By Jimmie Williams and Adrian Jordan
April is School Library Month. In schools and libraries across the District, children are encouraged to discover the joy and power of reading and visiting the library.
That celebration matters. Yet in Washington, D.C., too many children are not reading at grade level, and too many adults struggle with basic reading, math and digital skills. In parts of the District, more than one in three adults reads at or below a basic level, with disparities closely tracking race and income and concentrated in predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods.
If we want children to thrive, we must support the literacy of their parents and caregivers as well.
Literacy is more than an education issue. It is a health, economic and workforce, and a civic issue.
Reading skills affect whether someone can understand a prescription label, follow discharge instructions after a hospital visit, complete a job application, interpret a lease, or enroll in health coverage. Limited literacy is closely tied to higher rates of chronic illness, lower use of preventive care, and greater difficulty navigating the health system.
Health literacy begins with basic literacy. When adults have strong foundational skills, they are better able to manage diabetes or hypertension, compare insurance plans, schedule appointments and advocate for themselves and their families.
The impact extends beyond health care. Adults with stronger literacy skills are more likely to secure stable employment, earn higher wages, and access benefits that support long-term stability. Families are better positioned to maintain housing, build savings, and plan for the future.
In the District, where racial and income disparities remain stark, literacy is directly connected to opportunity.
It is also connected to civic participation.
This June, Washington, D.C., will implement ranked-choice voting for the first time. The system is intended to expand voter choice and will require a clear understanding of ballot instructions and candidate rankings. For residents who already feel disconnected from government, added complexity can become another barrier.
Communities with lower literacy levels historically experience lower voter turnout. When residents struggle to interpret ballots, candidate materials, or policy information, they are less likely to participate fully in elections. That distance from civic life affects which voices are heard and which priorities receive attention.
Stronger literacy skills support stronger democratic participation. Residents who can confidently read and evaluate information are better equipped to select leaders who reflect their concerns and to hold institutions accountable.
At the Washington Literacy Center, adult learners are parents, workers and grandparents who are strengthening their skills to advance professionally, support their children’s education, and engage more fully in civic life. When adults improve their literacy, children benefit. Parents feel more confident helping with homework and communicating with teachers. They model persistence and lifelong learning.
Families who learn together see gains in academic performance, employment stability, health outcomes and long-term opportunity.
Improving literacy is a practical investment in public health and community strength. Health plans, community organizations, employers and policymakers all play a role.
Health organizations can simplify communications and connect members to adult education programs. Employers can invest in workforce literacy as part of economic mobility strategies. Policymakers can sustain funding for adult education as both a health intervention and an economic development strategy.
Most importantly, we must remove stigma. Adults returning to strengthen their skills demonstrate commitment and resilience. They deserve access, respect and opportunity.
School Library Month should inspire more than classroom celebrations. In Washington, D.C., it should prompt us to take a broader view.
If we want children to read at grade level, we must invest in the adults who guide them. If we want healthier neighborhoods, we must strengthen the foundational skills that allow residents to manage their health. If we want full participation in a changing civic landscape, we must ensure residents have the tools to understand and engage.
Celebrating books is important. Building literacy across generations is essential.
This month, let us recommit not only to reading with our children, but to strengthening literacy across our city: in homes, workplaces, health settings and community spaces. When families learn together, Washington grows stronger.
Literacy strengthens health. It strengthens opportunity. And it strengthens our democracy.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the AFRO.