Literacy for Adults in Brevard

In 1969, the world’s eyes were on Brevard County for the Apollo launch and Moon landing. That year, six women from the First Methodist Church in Titusville, Florida, decided that a key to Brevard’s future in the aftermath of this historic event was the elimination of illiteracy. When reflecting on their community and what they could do to make a positive difference, they saw the inability to read and write as an impediment for individuals to reach their full potential in their families, jobs and communities. These women sought out, learned the Laubach method for teaching literacy, and formed the Brevard Adult Literacy Volunteers, Inc. (BALV) which ultimately led to the beginnings of Literacy for Adults in Brevard, Inc. (LAB).

BALV was officially incorporated as a recognized non-profit organization on October 1, 1971. Over the next two decades, BALV grew with the help of the Brevard Library System, serving approximately 45 adult learners.

A faithful core group of volunteers kept the organization alive and in 1996, they expanded to provide a prison literacy program at the Cocoa Community Correctional Center, successfully tutoring seventy-four inmates, six of whom obtained a GED. Seeing their success, the Cocoa Literacy Council gave up its charter and turned its fund over to BALV.

In 1998, Florida Governor Jeb Bush introduced the Governor’s Family Literacy Initiative. BALV took this an opportunity to revitalize by joining forces with several community-based organizations to form the Literacy Alliance of Brevard. While this new group failed to capture the family literacy grants, it did attract community attention, members and funds.

When the county discontinued the libraries’ literacy program, BALV took on responsibilities as the sole provider of adult literacy in the county. Over the next several years, BALV successfully served a small group of adult learners. However, aware of the tremendous need for adult literacy services in our community, the BALV Board of Directors realized significant changes were required. In the fall of 2013, the name was changed to Literacy for Adults in Brevard, LAB), Inc. and offices were relocated to a more central location at the Central Brevard Public Library, Cocoa.

Today, LAB has a dedicated team of highly trained volunteers ready to take an innovative approach at assisting adult learners reach their full potential.