Who We Are As many as 15% of Mainers are functioning at the lowest levels of literacy. And besides the shame, frustration, and poor prospects this creates for individuals, low literacy also harms our communities. Statistics show that adult low literacy has strong links to weak parenting ability, criminal activity, poor health, and low income. All these conditions are addressed, if they are, through tax dollars. Since 1969, Literacy Volunteers of Bangor has provided free, quality literacy support to adults who want to improve their literacy and their lives. Through a multi-faceted program, we help over 300 students each year work toward their language goals. By doing so, they can improve their job prospects and/or income, help their children with schoolwork, and become more active citizens. What We Do With over 300 volunteers, mostly trained tutors, we work with adults one-on-one. In our proven, student-centered approach, adults set their own goals and schedule. They may choose to focus on such goals as earning a diploma, getting a driver’s license, or improving their work-related communication. Some simply want to be able to read more fluently, often to their children or grandchildren; others may be immigrants who want to improve their spoken English.