The Literacy Center of West Michigan helps adults gain the literacy skills needed for employment, healthcare, education and citizenship. This month, the center was honored with the 2026 Kislak Family Foundation Prize of $100,000 from the Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program.
“This award’s been validating because, when you have funding cuts, on so many levels, it signals that there isn’t value for the work you’re doing, and that’s really disheartening.”
Dr. Wendy Falb is executive director of the Literacy Center of West Michigan. Last year, the organization lost over $600,000 of its operating costs, or about 25% of its budget. A group of Republican senators would later reinstate the funding.
“So, this is huge. This gives a big, official stamp that what you do has value and not just in our country, but internationally.”
The prize is one of the program’s top honors recognizing the Grand Rapids-based nonprofit for its major impact on literacy relative to its size, as the center works with students at workplaces, schools, and medical clinics.
“I’m hoping that helps to not just validate our work here in West Michigan, but also others doing very similar work or eager to do the type of work we’re doing.”
The center was founded 40 years ago and serves 1,300 learners annually.
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