The Cost of Illiteracy

In this powerful episode of SEEd & Growth, Dr. Jacqui Virgil is joined once again by The Queen Bathsheba to explore the real and often overlooked consequences of illiteracy. Together, they unpack how the inability to read proficiently affects far more than academic performance—it impacts everything from employment opportunities and health outcomes to incarceration rates and generational cycles of poverty.   With heartfelt conversation and sharp insight, Dr. Virgil and The Queen Bathsheba examine how systems continue to fail communities by neglecting the foundational need for effective, literacy education. They shed light on the emotional and psychological toll illiteracy takes on individuals and families, and challenge listeners to rethink literacy as a human right that everyone deserves access to—regardless of background or ability.   Whether you’re an educator, parent, policymaker, or simply someone who cares about justice in education, this episode offers truth, perspective, and a call to action.