Literacy and democracy go hand in hand. Literacy affects almost every aspect of a person’s life. After all, civic participation depends on voters being literate enough to understand the law, their rights, and the news that shapes public debate.
But literacy development depends on many factors, including where you live, your household circumstances, and, perhaps most importantly, whether you have access to books. Many Americans are fortunate enough to own a personal collection or have a local library within traveling distance. Still, this is a luxury some don’t have in certain regions of the United States—and especially in developing areas of the world. Our guest is Rachel Ray, Executive Director of the Lexington-based International Book Project.