About Us

Literacy Suffolk, Inc. effects countywide change by improving adult literacy through trained volunteers, expanding community awareness, and providing literacy to all adults, especially those of low to moderate incomes who are underserved and limited in their ability to advance themselves and their families, so that they can contribute to and partake in the fruits of our society.  We believe that the ability to read, write, and communicate effectively is critical to personal freedom, economic betterment, and the maintenance of a democratic society.

Founded in 1978 by the Suffolk Cooperative Library System (SCLS), Literacy Suffolk is an accredited affiliate of ProLiteracy America and an affiliate of Literacy New York. Literacy Suffolk is funded by the New York State Department of Education, library literacy grants, SCLS, county and town grants, foundations, corporations, and individual donors.

Loretta Piscatella, President

Karen Olsen-Helmold, Treasurer

 ​​Megan Millevoy, Secretary

Don Chiappetta

Doris Colson

Virginia Cravotta

Amber Gagliardi

Brian Kell

​Martha Maffei​

Jane Ostendorff

Susan Shiloni, Executive Director

Christine Moriarty, Finance Director

Kathy Corazza, Program Services Coordinator

Brieanne Ost-Krasnicki, Program Services Coordinator

Tracy Speelman, Program Services Coordinator

Marylou Krzeski, Administrative Volunteer

Workplace Literacy and How It Can Help My Business: In response to the growing number of small businesses in Suffolk County experiencing communication barriers with employees whose native language is not English, Literacy Suffolk, Inc. has developed a program to benefit both employee and employer. The program is intended to encourage job-related literacy and basic skills education. The ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Workplace Literacy Program was created with an understanding that time and transportation constraints make it difficult for many individuals needing English language instruction to obtain it through traditional learning settings.