Successful societies, healthy communities, and prosperous economies often have one thing in common—a thriving, literate population driving them forward. Statistics show that those who are literate are less likely to live in poverty, more likely to vote, to be involved in their communities and to seek medical help for themselves and their families, yet more than 800 million people in the world are illiterate. Illiteracy is a solvable problem. Significant progress has been made to date. What is missing is collaborative action.

The International Literacy Association invites you to join a critical discussion among cross-sector leaders on what is required to motivate action and accelerate outcomes for the millions of illiterate people around the world.

How can educators, governments, and private sector and philanthropic leaders collaborate to develop, assess and share approaches that work in advancing literacy?

This discussion marks an important first step in building a coalition dedicated to collectively addressing the solvable problem that is illiteracy today.

Speakers

• Dr. Allan Goodman, President and CEO, Institute of International Education
• Marcie Craig Post, Executive Director, International Literacy Association
• Bernadette Dwyer, Lecturer in Literacy Studies at St. Patrick's College, Dublin City University, Ireland
• David L. Kirp, Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley
• Susan B. Neuman, Professor and Chair of the Teaching and Learning Department at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development at New York University and former U.S. Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education

Moderated by

• Liz Willen, Editor in Chief, The Hechinger Report