About Us

In 1993, the US census reported that 42% of the adults 25 years of age and older in Barrow County did not have their high school education. A coalition of government, business, Church, civic, and school system leaders formed Adult Literacy Barrow to meet the goal of reducing the illiteracy rate in Barrow County. Free high school equivalency classes were offered, classrooms were opened, and teachers were hired. 30 years and almost 15,000 students later, the illiteracy rate has dropped to 13.4%!

ALB is operated by a volunteer Board of Directors whose primary job is to promote adult literacy to local businesses, industries, civic groups and others through event-oriented promotions and programs. Funds are raised through individual donations, annual giving campaigns, fundraisers, grants, corporate contributions and in kind resources. From these funds, tangibles such as GED test scholarships, salaries of teachers, Chromebooks, laptops, instructional materials needed by the teachers, GED scholarships, they daycare center, and free transportation are provided.

The Adult Learning Center is located in Winder at 163 Martin Luther King,Jr. Dr., Winder, GA 30680; phone 770-531-3361.

The Adult Education Program is a cost-free instructional program that is specifically designed for adults who have different needs, backgrounds, and skills. Types of instruction extend from beginning reading and writing to high school completion through the General Education Development (GED) Program. Additional programs include English as a Second Language, Spanish GED, and Citizenship classes.

The primary fundraiser for Adult Literacy Barrow, Inc. is the “Literacy Ball, a Novel Affair,” a black tie optional event held in January of each year. The Literacy Ball is planned and promoted by the Literacy Ball Planning Committee, a group of community volunteers.

Barrow County was one of the first communities in Georgia to become a Certified Literate Community under the Georgia Certified Literate Community Program (CLCP). In 1990, the State of Georgia started the CLCP as a “means of combating the problems of low literacy” in the State. The program was placed under the Office of Adult Education at the Technical College System of Georgia (TSG).

The mission of the Certified Literate Community Program is to mobilize every resource available to a community into a literacy campaign that functions within state certification guidelines and will result in a literate community.

To mobilize these efforts, each Certified Literate Community established a local coalition whose members represent local businesses, educators, civic groups, churches and governments. In Barrow County, this coalition is known as Adult Literacy Barrow, Inc. (ALB), a non-profit organization.

Visit www.clcpga.org for more information about the Certified Literacy Program. Visit www.laniertech.edu for more information on the Adult Learning Program.