A Letter to My Community

“Education means emancipation. It means light and liberty. It means the uplifting of the soul of man into the glorious light of truth, the light by which men can only be made free.

– Frederick Douglass, Blessings of Liberty and Education Speech (1894)

First and foremost, I write this as a father who hopes for an easier adulthood for his three school-aged daughters and their classmates. I write this letter as a Black man whose father had a similar hope and due to it, broke the cycle of limited access and anti-literacy laws that affected his own parents when he became a first-generation, low-income college graduate. I write this letter as the president of Literacy Minnesota, a nonprofit organization that has endured nine transitions in the U.S. presidency. And I write this open letter in the hope that we hold fast to the collective strength of our Literacy Minnesota community and to the profound role literacy plays in enabling individuals to fully experience life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

With perpetual uncertainty, it becomes crucial to reaffirm what we know to be true. By grounding ourselves in these certainties, we maintain purpose and direction on the shifting terrain of our world. Literacy Minnesota will anchor itself in these guiding principles, modeling and uplifting them to support our communities in essential ways.

Our mission to connect people to transformative learning, spark innovation in literacy, and mobilize change propels us toward a future where literacy opens doors to justice, equity, and opportunity. We envision a world where literacy goes beyond reading and writing—it’s the ability to navigate the systems and symbols that shape our lives. This is why we champion a broad, inclusive approach to literacy, focusing on tech, civic, health, cultural, and family literacies. These core literacies are the foundations of a thriving community, allowing people to advocate for themselves, engage in society, nurture well-being, celebrate identity, and build strong family connections.

Our mission and vision are guided by the values that define our identity: lifelong learning, self-determination, justice, equity, and innovation. These values shape every decision we make and every partnership we form, drawing in diverse perspectives and inviting those who align with our vision to join us in this transformative work.

• Tech Literacy: We will equip individuals to navigate and participate in an increasingly digital world, where access to technology is essential for personal and professional growth.
• Civic Literacy: We will deepen opportunities for civic engagement, grounded in our commitment to justice and equity, so that individuals can actively shape their communities.
• Health Literacy: We will expand our focus on health literacy to ensure individuals have the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their physical and mental well-being.
• Cultural Literacy: We will foster spaces where diverse identities and traditions are celebrated, strengthening connections and promoting mutual understanding.
• Family Literacy: We will provide resources and support that allow families to learn and grow together, creating a legacy of education and opportunity for generations to come.

To support these literacies, we will continue to create spaces—classrooms, training rooms, break rooms, and community gatherings—that reflect a safe, inclusive environment for a diversity of perspectives, identities, and lived experiences. Without this foundation, individuals cannot fully realize their potential or embrace the value of self-determination.

We are committed to you—our learners, teachers, volunteers, supporters, and partners. You are the heart of our mission and also its ambassadors, both within and beyond Literacy Minnesota. If you are reading this, you are an essential part of our community, and I invite each of you to stand with us in championing these core literacies. Together, let’s build a future where literacy is the key to thriving individuals and connected, resilient communities.

In solidarity and with deep gratitude,

Anton Jones

President, Literacy Minnesota

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