Lafayette teen launches ‘Fifteen for Fifteen’ initiative to boost youth literacy

LAFAYETTE, La. — Shocked by statistics showing Louisiana among the states with the lowest child literacy rates, 15-year-old author Halee Marie has launched an initiative to encourage reading among Acadiana youth and combat illiteracy.

“I was completely shocked, and I knew my mission as an author included encouraging reading among youth,” Marie said.

According to the National Literacy Institute , millions of Americans struggle with functional illiteracy — an issue that makes comprehension a challenge. “This can be generational, meaning, even though they can read and write, they have comprehension issues, such as reading the directions on a package can be difficult, or even filling out a job application, which can affect their income level, which affects how they raise their families,”