Shining a Light on Literacy
Light a Candle for Literacy (LACFL) is a volunteer-led literacy initiative founded by longtime Southside community advocate Geneva Hayden and based in Syracuse’s Brighton neighborhood. Serving youth in grades K–5, the program focuses on strengthening reading skills, supporting homework completion, and fostering positive character development. LACFL offers a six-week summer program along with a monthly Empowering Girls Roundtable for girls ages 8–18. Its signature event, the Light A Candle For Literacy Parade & Festival, brings the entire community together to celebrate books, learning, and imagination.
What We Do
Homework Help
Daily homework help is available to our students through our volunteer tutors.
Childhood Literacy
We help develop the language and literacy skills needed to become successful readers.
Character Building
We teach character-building activities such as honesty, respect, and civic duty.
"65% of America's fourth graders do not read at a proficient level. 61% of low income families have no books at all in their homes for their children. 1 in 4 children in America grow up without learning how to read."
