Although global literacy is a colossal goal that at times may seem difficult to achieve, the reality is that illiteracy is solvable. When like-minded people work together, we are capable of reaching new heights that as individuals we could never achieve. 

That's why the International Literacy Association declared April 14, 2015, Leaders for Literacy Day: to spur a critical discussion on what is required to motivate action and accelerate outcomes for the millions of illiterate people around the world. Here are a few of the responses we received on what is needed to make this the #AgeOfLiteracy:

• Ben Hecht, president and CEO of Living Cities—#AgeOfLiteracy: The Promise of Cross-Sector Collaboration

• Mariana Haynes, senior fellow at the Alliance for Excellent Education (AEE)—Birth-through-Grade-Twelve Comprehensive Literacy Program

• Vicki Phillips, director of college-reading education for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation—Supporting all Teachers in Becoming Literacy Teachers

• Pam Allyn, founder of LitWorld—We Are All Leaders for Literacy

• Christie Vilsack, senior advisor for international education for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)—Young Storytellers and the Power of Literacy

• Rima Kupryte, director of Electronic Information for Libraries (EIFL)—How Public Libraries Can Help 120 Million Illiterate Young People

• Julie Evans, CEO of Project Tomorrow, for the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)—Using Digital Tools to Increase Literacy Development: Innovative Best Practices in Chicago

• David Evans, executive director of the National Science Teachers Association—Science and Literacy: Reflections on Time

• Andreas Schleicher, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development—Literacy for Life

• Sandra Maddox, Literacy Minute—Important Conversation #AgeOfLiteracy

• Janelle Wilson, Stretching Forward with Janelle Wilson—The Importance of science literacy #AprilBlogADay #AgeofLiteracy

• Janelle McLaughlin, reflectinginspiration—Literacy Leadership #AprilBlogADay #AgeofLiteracy

• Meredith Towne, Towne Hall—Day 13: Leaders for Literacy Day! #AprilBlogADayChallenge