Community leaders and educators will gather in Odessa later this month for the fourth annual Literacy for Growth summit, an event dedicated to positioning adult education as a central pillar of the region’s workforce development.

The Literacy Coalition of the Permian Basin is hosting the summit on Wednesday, April 29, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Ellen Noël Art Museum. Organizers say the event’s theme highlights the essential link between literacy skills, career success, and regional economic stability.

Jacqueline “Jackie” Aguilera, a nationally recognized leader in adult education and a representative of Literacy Texas, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address. Aguilera is known for designing learner-centered strategies that connect communities with the tools necessary to expand opportunities for adult learners. Her presentation will focus on actionable approaches for building stronger pathways to employment.