Author: Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker, Literacy Texas Executive Director
A new year invites us to pause, to breathe, and to remember why we began this work in the first place. As we step into 2026, we’re doing so in the midst of uncertainty, tight resources, and growing demands for adult learning programs.
These are certainly trying times.
They are also deeply important ones.
Hope lives in classrooms held together by dedication, in lesson plans written late at night, and in volunteers who return week after week because they believe in the power of literacy.
Just as we continue to show up, so do the adult learners we serve. They trust us with their goals, their fears, and their belief that tomorrow can be better than yesterday. That trust matters, and it reminds us that our work is foundational to families, communities, and workforce stability.
The start of 2026 is an opportunity to refocus ourselves on what we can control.
We can strengthen relationships with learners.
We can support one another as colleagues and volunteers.
We can refine our programs, advocate for our work more boldly, and share the stories that show why adult literacy must remain a priority.
These small steps forward matter because, above all else, we are taking them together. New partnerships are forming. Innovative approaches are emerging. Communities are increasingly aware that literacy and workforce readiness are inseparable.
As we begin a new year, my greatest hope is that we can acknowledge the challenges without letting them define us. Let us enter 2026 ready to learn, to adapt, and to lead with compassion. The field of adult literacy has always been built by people who refuse to give up on possibility.
A new year is a fresh start, not because everything is suddenly easier, but because we choose to keep going. Together, we can make 2026 a year of renewed purpose, steady progress, and lasting impact for the learners who are counting on us.
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