| An Update from Executive Director, Ellen M. Osborne
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I want to take a moment to update everyone on three revenue streams, almost one-third of our budget, that we have been concerned about. We know that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) grant, for which we were a subcontractor for the IRC, has been canceled at the request of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. We were anticipating receiving approximately $32,000 for this work during the current fiscal year and a similar amount for next year.
Another revenue stream that relies on federal money is the Community Development Block Grant, which comes through the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. In the past, we have received anywhere from $15,000 to $65,000 for our workforce services program. No one knows if this money will still be allocated.
And lastly, our $100,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Education for Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education is dependent upon the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) being reauthorized. It was not reauthorized in December, but it typically has broad bipartisan support. I hope it will be in the next "Continuing Resolution." I have written my legislators asking for WIOA to be reauthorized, and hope you will, too.
I want to reassure all of our students, tutors, and supporters that we expect to know more in the coming months and will keep you updated. We are steadfast in our mission, and we thank you, our supporters, for standing with us during this time.
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| The Oratorio Society and LVCA: A Beautiful Harmony
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The Oratorio Society of Virginia has selected Literacy Volunteers to be their beneficiary for their March 15 concert, Together in Song: Music and Poetry.
Tickets are on sale now and are $20 for general admission and $10 for students. The Oratorio Society will donate a portion of the proceeds to LVCA. We also have a small number of free tickets available. If you are interested, please reach out to Rebecca at RThomas@literacyforall.org.
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| Celebrating New Citizens! An update from our Citizenship Coordinator, Catherine McCall
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In the fall, LVCA celebrated our student voters, many of whom obtained citizenship after taking our classes.
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As our winter citizenship courses begin to wind down, we want to take a moment and update everyone on the amazing work our students, tutors, and volunteer teachers are doing. This fiscal year:
- 33 students passed their citizenship interviews
- We conducted over 50 practice interviews with students
- We shared our English for the Interview video series and accompanying handbook with a national network of citizenship educators
- LINCS, the Department of Education's community and professional development hub for adult educators, recognized our work as one of the Top 10 Citizenship Preparation Resources of 2025
- Our new series of citizenship videos already have 5,000 views
- Our next session of classes will start the week of April 7
- Three additional experienced educators are joining our dedicated team of volunteer class teachers!
There is real progress and growth being accomplished every day in our citizenship program. We cannot wait to continue supporting and celebrating our students' citizenship journeys this year. Thank you!
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We understand that not everyone is able to donate or volunteer as a tutor. Here are a few ways to help us continue serving the Charlottesville community:
- Have fun and come to Wordplay on Thursday, April 24 at 7pm in the Paramount Theater ! It's not too late to sign up for a team! If that is not feasible, audience tickets are just $20!
- Buy raffle tickets! $5 for 1 ticket; $20 for 5 tickets.
- Print our Wordplay flyer or pick one up in the office and share it. Help us spread the word!
- Encourage someone to attend one of our upcoming volunteer information sessions or tutor trainings.
- Follow us and share our materials on social media. Follow the links for Facebook or Instagram.
- Add Literacy Volunteers as the recipient of your Kroger Rewards Card (create a digital account, click on rewards, and search for Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/Albemarle or enter SG664)
- Write to your representative about renewing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). This funds education and workforce development across the country.
- Donate. No donation is too small or too large. We can accept gifts of stock as the stock market is still doing fairly well. To learn more donating stock, follow this link.
Literacy Volunteers has served the community for forty years. We intend to continue serving Charlottesville for at least forty more. Thank you for your support.
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| Meet our amazing interns!
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Abigail Gunn, Events Intern
I’m from Roanoke, VA, and a fourth-year student at the University of Virginia, double majoring in English and Sociology. My goal in life is to “leave the world a better place than how I entered it,” which is what drew me to LVCA. I admire their mission to promote literacy and equal opportunities for all to achieve education. I’ve loved meeting the dedicated volunteers and students, witnessing the meaningful impact this organization has every day. After graduation, I hope to pursue a career in the nonprofit or human services field, where I can continue making a positive difference. I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to LVCA’s important work in our community!
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| Abigail Koehler, Curriculum Intern
I'm a third-year student at UVA, majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience. In the future, I plan to pursue graduate school and research topics like chronic disorder management, specifically for conditions like diabetes, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. I'm especially passionate about addressing disparities in healthcare and psychological services for underrepresented communities that lack easy access to these resources. Throughout my academic career, I've prioritized serving my community, which is why LVCA felt like the perfect place to combine my research interests with hands-on experience. So far, I've really enjoyed getting to know the volunteers and students while working at the front desk, as well as learning to use various graphic design platforms to update and improve LVCA materials. Looking ahead, I hope to continue working with underserved communities, helping ensure they receive the support and resources they need to thrive in today’s society.
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It's hard to believe but Wordplay 2025 is just a few months away! For those who don't know, Wordplay is our annual team-based trivia fundraising event! Teams of three compete to see who will reign supreme, while audience members follow along. Wordplay will be held on Thursday, April 24 at 7 pm at The Paramount Theater. Audience tickets are just $20 and can be purchased at the LVCA office, the Paramount Box Office, or online.
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| Raffle tickets are on sale now!
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Our raffle returns this year with some truly amazing prizes! While we are still putting all of our packages together, we wanted to share some of the items that you can enter to win:
- Family four-pack to Massanutten Water Park
- Dinner and the opera (twice!). 2 tickets to see Carmen and Pirates of Penzance, along with gift certificates to Cafe Frank and Timan's Wine Bar.
- A round of golf for 4 at Glenmore Country Club
- A one-night stay at The Clifton Inn with a $150 credit to the 1799 Restaurant
- A private pie-baking class for four from The Pie Chest.
- A two-night stay at The Omni Homestead
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Tickets are $5 each or $20 for 5 tickets. We want to extend a huge thank you to all of the community members and organizations who have donated! You can purchase tickets during Wordplay, at our office, or online by clicking the button below. Please note that you do not need to be present to win.
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We are actively seeking volunteers to help make our annual fundraiser, Wordplay, a success. Wordplay requires about 75 volunteers to make it run successfully. These volunteer positions vary in time commitment and activity level. There is something for everyone! Click the link below to learn more and sign up to volunteer!
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| Change a life with literacy!
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If you are interested in making a difference in an adult immigrant's life, consider signing up for new tutor training. We currently have over 35 students on our waitlist. Change a life today!
Upcoming Information Session:
Upcoming Training:
Visit literacyforall.org/tutors for more information. If you know of a business who might be willing to donate lunch for training, please reach out to Ellen.
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