Los Angeles Co Library - L.A. County facing growing poverty, erosion of middle class, United Way report says

L.A. County facing growing poverty, erosion of middle class, United Way report says
LA Times Blog – LA Now: February 9, 2010 by Ching-Ching Ni

Los Angeles County faces a poverty crisis and an erosion of the middle class that could worsen under the current economic downturn, according to a report by the United Way.

The county's poverty rate is now higher than the rest of the nation's, according to the report, which surveyed the county's economic situation in 2009. More than 1.47 million people, or 15% of the county's population, live on an income of $22,000 a year for a family of four, the report says. The national average is 13%.

The full report will be available Tuesday at 3 p.m. at the United Way of Greater Los Angeles' website.

Nearly four in 10 people in L.A. County suffer from extreme poverty, the report says; those people live on less than $5,400 a year for a single person or about $11,000 for a family of four.

The jobless rate had soared to 12.3% by early 2009, wiping out all job growth from the previous decade, the report states. Wages remained stagnant and did not keep up with housing costs.

The middle class also felt the pinch, the report says. Only 1% of salaried workers saw significant income growth, while the average worker’s pay fell nearly $2 an hour.

The United Way survey also said the ranks of the working poor swelled in 2009. Defined as families of four making less than $44,000 a year, that group in Los Angeles County is now 7.5% greater than the national average. READ MORE !

Tale of Two Cities has Statistics for: Education, Employment & Income, Homelessness & Housing and Health.

Monrovia Library - Adult Learners Study Long Hours at the Library

Adult Learners Study Long Hours at the Library
Monrovia Literacy Blog: February 8, 2010

The Library’s adult literacy program had 67 learners in 2009, who spent over 2000 hours studying to improve their reading and writing skills. Learners used a variety of methods to improve their literacy skills, including meeting with a volunteer tutor, listening to books on CD, and using computer programs or watching videos on phonics, spelling, grammar and GED.

For many of our learners, this is more than the average literate American reads! Many of our adult learners have multiple jobs, meaning that a commitment to come to the Library once a week is a challenge. Dedicating so much time to reading is a huge accomplishment for the learners, one which they realize will ultimately help them get better jobs, help their children succeed in school, and help them in daily activities such as reading their mail, using a bank or visiting the doctor.

Literacy . . . Info . . . News . . . Questions

Our State, Our Schools:
California Students Take it Back!California Prison Moratorium Project Blog: February 8, 2010 Originally printed in the Fresno Undercurrent

Once upon a time California held the model public education system in the country, seeing educating youth and workers, regardless of income, as a crucial investment. In the 1980s a drastic priority shift occurred, redirecting funds from education to other, less beneficial industries such as the prison industrial complex.

Since 1980 California State University has lost $650 million in state general funding support and student fees have increased 1,188%, from $231 a year to today’s $2,976 . This past year alone fees have been raised 32% and the coming year is looking at another fee hike.

Teachers are getting laid off, classes have been cut, mandatory furloughs for nearly 47,000 employees reduce class time, and enrollment caps kept out 35,000 incoming freshman for the 2010 spring semester and the winter semester is looking about the same. The University of California system and community colleges have all had similar funding problems.

Governor Schwarzenegger’s most recent budget plan includes another $2.4 billion in cuts from education while the state is eagerly moving forward on a $12 billion prison expansion project. READ MORE !

Invest in communities not cages... It’s the only solution

2010 SCLLN Literacy Conference

SCLLN Tutor Learner Literacy Conference

- Last Week for Early Bird Registration -

February 27, 2010

Buena Park Holiday Inn

9:00 am – 4:00 pm

"Extra! Extra! Read All About It in the Literacy Tribune!”
Daniel Pedroza, United Literacy
will talk about his journey as an adult learner, experiences in the literacy field, and his current work with The Literacy Tribune, a newsletter specifically designed for adult learner issues and interests.

“Teaching Writing by Rote”Janis Young, Senior Librarian, Adult Educational, Ontario City Library
Routine repetition to strengthen writing skills. We will practice this useful technique beginning with simple exercises and working up to more complex applications.

“Finding and Using Freeware in Your Lessons”Diane Moseley, Literacy Consultant
Learn how to find and use free tools from the internet for developing and customizing your lessons.

25th Anniversary Commemorative Celebration Lunch
Early Bird Registration: Feb 15, 2010
- click here for Form -

Win A Free Registration – see New Q Below

$ 35.00: SCLLN Tutors and Staff

$ 10.00: Adult Learners
$ 50.00: Non-Members
Luncheon Commemorative Only: $35.00


Win 1 Registration to the 2010 SCLLN Conference
Name 1 of the Founding Members of SCLLN.

Be the 1st person to answer this NEW Q as a Comment to this Post

Only Tutors, Learners or Public are eligible to Win !
Employees of SCLLN programs, its affiliates, subsidiaries,
and their immediate families and household members are not eligible.