About Us
When adult learners improve literacy, they unlock possibilities to shape their future, support themselves and their family, and engage in their community.
Literacy DuPage is a 501(c)(3) non-profit offering free, customized one-to-one tutoring to help low-income adults (21+) achieve their life-skill goals. We work with learners who are building basic English skills or reading below a 9th-grade level, many of whom face barriers such as limited transportation, childcare needs, or demanding work schedules. Our conversation groups provide intermediate-level adult ESL learners an opportunity to practice listening and speaking English in a relaxed, comfortable setting with their peers.
What Low Literacy Looks Like in Daily Life
Low literacy affects nearly every aspect of daily living. Adults with limited English or reading skills may struggle to:
Communicate with healthcare providers, understand prescriptions, or complete medical forms
Support their children’s education by reading to them, helping with homework, or communicating with teachers
Apply for jobs, advance at work, or understand workplace expectations
Navigate digital systems for email, appointments, banking, or education
Manage finances, housing paperwork, or consumer contracts
Participate fully in community life, from obtaining a library card to becoming a citizen
Improving literacy gives adults the tools they need to navigate these challenges with confidence and independence.
“Tutoring allows you to make a real, measurable difference in someone’s life. I was surprised by how much my students have taught me. I’ve loved learning about other cultures and becoming true friends with the adult learners that I’ve met.”
How Our Programs Work
Customized One-to-One Tutoring
Each year, approximately 215 trained volunteers provide one-to-one, learner-centered tutoring to over 275 adults. One-to-one tutoring is our signature program and the primary way we deliver our mission in the community. Tutor-Learner pairs meet at public libraries for up to two hours a week. Learners work on skills that help them read, write, speak, and understand English, navigate healthcare, support their children’s education, enhance employment opportunities, and confidently handle daily life—like calling 911, talking with teachers, or reading to their children.
Key program features include:
Flexible scheduling with tutor/learner pairs meeting up to two hours per week
Sessions held at public libraries or other convenient community locations
Open entry and exit throughout the year
Progress measured every 35 instructional hours using standardized assessments and documented goal achievement
Ongoing goal-setting as learners advance
Learners typically participate for an average of 18 months, continuing until their goals are met or they achieve a high level of proficiency and graduate from the program.
Tutor Training and Support
Literacy DuPage recruits, trains, and supports volunteers to ensure high-quality instruction. All new tutors complete a required 15-hour pre-service training before being matched with a learner. Tutors receive ongoing guidance and resources to support learner-centered, effective instruction.
Conversation Groups
As a supplemental service, conversation groups provide adult English learners with intermediate-level skills a supportive, low-pressure environment to practice listening and speaking. Designed to complement one-to-one tutoring, these groups help learners gain confidence, improve practical English for everyday life, connect with others in their community, and take steps toward achieving their personal and professional goals. Offered in both virtual and in-person formats, conversation groups are flexible, drop-in opportunities that extend learning beyond individualized instruction. On average, 3–10 people attend each session.
These groups:
Support real-life communication skills
Foster community and belonging
Take place in person or virtually via Zoom
Are free and open to participants
Conversation Groups complement one-to-one tutoring and help learners strengthen their voices in everyday life.
“Tutoring is immensely satisfying for your own personal growth and the growth of your learner. For those that say there isn’t time in their day or week to do it-make time, you won’t regret it. The resources at our libraries and LDP are enough to sustain you and your learner.”
Mission
Help adults achieve their life-skill goals and reach their full potential by providing free, accessible tutoring customized to each learner’s needs, along with structured conversation groups that strengthen English-language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Vision
A community where every adult has the literacy skills to shape their future, support their family, and participate fully in community life.
Strategic Plan
July 2026 - June 2029 strategic plan.
Key Areas of Focus and Strategic Goals
Program Access, Design, and Evaluation
Ensure adult learners in DuPage County can access high-quality, personalized tutoring that effectively meets their English literacy goals.
Organizational Strength
Build a resilient, skilled, and engaged organization, including staff, volunteers, and board, capable of delivering and sustaining program excellence.
Community Awareness and Partnerships
Strengthen our visibility and impact through strategic partnerships and increased community awareness of adult literacy needs.
Financial Stability and Donor Relations
Achieve sustainable financial health by diversifying funding sources and cultivating strong, lasting relationships with donors and supporters.
Core Values
Learner-Centered – We prioritize the unique goals, strengths, and challenges of each adult learner.
Accessibility & Equity – We ensure our programs are inclusive and remove barriers to adult education.
Self-Determination – We believe literacy is a transformative tool that enables adults to achieve independence and opportunity.
Excellence & Integrity – We maintain high-quality tutoring, operational excellence, and ethical practices in all we do.
Collaboration & Community – We work closely with volunteers, partners, and the community to amplify our impact.
Lifelong Learning – We embrace continuous growth for learners, volunteers, and staff, and adapt to meet evolving needs.
History
Literacy DuPage was founded in 1972 by Wheaton residents, friends, and former teachers Thelma McPherson and Joanna Grinter. Their work began when Thelma welcomed a Southeast Asian refugee into her home and invited Joanna to provide English lessons. As they became aware of the growing need for language support among foreign-born residents, particularly during an influx of refugees from Korea, Cambodia, and Vietnam, their efforts quickly expanded.
Thelma discovered Literacy Volunteers of America in New York, which inspired the creation of a DuPage County affiliate. In addition to supporting immigrants, the organization also served native English speakers with limited literacy skills.
In its first year, Literacy DuPage served 39 students with the help of 22 tutors. The organization was later granted 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in 1992.