2015THE YEAR IN REVIEW

INTRODUCTIONFor many Illinois nonprofits, 2015 was an exceptionally difficult year. Challengesfrom the city, the state, and the economy caused program shortfalls across crucialsectors, including literacy. As always, the Chicago Literacy Alliance held to itsmission of increasing impact by providing opportunities for creative and effectivecollaboration. This year, against one of the most tumultuous civic backgrounds inrecent history, the value of that mission — and its implications for the more than75 organizations participating — became absolutely clear.

With the opening of the Literacenter, a dream many years in the making, we createdthe country’s first nonprofit shared workspace dedicated to literacy. In this innovativeand inspiring space, literacy groups serving all parts of the spectrum began gatheringto build capacity and find support. For some organizations, the Literacenterrepresents their first official office, and supplies hitherto unknown credibility andresources. For others, relocation to the Literacenter has been a chance to dramaticallyreduce their space costs, leading to greater program budgets. For everyone, being inthe same place has meant ongoing opportunities to connect, converse, andcollaborate. We’ve provided programs ranging from weekly best practice workshopsand monthly social gatherings all the way through an ongoing professionaldevelopment cohort and an annual conference, and have watched partnerships andprojects blossom throughout.

In the following pages, we present this year’s highlights of our home, our work, andthe magic our members have experienced. Literacy remains a crucial issue in ourcommunity, and we remain dedicated to our vision of a 100% literate city. Thisyear, more than ever, proved that this vision must be achieved together. We areproud, humbled, and committed to be a galvanizing part of the cause.

“WORKING ALONGSIDE PEOPLE THAT ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE SAME THINGS YOU ARE

IS A DREAM COME TRUE.”The Chicago Literacy Alliance provides us with a network that is focused

and inspirational. We are surrounded by people who are doing amazing things to increase literacy and learning, and there have been

opportunities for collaboration in terms of projects and support.

Christopher FlintChief Creative Officer

Infiniteach

LITERACENTERNorth America’s first shared workspace

dedicated exclusively to literacy organizations.

OPENED: MAY 2015

WINNER: Chicago Inno 50 On Fire Award, 2015

18 78 members in members in May December

38,000total sqft

14 2 meeting big social rooms spaces

23 5 member easy-to-ride offices Literascooters

“THE SPACE HAS BROUGHT A NEWFOUND ENERGY TO OUR STUDENT PROGRAMS.”

Our students have stated they have felt welcomed and are excited to be part of an organization where

change leads to growth and greater possibilities. The high-tech environment and state of the art conference rooms

have allowed us to continue and sustain our programs.

Rich DominguezExecutive DirectorLiteracy Chicago

SPACE“ORGANIZATIONS IN SHARED SPACES EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANTIMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY, WHICHULTIMATELY YIELD GREATER IMPACTS FOR THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.”

- Nonprofit Centers Network, 2011

The Literacenter is a major statement for our cause. As the first space of its kind inthe country, it is the physical manifestation of our commitment to literacy in Chicagoand to the organizations that bring their energy, time, and determination to the issue.But we are not the first team to discover that shared workspace is a key element toachieving our vision of a 100% literate city. Research across the 350+ nonprofit sharedworkspaces operating in North America shows that places like the Literacenter increaseeffectiveness, efficiency, and impact, and that they are a proven accelerator of positivechange across the field. In a seminal impact study co-sponsored by The KresgeFoundation and The Lodestar Foundation, the Nonprofit Centers Networkdemonstrated that, among nonprofit organizations in shared workspaces:

• 72% experienced improvement in awareness/credibility • 65% experienced enhanced staff morale • 66% experienced greater collaboration, leading to better effectiveness • 68% experienced significant improvement in their ability to achieve mission

“WE ARE RECEIVING TRAINING AND SERVICES THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE

TO AFFORD PREVIOUSLY.”When you’re a relatively small non-profit like HEART, partnerships are

a necessity. The Chicago Literacy Alliance connects us with other great organizations within its network and gives us

opportunities to build additional partnerships.

Mickey KudiaChicago Program Manager

HEART

BACK OFFICE SERVICESThrough arrangements with back office partners, we offeredour members highly discounted back office services includingpayroll, accounting, HR, and insurance.

SUPPORT

#FUNDADULTEDTo help share our resources with those who needthem most, we offered free memberships to adultliteracy organizations most affected by the statebudget crisis.

TRAININGSThis year’s training opportunities included public speaking,volunteer management, social media, board development,corporate fundraising, evaluation, and more.

“THE LITERACENTER HAS BEENTRANSFORMATIVE FOR OPEN BOOKS.”

Our membership in the Chicago Literacy Alliance has broadened our reach, exposed us to uniqueperspectives, and helped us solve shared issues.

It would normally take weeks to arrange everyone’sschedule for a meeting, but now all we have to do

is stroll upstairs and see who is available.

Tim O’BrienExecutive Director

Open Books

+ +

+BOOKWALLAH + KIDS LIKE USfound ways to cross-refer Indian storybooks for their programs.

CHICAGO HOPES FOR KIDS + LITERACY WORKS + OPEN BOOKSworked together to provide coordinated books, tutoring, and services

for a homeless shelter near the Literacenter.

CHICAGO HOPES FOR KIDS + CHICAGO LITERACY ALLIANCE + OPEN BOOKS + WITSsourced hundreds of high-quality books, matched them to student requests, wrapped them,

and donated them to students in homeless shelters for the holidays.

+ + +

+CISC + LITERACY WORKS

teamed up to offer parent and professionaldevelopment workshops to partner schools.

+INFINITEACH + SMART CHICAGOpartnered to get iPad apps for students with autism into schools and libraries.

+THE VIOLA PROJECT + WITS

connected their networksto start a new after-school program.

COLLABORATION

+CABRINI CONNECTIONS + EMERALD CITY THEATRE

shared resources to introduce studentsto the wonders of live performance.

+ART & LANGUAGE COLLABORATIONS + LITERACY WORKS

gave each other powerful ideas for new approaches to adult learning.

RESULTS81%found Literacenter’sprograms valuableand worth the time.

78%reported that theLiteracenterfacilitates newrelationships andopportunities forcollaboration.

Industry Benchmark: 66%

89%said that the

Literacenter helpstheir organizationwork moreefficiently.

Industry Benchmark: 68%

98%said that theirmembership isvaluable.

“THE SHARED SPACE HAS ENCOURAGED US TO INITIATE NEW PARTNERSHIPS.”

Because of the superb facilities and services, as well as the common space,we are now able to bring in interns to help us with our work — and we are able to spend less time “getting things done.” We also have a professional

and pleasant place to bring our associates, funders, and other guests.

Betsy RubinAdult & Family Literacy Specialist

Literacy WorksMembership survey conducted December 2015.

Every week, we welcomed members to join us for our Brown Baglunchtime workshop sessions on topics of general nonprofit interestand specific literacy strategies. 2015’s lineup included...

SOCIAL MEDIA BEST PRACTICESGOOGLE GRANTS AND ADWORDS

BOARD DEVELOPMENTVOLUNTEER MANAGEMENTWORKING WITH FOUNDATIONS

EMAIL MARKETINGTHEORIES OF CHANGESTORYTELLING

UNDERSTANDING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACTBOARD FUNDRAISINGNONFICTION TEXT

BEST PRACTICES FOR ONSCREEN INTERVIEWSMAJOR GIFTS 101

THE FOUR ANIMALS OF COMMUNICATIONHI-LO WRITING

COLLECTIVE IMPACTCORPORATE DEVELOPMENT

UNDERSTANDING ADULT LITERACY WHEN YOU WORK WITH PARENTSEND-OF-YEAR FUNDRAISING PLANNING

GIVING TUESDAYDEVELOPING A GREAT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

MUSIC IN THE CLASSROOMDIGITAL LITERACY

CONFABSThese monthly meetups, our longest-running tradition, continued strongin 2015. Featuring presentations from two members each time, they werethe starting point for many collaborative projects over the year.

EXPERT MENTOR HOURSEach month, we invited a local expert to hold open office hours. Rangingfrom lawyers and accountants to evaluation specialists and school networkadministrators, they gave our members individual advice and pricelessreferrals.

LITERACY NIGHTSOnce again in 2015, we gathered members together at Literacy Nights toshare an array of books and resources with families. With more than 600people attending, these events continued our collaborative work in the city.

PROGRAMSBROWN BAG SESSIONS

STATE OF LITERACY SYMPOSIUM

EVENTS

THE CHICAGO LITERACY ALLIANCE CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO ATTEND ITS

FIRST ANNUAL

STATE OF LITERACYSYMPOSIUMTTHTHUTHURTHURSTHURSDTHURSDATHURSDAYTHURSDAYNTHURSDAYNOTHURSDAYNOVTHURSDAYNOVETHURSDAYNOVEMTHURSDAYNOVEMBTHURSDAYNOVEMBETHURSDAYNOVEMBERTHURSDAYNOVEMBER9AM - 3PM 1919

FEATURING EXPERTS FROM WORKING IN THE SCHOOLS �(WITS) �

LITERACY WORKSCHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS DEPT. OF LITERACY

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AND MORE

SEE ALL THE DETAILS AND REGISTER ATWWW.CHICAGOLITERACYALLIANCE.ORG

LITERACENTER641 W. LAKE ST. SUITE 200CHICAGO, IL 60661

Featuring a day-long lineup of speakersfrom all parts of the literacy world —including early childhood learning, K-12schoolwork, adult literacy, linguisticresearch, and education reporting — ourfirst annual Symposium filled our 200-seat house and sparked conversations allacross the spectrum. Outside expertsjoined us to provide perspective, bestpractices, informed opinions, and ways tofurther the cause, while the lunch breakincluded opportunities to learn moreabout our member organizations andmake connections on topics of interest.

SOCIAL EVENTSIn the colorful surroundings of the Literacenter, we premiered a widelineup of social events in 2015, from monthly movie nights through asemi-annual Rock Band tournament, occasional Lounge Hours, and theinstant hit McGonagall Cup bad poetry competition. As members gatheredfor board games, birthday celebrations, and book clubs, we watchedrelationships bloom and friendships flourish, leading to ever morecollaboration and good will.

THE GRIM READER’S REVELRYFor Halloween, we threw the only soirée in Chicagooffering a literary séance with Mary Shelley...and thatwas just the start of the eerie entertainment. More than

125 ghoulish guests joined us for preternatural palm-reading, tricky tarot,frightful face painting, the phantasmal photobooth, devilish drinks, dastardlydesserts, and the formidably famous Haunted Dance party, all to support ourwicked work and show off our spooky space.

“I HAVE COME TO KNOW OTHER MEMBERS AND FIND THEM ALL TO BE VERY FRIENDLY

AND ACCOMMODATING.”We can exchange ideas and participate in each other’s events.

I am currently tutoring a student through Literacy Chicago and it has been a wonderful experience.

Toni PullenDevelopment Coordinator

Cabrini Connections

MEMBERS826CHIAARP Experience CorpsActs of LoveAnixter CenterArts & Language CollaborationBarrel of MonkeysBennett Day SchoolBig Shoulders FundBookwallahCabrini ConnectionsCentral States SERCentro RomeroChanging WorldsChicago CaresChicago Children’s MuseumChicago Citywide Literacy CoalitionChicago Debate CommissionChicago Foundation for EducationChicago HOPES for KidsChicago LightsChicago Literary Hall of FameChicago Public Schools Department ofLiteracyChicago Public Schools Network 6Children’s Literacy InitiativeCollege PossibleCommunities in Schools of Chicago

Companions Journeying TogetherContextosEast Village Youth ProgramEli’s HouseEmerald City TheatreFuture HitsHealth HeroesHEARTHooray LearningInfiniteachInjustice WatchInnovations for LearningInsight Project for KidsInspire Girls AcademyInsurance Industry Charitable FoundationJenner Academy of the ArtsKids Like UsLaunch ULiteracy ChicagoLiteracy Volunteers of IllinoisLiteracy WorksLiterarilyMad HattersMidtown Educational FoundationOpen BooksPeople’s Resource CenterPoetic License, Inc.

Polk Bros. Fdn. Center for Urban EducationReach Out and ReadReading Difficulty SolutionsReading in MotionReading is Fundamental in ChicagoReading with PicturesRoots of SuccessSchuler Scholars ProgramSitStayReadSmart Chicago CollaborativeSt. Leonard’s MinistriesStoryBusStrategic Learning InitiativesThe Feltre SchoolThe Silver LineThe Viola ProjectThrive ChicagoTutoring ChicagoUmoja Student Development CorporationWestEdWorking in the Schools (WITS)Writers TheatreWTTW ChicagoYMCA of Metropolitan ChicagoYoung Chicago Authors

BOARD OFDIRECTORS

Stacy Ratner, ChairOpen Books

Mike Ban, Vice ChairChicago Literacy Alliance

Brenda Palm, TreasurerWorking In The Schools (WITS)

Karl Androes, SecretaryReading In Motion

Evan GeorgiReading Is Fundamental Chicago

Linas GrikisPolsinelli

Kate McIlvainSitStayRead

Jenné MyersChicago Cares

Nicole O’ConnellSchuler Scholar Program

Becky RaymondChicago Citywide Literacy Coalition

TEAM

Mike BanExecutive Director

Anthony BostlerSystems Manager

Heather BronsonCommunications Manager

Jen Daniels-LakeMembership Manager

Alison HanoldPartnerships Director

Jimmy MartinFacilities Director

Erin McCannCommunity Manager

Stacy RatnerCo-Founder & Creative Director

SUPPORTERSANONYMOUSTHE BRINSON FOUNDATIONTHE FIELD FOUNDATION OF ILLINOISIFFINSPERITYINSURANCE INDUSTRY CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONTHE KEVIN KAPLAN FOUNDATIONLEGACY PROFESSIONALSLOFT DEVELOPMENTTHE PAUL M. ANGELL FAMILY FOUNDATIONWINTRUST BANK

Stephen BanWhitney BelcherAnn CovodeEileen DordekThomas EichornAngela EichornLaurie GoldsteinChristine KennyJames KinzerMickey Kudia

Kimberly LindquistArlyn Miller

Patrick T. MurphyShanti Nagarkatti

Mark & Nancy RatnerJames Rhein

Lynne Richman & Biff BehrBetsy Rubin

Carol SenderowitzLarry SerotaEmily StavaBob Taylor

“WE HAVE FOUND A HOME FOR OURSELVES AND OUR PURPOSE.”

i think the real value is all of us under one roof.I know we are going to have conversations

as we see each other in the hallway.This feels like home to us, not like an office space.

Brenda PalmCEO

Working In The Schools (WITS)

FINANCIALS

641 W. Lake St.Suite 200Chicago, IL 60661

chiliteracyalli

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www.chicagoliteracyalliance.org

DEDICATED TO INCREASING THE COMBINED IMPACTOF OUR COMMUNITY’S LITERACY ORGANIZATIONS BYPROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATIVE ANDEFFECTIVE COLLABORATION.