Alaska Literacy Program

Since 1974, Alaska Literacy Program (ALP) has been the leading literacy service provider to English Language Learners around the state. Most of the people served are newcomers to Alaska, speaking languages including Spanish, Amharic, Somali, Samoan, Nuer, Korean, Arabic, Thai, Somali, Hmong and Russian. ALP recruits, trains, certifies, and supports volunteer teachers and tutors who work in a classroom setting or one-on-one teaching reading, writing, and speaking English to adults. With seven classrooms and one computer lab, ALP provides year-round programs for adults and families with young children, concentrating on those most in need: the beginning learners in reading and English. ALP offers programs for Health Literacy, Family Literacy, and Citizenship classes.

ALP changes lives and enriches our community by teaching adults literacy skills to increase their self-sufficiency. It is the philosophy of ALP that literacy is the key to self-sufficiency and we strive to give people the tools to find good jobs and participate in their communities. They are given a hand up, not a hand out.

ALP provides year-round programs for adults and families with young children. Along with English skills, ALP also provides instruction for citizenship, workforce training and transitioning to postsecondary education. Workforce training gives adults the skills to enter and be proficient in financially-independent careers. During the pandemic, we adapted our classes to be offered online and implemented a technology lending library, which will remain permanent parts of our programming.

ALP has been selected by the State of Alaska as the Anchorage Regional Provider of Adult Education. This allows us to expand services to all adults with educational needs. We will be focusing on reading, math, GED prep, and job prep. 

Additionally, we work on public health through our Peer Leader Navigator program. The PLN program is a health education and community outreach initiative. PLNs are former ALP students, primarily from Anchorage’s refugee and immigrant communities, who have undergone a year-long leadership development training. Our PLNs have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to provide support to some of our most underserved multilingual residents in accessing COVID-19 health information, testing, vaccinations, housing, food, childcare, and relief programs.

ALP is always looking for volunteers teacher and tutors to work in a classroom setting or one-on-one teaching reading, writing, and speaking English to adults, as well as GED prep. Each year, we have two major fundraising events- Biz Bee and Scrabbler's Scramble for Literacy.  The Biz Bee is a team-based adult competitive spelling bee.  The Scrabbler's Scramble for Literacy is a team based evening of Scrabble shenanigans!