jason Coulter

Jason Honig Jason St. Peters

Jeff Grunewald Jennifer Foster Jennifer Galamba

Jenny Wittner Jerry DeJaager

Jessica Goble Jessie Gotsdiner

Johnnie Mae McGeeJim Lutz

Joanna Greene Jodie Lawton

Joffrey Ballet ChicagoJohn Chanas

Josefina CavazosJoseph Tully

Judith Kossy Judy Cohn

Julie Robertson Kane County Cougars

Kaneesha Craig Karen Molnar

Karin Norington-ReavesKathy Riordan

Katie St. Peters Kimberly Skalman

Larry Fitzpatrick Laura Knights

Lauren Ziskind Lawrence Blakley

Linda Thomas Lisa Hampton Lisbeth Goble, PhD

Liz Czarnecki Local Goods

Lou Malnatis Luis Roman

Luisa Hernandez Luisa Sanchez

Marcia Medema Maria Perez

Maria Pesqueira Mariah Balaban Marilyn Murchinson

Mark Molnar Mary Kay Devine

Maryellen Fields Maureen Hellwig

Maureen MeehanMegan Wells

Michael Ban Michael Matos

Michaela Gordon Michelle Perez

Mike Tomas Miriam Gonzalez

Nanaia Kimble Neil Hoying

Newberry Library Nicole Trackman Old Town School of 

     Folk Music One Off Hospitality

Open Books Oswaldo Alvarez

Pamela Goble, PhDPanera Bread

Paper Source Paramount Theatres

Patti Renda, PhD Patricia Novick, PhD

Paula Ladin Precious James

Priya Shah Purple Monkey 

     Playroom Ramon Sanchez

Red7 Salon Regan Brewer-Johnson

Renuka Sharma Ricardo Estrada Richard Bosserman

Rodrigo Paredes Roger Goble

Ron Molnar Ruth Strother

Ryan Goble Sandy Lutz Sarah Frick Sean Ruwart

Second City Sekile Nzinga-Johnson

Selma D'Souza Settler's Hill Golf Course

Shana Barrera

Sharon Jenkins Sharon Powell

Sheridan Chaney Shirley Jenkins

Shirlondra Brooks Stephen Alderson

Steppenwolf Sunset Foods

Susie KarwowskiTena Kunik

Teri Tomaszkiewicz Timothy Warren

Timothy White Tony Grewing Tracy Adams Valerie J. Willer

Vaughn Bryant Vera Bradley

Vivian Alvarez Wendy Jaffe

William Adams Yolaine Jean

Zed 451

$100,000 - $50,000

Chicago Tribune Charities   Holiday Campaign, a McCormick

   Foundation Fund JPMorgan Chase

Lloyd A. Fry Foundation The Chicago Community Trust

$999 and below

Expenses

Program services

Support services

Management 

General fundraising

Total expenses

315,349

48,094

34,483

397,926

Expenses

$49,999 - $1,000

Penn State UniversityPolk Bros. FoundationThomas A. & Jeannie M. Tisbo