From the McAllen Monitor: No it's not about eating our lunch this time

 

Their slogan is Literacy: Gateway to Opportunity

Weslaco—South Texas College professors Nick Braune and Jesse Zapata rapidly volleyed ideas to each other on Thursday as they discussed a proposed literacy center for the Rio Grande Valley. Civic, economic, health literacy…this ripple would start a tidal wave,” said Braune, a philosophy teacher.Their idea for the community-driven center convinced state Rep. Armando “Mando” Martinez, D – Weslaco, to file legislation to pilot the estimated $250,000 program in his district.

 Martinez hopes the state can fund what he said would be a game-changer in the poorly-educated Valley.“Something of this nature has a lot of value,” he said. “It’s not just for my area. (It) would have an impact at a regional level where so many individuals cannot read or write.” Martinez attempted to pass a similar bill in 2009, but it died in committee.This time, he filed months before lawmakers meet next week to start solving the state’s massive shortfall.

 Martinez added, “This could be the first of many duplicated literacy centers all over the state.”Pharr and Brownsville residents currently enjoy successful grassroots literacy centers.But Zapata said the pilot program in Weslaco could permanently coordinate education, business and civic efforts toward chipping away at the language barriers and rampant illiteracy across the entire Valley. “Everybody needs to do something better than we have right now.“There are a million people from Brownsville to Laredo who, if they can pick themselves up, can change so much.”, Zapata added.