We teach adults to read, write & speak English, empower our students to be advocates for themselves, and educate the larger community about literacy issues. Literacy Volunteers serves teens and adults throughout Rensselaer County and the gateway communities of Cohoes, Menands, Latham, Waterford, and Watervliet. Our dedicated volunteers provided tutoring in Reading/Basic Literacy and in English as a Second Language to over 200 teens families, children, and adults this year. Our students who have learned to read and write or improved these skills say their lives have been changed. Before receiving tutoring, they had not been able to read to their children or to help them with homework or read prescription directions or a recipe. Students who have learned to speak English no longer feel the fear of being in a new country. They can now read the help wanted ads, newspaper, and understand what the doctor, teacher, police, etc. are saying to them. All of our students tell us that learning has changed the way they feel about themselves--improving their self-esteem tremendously.