One in six adults in Allen County reads at a 3rd grade level or lower, and these numbers haven't really changed in years. The Northwest Ohio Literacy Council and Lima City Schools want to change that statistic. This week is Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith presented them with a proclamation encouraging individuals struggling with basic academic skills to take advantage of the services offered by these two programs. Reading is something anyone can do, and we as a community need to de-stigmatize the issue of adult literacy.

Lima City Schools host another International Resource Fair for their non-English speaking students and their families Friday evening. The fair provides an opportunity for students enrolled in the English Learning Development Program to explore various community resources available including The Language Tutoring Academy, Health Partners of Western Ohio, The Salvation Army, and much more. The fair also allowed students and families to connect with one another and enjoy dinner, raffles, games, and various activities. According to event organizers, there has been a significant increase in the number of non-English speaking students so having the fair is paramount to ensure all families have as many resources as possible to ensure their child succeeds.

Lima City Schools hosted an International Resource Fair on Friday for non-English speaking students and their families. The resource fair gave the 43 students and 30 families involved in the English Learning Development Program a night of games, food, prizes, and community bonding. Friday night also offered an opportunity to students and families to connect with community resources, such as the Language Tutoring Academy and the Ohio Migrant Education Center, for students to help in their journey to becoming proficient in English.