Literacy center opens new location in Philadelphia

A new Philadelphia literacy center has opened its doors to adults who want to learn to read.

The new myPLACE campus at Fourth and Market streets aims to assist adults gain literacy skills.  It’s all part of the 2-year-old effort by the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy.  And when people reach out, they receive an immediate response, said Dianne Inverso, executive director.

“myPLACE is the system where as an adult learner you call the commission, we give you an appointment right there on the phone at one of the campuses,” she said.

Jennifer Kobrin said the centers attract a diverse group of people who have a thirst for knowledge.

“We learned a lot about our learners — they come from 89 countries, they speak over 29 different languages,” she said. “Two-thirds of the folks who come to us are women, and 65 percent have a child in a Philly school.”

Korbin said help is available in person and on line.