The South Texas Literacy Coalition was established during the 2007 Hispanic Engineering Science Technology Conference (HESTEC) week as a means to address rates of illiteracy across Region One – from Laredo to Brownsville. Congressman Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX) convened a meeting during the conference with affiliates from The University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley (formerly The University of Texas – Pan American), South Texas College, Texas State Technical College, The University of Texas – Brownsville, Avance – Rio Grande Valley, Texas Migrant Council and representatives of U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Salomon Ortiz (D-TX) to institute the purpose of this reading initiative.