It starts with a moment many of us know well — standing in a doctor’s office, handed a form we’re expected to read and sign without hesitation. But for thousands of Mississippians, that moment brings something else: uncertainty, embarrassment and the fear of getting something wrong.

Across the state, an estimated 700,000 adults struggle with functional illiteracy. They can read words on a page, but understanding them — court orders, medical instructions, job applications, even recipes — becomes a daily obstacle. And until recently, adults in the Pine Belt had few options for getting help.

In this episode of Matter of Fact, we go behind the reporting of the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center’s story “Hattiesburg nonprofit tackles Mississippi’s adult literacy crisis with new program.” Reporter Sami Jordan joins host Hilawe Tibebe to share how she discovered one of the first adult literacy initiatives in the region, what she learned from the people behind it and why this issue is so often overlooked.

You’ll hear how a routine interaction in the child support office revealed a much deeper problem — and how one Hattiesburg nonprofit, RISE, is working to fill a decades-long gap in literacy services. Through conversations with program leaders, adult learners and reporters, we explore what it takes to teach adults to read, the certification required for instructors and how literacy shapes everything from economic mobility to generational opportunity.

Plus, in our What Is True? segment, media literacy coordinator Walker Scott breaks down how reading comprehension plays a role in identifying misinformation — and the early warning signs anyone can use to stay informed.

At its core, this episode isn’t just about literacy. It’s about dignity, access and the power of giving adults the tools they need to understand the world around them.

If you’d like to learn more about RISE’s program or explore literacy resources near you, visit rhcjcnews.com.