Washington Literacy Center Opens New Location

As a tight labor market is increasing opportunities for Washingtonians, the Washington Literacy Center (WLC) is redoubling its efforts to help people with the greatest barriers and fewest resources learn to read. The centerpoint of the nonprofit’s work is its new location at 1133 15th St., NW in the District, where WLC held a ribbon-cutting and grand opening celebration on Wednesday, May 18, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

For more than 100,000 of D.C.’s adults, low literacy skills are a barrier to just about everything — completing their education, securing and keeping a decent job, and staying out of poverty. The WLC helps adult learners overcome these hurdles by providing literacy, digital awareness, workplace writing, workforce readiness skills and more.

The 29,000-square-foot center now offers a modern, welcoming learning environment in an easy-to-access location. It features enhanced learning amenities that make it possible for WLC staff to serve more students and change lives by targeting learning, as well as addressing socio-economic barriers to prosperity and allowing for full participation in a fast-paced, digital economy.

The new WLC also features a Comcast Lift Zone, which provides free, high-speed WiFi access to help students and community members get online, participate in distance learning or remote work, look for and apply for jobs, and access digital skills content. This opening marked Comcast’s 100th Lift Zone in the company’s Beltway Region. To commemorate the occasion, Comcast also donated 20 new laptops to the center on behalf of its Internet Essentials Program, the nation's largest and most successful private-sector low-income Internet adoption program.

The grand opening celebration included a ribbon cutting ceremony with remarks from Jimmie Williams, WLC President and CEO, followed by a tour of the center and catered lunch for all attendees to enjoy. Comcast also hosted a booth where attendees learned about, and sign up for, the federal government's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible low-income residents with a $30 per month benefit toward their Internet or mobile bills.

Jimmie Williams, WLC president and CEO says, “We’re grateful to all our supporters for helping us reach this moment, especially Comcast for selecting WLC as a Lift Zone location. Most of all, this grand opening is a call to action for our volunteers, supporters and the adults we serve. It represents our renewed commitment to help everyone in the District meet the demands of the 21st century by teaching reading and math for everyday use, computer literacy, workforce skills, occupational literacy and other skills necessary for better employment opportunities.”

Next year, WLC will mark its 60th anniversary. The Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington has previously named WLC one of the best nonprofits in the area following a financial, program and site review.