The Literacy Imperative®, Inc.
Advancing Literacy In Underserved Communities
In 2001, God blessed Mount Zion Baptist Church of Knoxville, Tennessee, with a gift of 20,000 books; a warehouse; and a vision of literacy for underserved communities. Seven years later, the vision has become a reality. Knoxville residents and literacy organizations have a safe faith-centered environment to read books, enjoy events, and fellowship one with another. Low-income families now receive libraries for their homes. It is a vision of literacy destined to become a reality in underserved communities across the nation.
Welcome
Welcome to the Official Profile Site of The Literacy Imperative®, Inc., and its Center of Literacy & Enterprise™ and Family Library™ ventures.
The Reverend Dr. Gardner Taylor, Pastor Emeritus, Concord Baptist Church of Christ, New York, states the following regarding The Literacy Imperative:
"I salute most heartily the idea and implementation of The Literacy Imperative, Incorporated. Beyond question, arming children in deprived communities with weapons of literacy will conquer America's most critical domestic issue. This undertaking is inspired and must be served as a religious obligation."
Who We Are
The Literacy Imperative®
The Literacy Imperative® (TLI) is a national faith-based not-for-profit 501(c)3 tax-exempt entity whose mission is to provide tools of literacy that address literacy in underserved communities, while creating social enterprises that financially support the mission. TLI vision is a network of centers of literacy located in or near underserved communities in inner cities and rural areas across the nation. TLI was founded in 2001 by Mount Zion Baptist Church of Knoxville, Tennessee.
TLI national strategy is two-fold...one, develop proven prototypes and pilot projects; and two, expand them nationwide. To that end, TLI operates a Center of Literacy & Enterprise™ (CLE) prototype developed in 2003 and Family Library™ pilot project developed in 2004, both are aimed at expanding and promoting literacy in underserved communities. TLI national goal is to place a CLE in every community and a Family Library in every home. The editor of the Knoxville News Sentinel newspaper stated the following about The Literacy Imperative:
"Plaudits to The Literacy Imperative. The concept is part bookstore, part office complex, artist's space and beacon available to serve families in East Knoxville and beyond."
What We Do
The Center of Literacy & Enterprise™
TLI created the Center of Literacy & Enterprise™ (CLE) to address literacy in underserved communities. The CLE prototype is a combination social cause/social enterprise facility located at 201 Harriet Tubman Street in Knoxville, Tennessee. Under its social cause function, the center donates books to community organizations and residents; provides reading/meeting/discussion spaces for youth, adults, and seniors in existing literacy programs; provides exhibit/stage areas for artists, poets, and others; and provides satellite locations for literacy outreach programs of museums, libraries, and universities. Under its social enterprise function, it provides tenant space for lease; and operates a bookstore and coffee shop. National foundations now encourage the development of social enterprises by nonprofits. The CLE also provides jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for at-risk-youth and other residents of underserved communities.
The CLE prototype has been serving Knoxville's underserved communities since 2003. A 2006 study of TLI by the University of Tennessee College of Business Administration MBA (UTMBA) program recommended nationwide expansion of the CLE prototype. Visit CLE Link for additional information.
Family Library™
TLI created the Family Library™ pilot project to address literacy in low-income homes. The pilot project provides a beginning library of 12 to 15 books to families in low-income housing programs, paid for by corporate sponsor(s) whose brand is featured on the library.
TLI first Family Library pilot project was launched in 2004, providing a Family Library to Habitat homeowner in the Knoxville area. The second pilot project, launched in 2006, provides a Family Library for families in the U.S. Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Section 8 Homeowners program in the Knoxville area. The 2006 study of TLI by the University of Tennessee College of Business Administration MBA (UTMBA) program recommended expansion of the Family Library pilot projects to include all low-income housing programs across the nation. In January 2007, TLI received a design patent for the Family Library from the U.S. Office of Patent and Trademark. Visit Family Library link for additional information.
Achievements, Recognitions, Etc.
Select Milestones
- 2001 - Founded by Mount Zion Baptist Church, Knoxville, TN
- 2002 - Developed Center of Literacy & Enterprise and Family Library ventures
- 2002 - Presented The Literacy Imperative concept to White House Office of Faith Based Initiatives
- 2002 - Launched Center of Literacy & Enterprise pilot project
- 2003 - Center of Literacy & Enterprise formal opening
- 2004 - Family Library pilot project launched w/ Habitat for Humanity-Knoxville
- 2005 - University of Tennessee College of Business MBA students conducts study of The Literacy Imperative
- 2006 - Family Library pilot project launched w/ Knoxville Community Development Corporation - Housing & Urban Development Affiliate
- 2006 - University of Tennessee College of Business MBA students present The Literacy Imperative study recommendations
- 2006 - Distributed over 30,000 LeBron James comic books to summer youth programs of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley; 100 Black men of America Chapters in Louisiana, Georgia and Tennessee; Campbell University Women Basketball program; and others.
- 2006 - Donated over 3,300 books to programs/projects such as Habitat for Humanity Home Build in Nicaragua; Fellowship Church Women Shelter Build in Tijuana; 21st Century Center (Hamblen County, TN); and Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church (New Orleans, LA) Literacy Center/Library.
- 2006 - Donated over 7,000 VHS movies in Spanish to organizations such as Alianza Del Pueblo (Knoxville, TN); 21st Century Center (Hamblen County, TN); Highlander Research and Education Center (New Market, TN).
- 2007 - Family Library design patent issued
- 2008 - The Literacy Imperative/Baker Center Public Policy and the Underserved Community Collaborative under development.
- 2008 - The Literacy Imperative/University of Tennessee Children Grief Center Alliance under development.
Local & National Affiliations
TLI has established relationships and hosted events for noteworthy nationally affiliated organizations such as Project GRAD; First Book-East Tennessee; YWCA; Knoxville Habitat for Humanity; Knoxville Museum of Art; Knox County Library; Children's Defense Fund-Haley Farm; University of Tennessee; and others.
Local organizations, schools, community residents and others utilize the CLE for workshops, meetings, receptions, etc.
Media Recognition
The Literacy Imperative® has been featured in the...
Knoxville News Sentinel; Knoxville Business Journal; Knoxville Habitat for Humanity Newsletter; Knoxville Community Development Corporation Homeowners Association Newsletter; Harvard Divinity School Summer Leadership Institute Newsletters; Knoxville Museum of Art Newsletter; and various other news publications.
The Literacy Imperative® is also featured on the Association of American Publishers (AAP) website as an initiative to receive book donations from its members (see http://www.publishers.org/bookDonate.cfm).
Literacy Advocacy
The Literacy Imperative is an advocate for national initiatives that promote literacy in underserved communities such as First Book (http://www.firstbook.org), Habitat for Humanity (http://www.habitat.org), Imagination Library (http://www.imaginationlibrary.org) and others.
Financial Consultants
Financial Consultant Mike Moser, SunTrust Bank of East Tennessee, and Rodefer Moss & Co, PLLC provide oversight for the receipt and distributions of funds.
Legal Consultants
Robert Worthington, Esquire of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz serves as legal counsel to The Literacy Imperative, Inc.
Design Build Team
The Literacy Imperative team responsible for the design and construction of its Center of Literacy & Enterprise prototype and the proposed nationwide network of facilities consists of HNEDAK BOBO GROUP-Knoxville (former Bullock Smith Partners), Architects; MERIT Construction, General Contractor; and Smartec, LLC, Project Manager.
