The Literacy Coalition of the Permian Basin (LCPB) celebrated its second year of working to improve literacy rates with the release of its first annual report. Since its founding, the coalition has used programming, sub-grants and book distributions to help over 10,000 individuals across the 22-county area it serves.
“I want to express my appreciation to our funders, stakeholders, board members, partners and staff for their ongoing support and commitment to this worthwhile cause. Only together can we tackle an issue as large and impactful as low literacy,” John Trischitti III, Literacy Coalition of the Permian Basin executive director, said in a public letter on July 24.
According to its website, the Literacy Coalition of the Permian Basin (LCPB) was founded to improve the lives of all people in the Permian Basin as well as other parts of West Texas and Eastern New Mexico by increasing their reading skills. LCPB spent its first year in the Midland Shared Spaces startup incubator, but in fiscal year 2022-23 emerged as a standalone 501(c)(3), Trischitti said in his letter.
Critical to the coalition's research and success, according to Trischitti, have been the 2022 Needs Assessment from the American Institute of Research and the Economic Impact Study on how low literacy affects the economy on a local level.
Other milestones cited in his letter include the expansion of POWER Bag into the area of Ft. Stockton in 2022, when Pecos County Hospital and five other hospital partners distributed POWER Bags containing a book as well as child wellness information. Midland County Drug Court and Teen Court have been helping by referring individuals for reading assessments, which has served as a resource for personal growth, Trischitti said.
Additionally, LCPB has awarded sub-grants to literacy initiatives across West Texas and Eastern New Mexico totaling over $60,000, according to Trischitti. This has enabled the organization to increase programming and address low literacy at a larger level.
Trischitti went on to mention the events LCPB has planned for next year, including its inaugural fundraiser when it will partner with the Laura Bush Institute for Women’s Health to bring Jenna and Barbara Bush to Midland.
Additionally, LCPB is anticipating the launch of the Laura Bush Ladies for Literacy. “United by our mission to serve the community, we strive to create a supportive network of passionate women who are committed to advancing literacy and making a lasting impact,” Trischitti wrote. “LCPB remains committed to further expansion of existing programs, while building infrastructure and capacity, to address low literacy in areas without current offerings.”
Trischitti joined LCPB after spending 15 years as an early literacy advocate in public libraries, according to his LinkedIn page. Most recently he had been the Midland County Public Libraries library director.
For more information about LCPB, visit this link.