Annual campaign
Literacy Without Limits 
For more than 50 years, the Kalamazoo Literacy Council has provided free, basic literacy and language skills to adults who struggle to read. We remain as passionate and steadfast as ever about serving those who need us and we offer deep gratitude for the many donors, volunteers, and partners who have supported us through the decades.
Related: Stories of volunteer service and adult learner excellence
Our free in-person and online programs strengthen reading, writing, spelling, and comprehension skills for native English speakers and English language learners. We believe everyone deserves equitable access to quality adult literacy services that empower them to reach their full potential.
2026 Literacy Advocates of the Year:
Kalamazoo Literacy Pathway Partners
The Kalamazoo Literacy Pathway connects families with literacy programs, resources, and wraparound services from multiple partner organizations – removing barriers and supporting learners of all ages. KLP partners – KLC, CIS, SLD Read, and RAWK – want everyone to develop effective reading, writing, and language skills. Our services help to cultivate lifelong learning, as well as celebrate and amplify learners’ voices.
In Kalamazoo County, more than 25,000 adults struggle to read.
Every Contribution makes a difference
- $75 provides training materials and workbooks for one tutor and one student.
- $150 provides annual subscriptions (newspapers, books, and magazines) for 10 adult learners.
- $300 trains three volunteer tutors to begin literacy instruction.
- $750 provides scholarships for 10 tutors or instructors to attend training workshops to sharpen their skills.
- $1,000 funds the annual costs for materials, assessments, and instruction for 10 adult learners.
- $2,500 funds the books and supplies for a Community Literacy Center that can serve 25 learners annually.
- $5,000 funds the online academic instruction and in-class tutoring support for 50 adult learners annually.
Parent literacy
Our Impact: Supporting the Resilience of Parents
Parent Literacy Together is a
multi-generational learning initiative that helps parents improve their literacy and language skills so they can help their children and families succeed. It connects parents who are reading at a low grade level to existing family literacy and child literacy programs and prepares them to be successful “first teachers” of their children.
The KLC engages parents of school-aged children with weekly in-person and online classes. We also offer outdoor learning in the Read and Seed Community 
Garden, located at Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan. Through this partnership, KLC parents of children ages 0-4 have access to free childcare in the Little Scholars Child Development Center. KLC parents also have access to our Workforce Literacy instruction for improving job skills, as well as Health Literacy, Financial Literacy, and Digital Literacy to improve the well-being of every household. We proudly serve these learners with a faculty of more than 200 trained volunteers.
$20,000
will be used to support 200 matched pairs.
Working Together
More than 30 organizations are working together as part of the Adult Literacy Collaboratives (ALC) of Kalamazoo County to ensure every adult has the educational level and skills to be successful at work, at home, and in the community. This group unites adult education, workforce development, literacy service providers, business, and other organizations to support the cause of adult literacy and is convened monthly by the KLC. Contact us for more information on the ALC.
$2,500
will be used to support the ALC.
Funds will support Parent Literacy Programs.
Workforce Development
Everyone needs to read to get a job. The JOBS program offers resume and cover letter writing, interview tips, and other critical literacy skills for the workplace.
Early Childhood Ed
Everyone needs to read to help their children learn. Our weekly "Parent Literacy Together" class and monthly Family Literacy Day events help families nurture a lifelong love of learning.
Healthcare
Everyone needs to read to manage their health. Our Health Literacy class helps learners make healthier decisions for themselves and their families.
Kalamazoo Literacy Council is a member organization of ProLiteracy.