HOUSTON READ COMMISSION WELCOMES TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS Gabriel Esparza and Alma Lara are appointed by Mayor Parker to help in battle against illiteracy

excited and looking forward to sharing insights from my experiences as an educator in enhancing literacy in our communities,” said Lara. “Education has been my lifelong passion. As such, I am committed to contribute to the goals and work of the READ Commission."

About Houston READ Commission
Houston READ Commission is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead and mobilize a coalition of literacy providers and resources to improve the literacy landscape of Houston.

Established in 1988 by the Mayor and City Council, Houston READ Commission oversees the Mayor’s Coalition for Literacy, an association of more than one hundred and fifty literacy sites in Houston. These member organizations, known as literacy providers, strive to eliminate illiteracy by offering educational services geared toward the specific needs of their communities. Houston READ Commission’s goal is to support and ensure providers’ effectiveness.

Houston READ Commission advocates for the importance of literacy to the endurance of our city's and our country's economic and intellectual success. Establishing partnerships with the public libraries and the school districts and fostering relationships with the Mayor's Office and all of City Council, the READ Commission demonstrates that supporting literacy in Houston addresses the root cause of low employment, crime, high drop-out rates and excessive health care costs. By sponsoring literacy, these fundamental and influential systems of government, community and civic services support economic growth, help reduce crime, and improve education statistics in our great city.