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AN AFFILIATE OF THE INTERNATIONAL LITERACY ASSOCIATION (ILA)

Formerly, the Georgia Reading Association (GRA)

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  • Local Literacy Councils - Start Your Own!


What is a Local Literacy Council? 

Local Literacy Councils are community-driven groups dedicated to fostering literacy education, engaging local communities, and promoting equity in literacy access.

At one time, Georgia had more than 20 active councils; today, there are two—Henry Heritage Reading Council and DeKalb Literacy Council. GALA is committed to growing this network and would love for YOU to consider forming a council in your area!

Why Start a Local Literacy Council?

      • Build connections among community members, educators, and literacy advocates.
      • Address literacy needs specific to your community.
      • Provide opportunities for professional growth and development.
      • Participate in impactful activities, such as hosting Reader of the Year competitions, engaging in international literacy projects, and more!

By starting a council, you’ll join a growing statewide network of advocates working

to make literacy accessible and celebrated across Georgia.

STEPS to START a Local Literacy Council!

1. Express Your Interest

      • Reach out to GALA at chair@galiteracy.org to let us know you’d like to start a council. GALA leaders Anita Beasley and Davetta Grigsby are available to guide you through the process.

2. Attend a GALA Meeting

3. Plan Your Council

  • Begin organizing your council by deciding:
      • A name for your council (e.g., [Your County] Literacy Council).
      • A mission statement that reflects your council’s purpose.
      • Goals you’d like to achieve in the first year (3–4 specific objectives).
      • Dates for your local literacy council meetings (minimum of 4 meetings, which is the ILA requirement). 
      • What social media platform will your local council use to engage your community.

4. Organize Leadership

      • Decide if your council will elect officers or simply assign roles, including:
          • A Contact Person to serve as the liaison to GALA and attend virtual meetings.
          • A Treasurer to manage membership dues and records (if applicable).
          • A Secretary to document meetings and decisions.
          • A Community Contact to share news and meeting information locally and through social media.

5. Complete Required Documents

      • GALA provides by-laws templates and guidelines to help structure your council. These can be personalized to meet your council’s needs.

6. Launch Your Council!

      • Announce your council to your community, host your first meeting, and start building a local literacy community in your area.

What Does a Local Literacy Council Do?

Every council is unique, but here’s an example of what the Henry Heritage Reading Council (HHRC) organizes each year.

Henry Heritage Reading Council's Yearly Plan

Frequently Asked Questions 

What activities could dues support?

    • Dues can be used to fund activities like reader recognition programs, speaker honorariums, international projects, or community literacy initiatives. Councils may choose whether or not to collect dues (e.g., Henry Heritage Reading Council collects $10 annually).

Are we all alone in forming our new literacy councils?

    • No! GALA members are happy to help! We’ll help you apply for small local grants to fund local community project initiatives.

Are councils required to have social media?

    • Yes, new councils should create a social media page to engage their community and share updates. Links to these pages will be included on the GALA's website to help promote your local council!

Ready to Start Your Council?

Email us at chair@galiteracy.org to get started! 

Together, we can create a stronger literacy network and make a lasting impact on communities across Georgia.

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