Noticing Neighbors Literacy KC

Take a moment and think through your schedule: How much of your day today would be different if you experienced low literacy? Literacy KC both imagines this barrier and then works to improve it alongside their neighbors. The organization welcomes adults who want to work on their reading, writing, math, and digital literacy skills. This team shows up with expertise, empathy, and a mission of “changing lives beyond words.” Xavier Hankins has spent time as the Development Specialist & Grants Manager for Literacy KC, and sat down to share the stories behind the organization.

Hayley:

For readers who may not have heard of Literacy KC, can you speak to what the organization does for the community?

Xavier:

Yes, so Literacy KC is an adult education organization. We work with adults ages 16 and older who are trying to get their high school diploma or GED. We also have an English Language Learners program, and workforce development that we do as well. We have a partnership along with the public libraries throughout the city called Career Online High School for students who, as opposed to getting their high school equivalency, want to actually get their diploma as well as a trade certificate. So we partner with the libraries to bring that program. Then we have a family reading program called Let’s Read that works with early education centers throughout Kansas City.

Hayley:

That is all the things that you hope could exist for this field, and it’s in one organization.

Xavier:

Absolutely, it is amazing.

Hayley: How have you seen the programs change over time?

Xavier:

Well we first started as a volunteer program, with a one-on-one tutor model. In 2015, it transitioned to a classroom based model. So we have an instructor who leads the class, and then we have volunteers who support the students in class. Then just recently, in 2018, we added on the English Language Learning component, and then in 2020, we were fortunate enough to receive the Grant from the Department of Education, and it was for $6.2 million over three years. It allowed us to expand the high school equipment program, the English learner program, as well as at workforce development.

Hayley: Is this all happening at one location? Xavier: So in addition to our headquarters being at 31st and Troost, our English Language Learners Headquarters is at 13th in Clymer. We have 15 locations spread throughout different regions in Missouri. Some sites include Boys and Girls Club, Mattie Rhodes, Guadalupe Center— so we have a few different sites.

Hayley:

It reaches all over.

Xavier:

It's been growing consistently since I've been there, for sure. But it's not going to stop because, I mean, it's definitely a need.

Hayley:

What does that partnership look like with the library?

Xavier:

With the library, it is our Career Online High School program, and it's with Mid-Continent Public Library and Kansas City Public Library.

So the career online high school program is where students can get a scholarship to get their actual high school diploma from an accredited high school, and they have about 18 months to complete that. They get a counselor throughout the time, but in addition to getting their actual high school diploma, they are also working towards getting a career certificate as well. So they have different career tracks through the Career High School program, and students can select which one they want to go into, whether it's culinary or childcare. This program is all included in the partnership with the public library.

Hayley:

So they're able to chart what they want for their career while they're working on that, and choose a direction?

Xavier:

Yes, and it's all virtual. So those students don't have to come in to class. It is 100% virtual, and they just have to complete it in 18 months in order to retain their scholarship.

Hayley: I'm curious if you, or anyone on your team, has had any experience with seeing certain traits come out throughout the learning. Do you see a certain assurance develop?

Xavier:

We definitely notice that when students come into class in the beginning, they are timid. Whether they’re coming in for high school equivalency or ESL. Honestly admitting that you cannot read as an adult—it takes a lot of courage. It's not something that people are excited to say. So when they come in there and are a little unsure, we try to offer a very welcoming atmosphere for our students and so that way they feel supported from day one.

That's also why we have the volunteer component inside the classroom as well, just to give that student a little extra support right there in the moment. Because they might not be at that confidence level where they're ready to ask questions out loud in front of everyone. Then we do see that by midterm, those very committed students are smiling, happy, and opening up. It's just nice to see the growth throughout the year, and definitely when it comes to graduation time.

Hayley:

Making it through the program—that takes a lot of commitment.

Xavier:

It's definitely a lot of commitment on the student’s part, for sure. Even like with the High School Equivalency program. We'll help them pay to get the high school equivalency, but the commitment on their end is they have to come to class regularly. They have to do their assignments outside of class. So it is a big commitment on the students. But for students that are ready and they really want it, they get it done.

Hayley:

It sounds like with everyone involved on your team, it's very important how they show up to the room because, like you said, it needs to be warm and welcoming. How have you seen that? Xavier: Definitely. And I mean, we wouldn't be able to do the work we do without the support of the volunteers. So we definitely acknowledge and respect their support because they know the type of students that we're working with, whether it's from their own personal experience or just having been around it or coming to orientation and learning about it. I think just having that entity is what you need in the beginning, because everybody's situation is not the same. Then on top of it, the students have to live life outside of class as well. So we want to acknowledge that life is different for everybody outside of our building.

Hayley:

That's an important acknowledgement. How are you all showing you’re conscious of that?

Xavier:

We have a student advocate on staff and he helps our students with those barriers outside of the educational space. We are not trying to put our foot into case management, because that’s a very separate field, but it brings an extra layer of empathy. If a student is needing glasses, we help them with the resources to get glasses. If they maybe need to get a tooth pulled because that toothache is preventing them from coming to class, we get them hooked up with UMKC Dental School. So our student advocate finds different resources and connections to help our students with those one off barriers.

We also have a partnership with Harvesters, and a few other organizations, who bring food to our students throughout the week. We get fresh fruits and produce from a few different organizations like Nourish KC. It's nice to help with those shelf stable items to either eat in class because they just got off work and they're hungry, or even provide some items that they can take home.

We're not going to be able to fill their full refrigerator, by any means, but our student advocate can connect them with organizations to get more food if that's what they need. Hayley:

I love how you mentioned the word empathy. In your time working with Literacy KC, is there a way that the word ‘empathy’ has expanded to you?

Xavier:

Yes, definitely. So I've always done work in a social service context per se, with prior to Literacy KC I was doing mental healthcare case management.

So leading with empathy is something that has always been top of mind. Just because coming from the background I come from, you are aware that people don't have it all together like that, and that everybody's situation is totally different. Everybody's situation can change from moment to moment, primarily for people in the urban core. In terms of reading, think about how much we do that every day. Like, we drive to work and see all the cool billboards and read them and see all the upcoming events. But for a person who's low literate, everything's a blur to them. Their day goes by a lot longer and a lot harder than ours. These are things we do just out of natural sense, and I've encountered people who struggle with those day to day things we can take for granted.

Hayley:

Then just through their commitment, seeing that barrier lifted must be so freeing!

Xavier:

You can almost see a weight lifted as they come to class. The further along that they get, it's a very eye opening thing to see. It's very humbling to be a part of it.

Hayley:

I have one last question and it's very broad and you can take it any direction you want.

Xavier:

Okay.

Hayley:

You have a very important position, and I am curious: How have you seen goodness through your involvement in the organization?

Xavier:

Definitely from the community, because I am not in the direct service side of the programs. I am on the development side, so I do all of the grant writing and reporting and all that fun stuff. Seeing how the community supports and gets behind those in need are those that are really trying to do the work to make changes in the community. Whether it be low literacy, whether it be entrepreneurship, or whatever route it is, seeing the community partners and foundations who really get behind and encourage provide different points of views for programs. It's nice to see the different ways that the community steps up.