Illinois Reads and Wewrite Corporation Contribute Books to Illinois Workforce Advantage (IWA) Communities

CHICAGO- Governor George H. Ryan today announced the donation of more than 2,000 books to children in nine of Illinois' most underprivileged communities through his Illinois Reads and Illinois Workforce Advantage initiatives. Illinois-based publisher WeWrite Corporation is contributing 1,000 books to support these programs.

"This is a prime example of state government and commerce collaborating to help leverage the state's literacy resources," said Governor Ryan. "With literacy as a priority, these programs have achieved results in many areas of policy and programming to stress the importance of reading in the lives of all Illinoisians."

Illinois Workforce Advantage (IWA) is a place-based community development initiative that is focused on the revitalization of distressed but resilient communities. IWA has created and strengthened community learning centers, school resource centers, and school networks to provide books to Illinois' neediest communities.

The nine communities include-- North Lawndale; Humboldt Park; Englewood; Little Village; Harvey; Maywood; East St. Louis; Rock Island and the "Seven Southern Counties" of Hardin; Pope; Massac; Alexander; Union; Pulaski and Johnson.

Illinois Reads was launched September 12, 2000 by Governor Ryan to coordinate and improve literacy policies and programs, as well as existing services and state level partnerships. Illinois Reads has been noted for its literacy achievements, for promoting policies that support effective literacy instruction, and for working together to honor the literacy rights of all children.

Illinois-based publisher WeWrite Corporation worked with the Governor's Office in developing State Fair Time Warp, a book celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Illinois State Fair. Several children from the Chicago area helped co-author the book.