“Without the skill of reading, it’s so hard to do anything else,” says Becky Garvin, Director of Project READ (www.project-read.org).

The organization, which was first organized in 1988, aims to make sure that as many adults and children as possible have access to literacy tutoring, books, GED training, and other literacy-based programs.

But this is not an organization that works by itself. In fact, Project READ’s mission is to create a coalition of public and private organizations to deliver literacy services throughout Montgomery, Greene and Preble counties.

Project READ has been based at Sinclair Community College since 1990.

“This collaboration wa s— and is —a real gift!” Garvin says. The educational institution provides Project READ with a home base, though in-kind usage of office space. And a home base provides the infrastructure that frees the organization to focus on connecting learners with literacy services.

“We don’t provide direct services,” Garvin explains. “We are, however, the literacy connection in the community, providing referrals for adult learners, placing tutors in the classrooms, connecting students to higher education readiness classes and GED training.”

Garvin also notes that Dayton is a very collaborative community. Peers in similar programs in other cities marvel at how well various agencies, schools and organizations work together in Dayton to advocate literacy, she says.

What’s more, although it has a minimal staff, the organization keeps growing in its outreach, thanks to the power of collaboration. “We started as helping adult learners only; now we help families as well,” Becky explains. “Through book drives, children receive their very first books. And partnerships abound. For example, through a learning community program at University of Dayton, we trained 150 tutors who will go out into our greater Dayton area and work with adults and children.”

The organization’s 2011/2012 fiscal year numbers tell an impressive story of just how powerful a collaborative coalition model can be:

• Project READ staff individually matched 1,841 adult learners with local classes through the Project READ Helpline—(937) 461-7323.

• The organization recruits, trains, places and manages volunteers who tutor adults in reading or English as a Second Language (ESOL); 149 adult learners were helped in this way.

• Similarly, 427 children were helped through reading or ESOL training during the 2011-2012 school year.

• 14,000 new or slightly used books were distributed to children and families in need.

• Through 40 community events, Project READ reached nearly 12,000 people with information about literacy issues, importance and needs.

On that note, Garvin says that any time is a good time to talk about literacy, but she’s especially glad to share this information now as the organization’s 2012/2013 year gets underway.

“We are just getting started with our training programs for the year,” Garvin says. “And we always need more tutors. We encourage people to visit our website and consider attending our training to learn about one of the most fulfilling volunteer opportunities.”

To see the organization’s training information and schedule, visit www.project-read.org and click on the “Tutor Training Schedule” link or call 937-461-7323 for more information.

EVENTS FOR READERS

There are plenty of events for readers this week, including Books & Co. at the Greene hosting four authors, with novels set in the past, present and future, and covering a wide range of subjects:

• Today, Oct. 21, 2 p.m., Tasha Alexandra introduces Death in the Floating City, the seventh book in her Lady Emily historical suspense series.

• Tuesday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. (line numbers at 6 p.m.) Baxter Black, known as America’s Cowboy Poet, introduces his newest modern-day hilarious novel, Ride, Cowboy, Ride: 8 Seconds Ain’t That Long,

• Wednesday, Oct. 24, 5:30 p.m., Denise Lehane makes his first appearance at Books & Co., with Live by Night, a 1920s prohibition era tale.

• Wednesday, Oct. 24, 7:00 p.m., Martha Moody, an author who writes and lives in the Dayton area, introduces her newest novel, Sharp and Dangerous Virtues, set in Dayton in 2047.

EVENTS FOR WRITERS

• Oct. 27 is the deadline to enter the “Writers For Peace” competition, sponsored by Antioch University Midwest’s Dizney Writing Center in conjunction with The Dayton Literary Peace Prize 2012. For more info: call 937-769-1657 or visit http://daytonliterarypeaceprize.org/ and click on the contest’s link at the bottom of the page.

• Oct. 27, 2-4 p.m. or Oct. 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Word’s Worth Writing Connections presents a course in preparing for NaNoWrMo led by author Katrina Kittle, at Oakwood Starbucks,2424 Far Hills Ave.; for more information or to register visit www.wordsworthdayton.com.

Oct. 27, 2-5 p.m., Dayton Metro Library’s “Focus on Fiction,” Main Library, led by novelist Trudy Krisher.