It's a more different world to navigate through when you are low literate or low health literate.
LVA-PW is determined to change that!
LVA-PW Mission and Organization
LVA-PW Mission
To provide dignity, equity, and inspiration
through the gift of literacy and health literacy
Background
Literacy Volunteers – Prince William (LVA-PW) was founded 25 years ago by Dona Swanson, a local-area librarian in Prince William County. The idea first came to Ms. Swanson six years earlier when a library patron asked Ms. Swanson if she could teach him to read. Ms. Swanson not only helped this individual learn to read, but decided this would be her calling.
Founder Dona Swanson recruited other colleagues and turned her calling into an incorporated mission. We have since grown to be the largest adult literacy nonprofit organization in Prince William County helping hundreds of residents annually. Since 95% of our students are low income, all our classes are available to adult learners at no cost. We are the only literacy organization in the area that offers free classes to its students.
Helping students find their voice
LVA-PW teaches adult students how to be better communicators – to understand and to be understood; to find their voice in the communities in which they live. Our students have 100+ classes to enroll in annually. ALL classes are at no cost to the student.
Adult students enrolled at LVA-PW set their personal goals – both immediate and long-term. One student may want to improve their English-language skills so that they can get a better job or a promotion. Another student may want to read a prescription bottle and communicate clearly with a healthcare professional. Whatever the reason our students come to us, LVA-PW accommodates their educational goals. They can take as many classes as they wish, for as long as they wish, all at NO COST to them.
Computer literacy class at LVA-PW office
Our approach to adult literacy
Our approach to adult literacy incorporates an innovative, holistic approach to adult learning. It encapsulates a broader understanding of literacy encompassing both general English-based literacy skills with complex health-related information.
We not only help students read, write, speak, and comprehend English, but do so by including health-related lessons in our curriculum.
Technology and LVA-PW
It’s a technology-driven world. It is why technology plays a profound role in our program. In our on-site computer lab, we will teach students computer fundamentals. This course is a prerequisite to classes that will be offered soon in e-health. E-health is changing the way healthcare is administered and has become an essential literacy for our students to experience and learn.
Our use of Artificial Intelligence will have the most impact on our adult educational program. In fact, we believe AI technology, in combination with our holistic teaching approach, will help us alleviate low literacy and low health literacy in breakthrough fashion.
Our Staff
John Swirchak, Chief Executive Officer
Mary Lopez, Program Administrator
Board of Directors
Lynn Kerr – President
Delores Bazile - Vice President
Barbara Ball – Treasurer
George Kerr – Secretary
Eduardo Lopez
Ernestine Jenkins
Lynne Mason
Yvonne Robertson
Miguel Rodas
Ana Kennedy