If your organization serves the literacy needs of adults through the services of trained
volunteers, TAALC is your organization. Formed in 2000 as a grassroots effort of literacy providers,
TAALC seeks to network the strengths of programs all over Texas and to provide resources
and benefits. The TAALC membership
provides one voice and a unified force for the cause of
adult literacy.
TAALC HISTORY
On April 24, 1989, Texas Adult Literacy
Laubach (TALL) was officially incorporated in Austin, Texas, as
a 501©(3) non-profit organization of the national Laubach
Literacy Action (LLA). Articles of Incorporation were signed by
the State Library Literacy Specialist, who spearheaded the
project; the Executive Director of Angelina County Literacy
Council; and the Executive Director of Literacy Advance of
Houston. TALL’s purpose was to address the needs of established
and evolving literacy programs through communication, education,
and public awareness. TALL’s goals were to provide state-of-the
art training and a marketing strategy in the areas of funding
and advocacy.
Since its inception, TALL has been active
and successful in the literacy field, establishing diversity
geographically and in size and types of providers. TALL grew to
a Board of 21 members who were predominantly Texas Laubach
affiliates. In August 2000 at a joint conference held by
Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA) and LLA in Nacogdoches,
Texas, a Task Force of representatives from LVA and LLA was
formed. It was entitled Texas Association of Adult Literacy
Councils (TAALC) which had a purpose and goals similar to TALL’s.
On August 24, 2001, at another joint
meeting of the two organizations in San Marcos, Texas, the TAALC
Task Force agreed to operated under the name of TAALC and to
retain the 501(c)(3) status of TALL. They elected two members
from each organization to serve on the Executive Committee.
Today they continue to expand on the original TALL structure
under TEA guidelines. They operated in cooperation with the new
national ProLiteracy America, which resulted from the merger of
Literacy Volunteers of America and Laubach Literacy
International. Participants include city and county libraries,
community colleges, universities, school districts, reading
coalitions, community-based literacy councils, faith-based
literacy programs, and student leadership organizations.