Every week the Illinois State Library spotlights a worthy recipient of a literacy grant from the Secretary of State/Illinois State Library Literacy Office. This week they honor John A. Logan College in Carterville.

A young woman dropped out of high school as a freshman. When her daughter was four, she decided to make something of herself and signed up for the Family Literacy program at John A. Logan College. The woman wanted to obtain her GED and become a better parent to her young daughter.

She wanted a library card but lived outside her library district and couldn’t afford a non-resident card. The literacy program paid for her library card, and she put it to good use. She regularly attends library programs, events and activities with her daughter and is creating age appropriate activities for her child.

The young woman has gone from being a shy parent to one that chats easily with other parents. Because of the literacy program, the family has been able to access resources so her daughter may attend Pre-K and Head Start classes. The family was even introduced to family centered outdoors activities at Crab Orchard National Refuge. The woman attended night classes to obtain her GED and passed with flying colors.