NCFL receives 2020 Library of Congress Literacy Award

The National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) has been awarded a 2020 Library of Congress Literacy Award for its responsiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, NCFL was selected by the Library of Congress as one of three winners of the 2020 David M. Rubenstein Special Response Award.

The Literacy Awards were originated by Rubenstein and annually honor organizations that carry out exemplary, innovative work to promote literacy across the U.S. The Special Response Award was specifically created to highlight outstanding work addressing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and recent social unrest. Today’s announcement makes NCFL a two-time Library of Congress awardee, having also won the American Prize in 2017.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, NCFL has sought to close the digital divide by partnering with school districts and other community-based organizations to provide technology and Wi-Fi access, including mobile bus hotspots in Maryland. This allowed for real-time COVID-19 response conversations to be conducted with thousands of practitioners across the country, including hundreds of American Indian practitioners in NCFL’s Family and Child Education (FACE) program. In Kentucky, Texas, and Colorado, NCFL packaged kits full of engaging, educational books and materials to be shared with families. As an organization, NCFL also responded to recent instances of social unrest.

NCFL will receive $50,000 and participate in a virtual best practices conference along with other award recipients and best practice nominees as a result of winning the Special Response Award. You can read NCFL’s full release, see other winners, or learn more about the Literacy Awards here.