LVA-PW has spent 35 years teaching adults to read, write, speak, and listen in English – skills that open doors to jobs, healthcare, and community life. Founded by librarian Dona Swanson, who saw neighbors shut out simply because they couldn’t read a paycheck or write a letter home, it remains rooted in practical, learner-centered instruction. As the county has grown more diverse, including refugees and a large Hispanic community, LVA-PW has expanded beyond basic literacy into conversation, digital skills, workforce readiness, citizenship prep, and health literacy. Last year, it served 700 adult learners, 95% of them with low incomes, through more than 9,000 hours of free instruction. For learners like Marcela, a construction worker once hesitant to speak up on the job, that instruction means new confidence and a model of perseverance for her daughter.
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