Improving Literacy and Connectivity in Houston’s Hispanic Community

“Upgrading UHD’s bilingual e-library and involving children, parents, and teachers epitomize what it means for UHD to be an anchor for the city—not only through an accessible, online library specific to the needs of Houston’s Hispanic community, but also as a workforce development tool to grow the local economy significantly.”

The project “Expanding the UHD Bilingual E-Library to Support Literacy Awareness and Connectivity Among the Hispanic Community” is multi-faceted in approach as well as in reach. The brainchild of co-investigators Dr. Irene Chen, Professor of Education in the Department of Urban Education in the College of Public Service, and Dr. Maria Bhattacharjee, a former UHD Associate Professor of Education, the two-year project garnered a $2,470,225 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The first facet of the innovative project brings together children, parents, in-service bilingual/ESL teachers, UHD pre-service teachers, and UHD students from other programs such as Communication and Technology. Over the course of two years, 240 Hispanic families will receive assistance in writing culturally meaningful stories to augment the UHD bilingual e-library. In turn, Hispanic families will learn to use the e-library for self-teaching and as a resource for reading and writing with their children at home.

The second facet of the project will train representatives of Parent-Teacher Organizations/Associations (PTO/A) from seven elementary schools with high Hispanic student enrollment in reading comprehension strategies using the e-library. The PTO/A representatives will visit the University monthly to learn how to prepare students for a future at UHD and how to use the e-library to support the development of literacy skills. All parents will be invited to attend these meetings virtually.

This project will have a dramatic impact on workforce development and, ultimately, the local economy. According to Houston’s Adult Literacy Blueprint Executive Summary Report, published by the Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy in partnership with the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, Houston’s economic growth is linked to literacy achievement. The report stated, “Harris County’s economy could grow by $13 billion if adults with low literacy could increase their literacy skills by even one level.”

“The expectation is that as Hispanic families use the e-library, they will increase their literacy skill levels and abilities to self-teach using technology,” stated Bhattacharjee. “These skill sets, in turn, will increase the number of Hispanic individuals prepared to enter the labor market in Houston.”