Op-Ed: D.C.’s Untapped Talent: Why Adult Literacy Is an Urgent Economic Priority

by Jimmie Williams (President and CEO, Washington Literacy Center) and Jack McDougle (President and CEO, Greater Washington Board of Trade)

When cities face tough times, the smart ones invest in their people.

With the District staring down a projected $1 billion revenue shortfall over the next three years, due in large part to federal downsizing, D.C. is rightly taking bold steps to reinvent its economy. Investments in sports, entertainment, tech, and tourism are generating buzz and optimism. But there’s a deeper challenge we must also confront, one that won’t be solved by stadiums or festivals alone.

More than 119,000 adults in the District struggle with low literacy. That means tens of thousands of our neighbors are unable to complete their education, land and keep good jobs, or fully participate in the city’s prosperity. It’s an invisible crisis that touches every corner of D.C., particularly communities east of the river. And it’s holding us back.

Boosting adult literacy isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s an economic necessity. A workforce that can read, write, and engage in ongoing training is the foundation of a strong local economy. It attracts employers, reduces reliance on public services, and breaks cycles of poverty and incarceration.

We don’t need to wait for a big industry relocation or an external investment boom. As columnist Thomas Friedman once wrote about Taiwan—a country with few natural resources but global economic impact, “They mined their people.” D.C. has the same potential. Our people are our natural resource.

Cities like Boston, Detroit, and Philadelphia have shown what’s possible with serious, sustained investment in adult literacy and job readiness. Boston’s Adult Literacy Initiative ties reading programs directly to workforce training. Detroit’s Beyond Basics brings in public and private funders to support citywide reading programs. Philadelphia’s Beyond Literacy links adult learning to high-demand career paths.

WLC Learning Skills for Life Class

At the Washington Literacy Center, we’re doing the same right here in the District. Through programs like JumpStart 2 Success and Learning Skills for Life, we’re helping adults build foundational literacy while also gaining resume skills, financial literacy, digital fluency, and the interpersonal tools needed to thrive in today’s job market.

We’ve been at this work for 60 years, and we’re ready to scale. But meeting this moment will take more than goodwill. It requires D.C. to prioritize adult learning as a core economic strategy and back it accordingly.

District leaders across government, business, philanthropy, and education must come together to make adult literacy a visible, coordinated priority. That means sustained public investment. Clear goals. Public-private collaboration. And a shared commitment to treating literacy not as charity, but as essential infrastructure for a stronger, more inclusive economy.

I came to D.C. to attend Howard University, stayed to work on Capitol Hill, and chose to live in Ward 7 because I believe in the people here. I’ve seen what happens when we invest in human potential. Families move forward. Neighborhoods get stronger. Futures change.

There’s no superhero coming to save the District. The solution is here already in every adult ready to learn, grow, and contribute. We just need to give them the tools.

Let’s stop overlooking the potential in front of us. Let’s unlock it and build the future this city deserves