Nearly 1 in 5 Wichita adults struggle with literacy. New initiative seeks solutions.
What's happening
The Wichita Journalism Collaborative is addressing adult literacy challenges in the community with its new initiative, "Beyond Words: Wichita’s Reading Crisis." They will host a kickoff event on September 17 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at The Advanced Learning Library. Participants will engage in simulations designed to illustrate the difficulties faced by individuals with dyslexia and other learning challenges. Staff from the Phillips Fundamental Learning Center and the Wichita Public Library will present collected data on local literacy rates, highlighting that nearly 20% of Sedgwick County adults test at a Level 1 literacy or below.
Key details
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20% of adults in Sedgwick County have Level 1 literacy or below.
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"Beyond Words" targets the adult literacy crisis by identifying resource needs in the community.
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The event aims to raise awareness of adult literacy issues and engage the public.
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Savannah Ball from the Wichita Public Library emphasizes the lack of support for adults struggling with reading.
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The event is facilitated by the Phillips Fundamental Learning Center and Wichita Public Library staff.
What to watch next
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Public interest and attendance at the September 17 event.
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Potential development of additional adult literacy resources after the initiative's findings.
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Follow-up coverage from the Wichita Journalism Collaborative on literacy statistics and community engagement.
Source Article
Nearly 1 in 5 Wichita adults struggle with literacy. New initiative seeks solutions.
Source: Wichita Journalism Collaborative
Published: Sep 13, 2026
How to Participate
Attend the Hearing
Kickoff event to explore the literacy crisis with simulations for participants.
Sep 17, 2023 6:00 PM
The Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. Second St.
People & Organizations
Organizations mentioned
Phillips Fundamental Learning Center
Wichita Journalism Collaborative
Wichita Public Library
People mentioned
Loren Amelunke
Savannah Ball
Locations mentioned
Sedgwick County
The Advanced Learning Library
Wichita