In 2002, Literacy Volunteers of America merged with Laubach Literacy International to become ProLiteracy Worldwide. Local chapters became more autonomous. Our name changed to Literacy Volunteers of Bangor instead of Literacy Volunteers of America-Bangor.
In 2003, Mary Marin (Lyon) Taylor became our Executive Director. She inherited an organization that, for a variety of reasons, was in trouble. There were fewer than 15 student-tutor matches, the office had been moved in the temporary absence of an executive director, and making payroll was difficult.
Rebuilding the organization
A task force of United Way experts assessed the situation and provided a diagnosis: mission creep. Mary and the board pivoted Literacy Volunteers’ focus and the number of involved students and volunteers has grown ever since.
With focused clarity around the original mission, Literacy Volunteers serves more than 300 adults annually with 300+ volunteers and secures grants and private support for this work. And Mary continues as the longest-serving staffer ever.
In 2009, there was much to celebrate at the 40th anniversary celebration.