Our Story

Alaska Literacy Program is a volunteer-based community agency with the mission of changing lives through literacy. For 50 years, we have taught adults to read, write and speak English. The learners come from all over the world, including the United States. They come to class to learn the skills needed to get and keep a job in Alaska, help their children in school, become citizens and understand their new home country.

Since 1974, ALP has been providing literacy services to Anchorage residents and individuals throughout the state. ALP recruits, trains, certifies, and supports volunteer teachers who work in a classroom setting teaching reading, writing and speaking English to adults. ALP provides these core English language classes year-round for adults and families with young children, concentrating on those most in need. In recent years we’ve also gained the opportunity to serve other Anchorage area adult learners such as GED students.

Over time, ALP has grown to define literacy as more than reading and writing: it includes having the skills needed to navigate our complex and rapidly changing world. It is the philosophy of Alaska Literacy Program that adults have the right to be free from the burden of illiteracy - free to function as independent, productive citizens. For ALP families, this looks like digital literacy, health literacy, financial literacy, and family literacy. Through this comprehensive framework, ALP is increasing the self-sufficiency of our ELL adults, changing lives and enriching our community.

Today, ALP provides GED test prep services, supporting adults to overcome this long-standing barrier to employment and career advancement. ALP's Peer Leader Navigator initiative provides information on important health and life topics to people who face barriers in finding that information themselves.

ALP is an accredited member of ProLiteracy, the largest volunteer literacy organization in the world.