Thursday on the Afternoon Shift, host Steve Edwards will talk with experts about our continuing literacy problem. We’ll discuss why it happens and who’s trying to fix it.

Our panel will include Betsy Rubin, an Adult & Family Literacy Specialist at Literacy Works in Chicago. Rubin has over 30 years experience in adult basic education, English as a Second Language and family literacy programming. She is the author and editor of several adult education textbooks.

Jane Fleming started teaching as a middle school math teacher 23 years ago in Washington, D.C.  She discovered that many of her students struggled with math because they couldn’t read well, so she went back to school and became a reading specialist. Now an associate professor at the Erikson Institute, most of Fleming’s work focuses on accelerating literacy learning for children in urban public schools.

Gloria Mwase will also join the conversation. Mwase is the program director for Jobs for our Future, where her work centers on helping low-skilled adults across the nation improve their skills and increase their opportunities for secure employment.

We also want to hear from you during the show.

Tell us why you think we still have a problem of low-literacy. What role does technology play?

How does it affect you? In the store or on the phone with customer service? Working alongside others? And who’s responsible for fixing the problem? Parents? Teachers? Employers? Society?

We’ll be on-air today talking about these issues. Join us at 312-923-9239 starting at 2 p.m. Central.