(Washington, DC) On Tuesday, January 29th, State Superintendent of Education Deborah A. Gist will be joined by local government officials and top executives from the Washington, DC, business community to kick-off the READ OUT LOUD initiative. The READ OUT LOUD kick-off is being held to bring awareness to the literacy resources and assistance available to adults.

One-third of all District residents read at or below a third-grade level. Low literacy and the lack of skills required to succeed in a competing job market take a terrible toll on many District residents. The city’s low literacy rate is a serious and growing problem that threatens the future of the District’s workforce and economy. More than 10,000 adults received literacy services in the District in 2007.

What: The READ OUT LOUD Kick-Off

Who: Harry Thomas Jr., Ward 5 Councilmember
           Deborah A. Gist, DC State Superintendent of Education
          Jeff Carter, Executive Director, DC Learns
          Juanita Wade, DC Initiatives Program Manager, Fannie Mae
          Lecester Johnson, Executive Director, Academy of Hope
          Doreen Johnson, adult learner
                 
When:   Tuesday, January 29, 2008 
               12:00 noon – 12:30 pm       
 
Where:  Academy of Hope
               601 Edgewood Street, NE, #25
               Washington, DC 20017
               (202) 269-6623
               Red Line Metro – Rhode Island Avenue