WHEREAS, literacy is an important skill that must be nurtured in the individual, in the workplace, in the community and within the family; and

WHEREAS, the level of literacy needed to function in the workplace, the community and the home has risen steadily with the advance of technology and the information age; and

WHEREAS, it is important that California's adults and their families gain the skills needed for literacy and develop an appreciation for the written word as a means for work-related training, general information and enjoyment; and

WHEREAS, by making a commitment to their own literacy development, adult learners in California are demonstrating their willingness to overcome barriers in their quest to improve their lives and their many communities; and

WHEREAS, the State of California is hosting a statewide Adult Learner Literacy Conference at which learners who reflect the diversity of our state in ethnicity, age, and gender while at the same time representing the full range of literacy provid