Please join us at the 15th Annual Authors for Literacy Event featuring New York Times bestselling author Lisa See.

Thursday, June 13, 2024, at the DoubleTree Biltmore, 6-8pm.

We anticipate this event will sell out!

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW

We're hiring!

Our dear Meghan Pennock will soon be moving on to her next adventure! She has been such an incredible help to the ESOL Program and the Literacy Together team; we'll miss her dearly, and we know you will, too.

At the same time, we're thrilled for what's next for her as she takes this important next step in her career! Here's a note to you from Meghan:

"It has been a pleasure working with and getting to know many of you. Your dedication and passion for our cause have been a constant inspiration to me. Thank you all for making my time here truly memorable!"

Meghan's last day with us will be Wednesday, March 6, so please feel free to stop by or drop her a line before then to thank her and wish her well!

So, we're seeking an experienced and passionate candidate to serve as the new ESOL Associate. Please help us to find the right one!

See the full position description here

Exploring the Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail

February is Black History Month, and we have started to walk the new Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail as a team. We walked the Downtown section, and will keep exploring the trail in the upcoming months!

Did you know that the first stop is in our building?

After the end of the Civil War, there was a national movement to create schools for Black students. The Allen School was founded in 1887 to offer basic education classes for girls, boys, and adults. The Allen School later became a girls' boarding school.

The Allen School produced nationally and internationally recognized women, including Nina Simone, singer, pianist, songwriter, and civil rights activist, and Dr. Christine Darden, one of the first Black female aerospace engineers for NASA. In 1961, teenage activists Oralene Simmons of Stephens-Lee High School and Viola Spells of the Allen School successfully petitioned to desegregate a public library.

Many students in Asheville participated in further integration efforts around the city through the Asheville Student Committee on Racial Equality (ASCORE). The school closed in 1974.

Learn more about the Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail.

We SO enjoyed our annual retreat!

Enjoy some pics of our staff and board members working and having fun together. Here is to another year of laughs, learning, and making a difference!

Thanks to Vinnie's for donating a fantastic meal and AmeriHealth Caritas for hosting us in their amazing building.

Take a peek at the office!

Edith, David, and Oliver leave our building after having their first English class on a cold January day. They are family and happy to learn together. Thanks to their tutor for making it possible! ¡Felicidades!

Glory Andrade, one of our Adult Literacy/ESOL students, wrote an article for a national journal!

It's called The Change Agent. All the articles are by ABE/ASE and ESOL students. Please see p.26-27 for her story. She is a superhero. For real.

Read the article!

Spelling Bee at The Whale!

Literacy Together was The Whale's nonprofit of the month during January, and we're so grateful for their support. They also hosted a fun Spelling Bee at the end of January. We loved participating and engaging with their community. Thank you to everyone who donated throughout the month and participated in the event!

This precious note from Rylee filled our hearts with love!

Dear Dolly, I love your books. All of them. I love you Dolly. Signed Rylee. Sorry Dolly I splat a tomato on the paper.

Dolly loves you back, Rylee! The tomato stain on the paper made your card extra cool ;)

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library puts books into the hands and hearts of children worldwide. We're mailing a free book monthly to over 5,300 registered children in Buncombe County.

A huge THANKS to our new Gold Level Partners: Alisha Suer and Jess Peterson, Realtors of Heartwood Realty

Please contact LuAnn at LuAnn@lit-together.org if you want to become a corporate partner. Thanks!

Thank you!

We received a donation of wonderful children's books from The Sunstone Project. Thank you for supporting children in our community and growing a love for reading!

We participated in the Local Book Club Fair at Pack Library

Thanks to everyone who came and expressed interest in learning more about all the fantastic book clubs and the work of Literacy Together. Here is Jason Hyatt, the director of Buncombe County Public Libraries and Literacy Together’s Board member. Thanks for having us!

32 people have attended our online volunteer orientation meetings in 2024 so far! We've modified the format of our online orientation meeting to be more inclusive. Everyone is welcome to join us, from prospective volunteer tutors to community members to local business owners and nonprofits wanting to learn more about Literacy Together's work. This is what one participant said after the February orientation meeting:

The statistics/breakdown of the programs were inspiring, helpful, and motivating to want to help. I'm looking forward to being of service and helping the many who are in need. Thank you for all that you do!

People can sign up online to attend or send an email to laura@lit-together.org.

Upcoming Online Orientation Meetings

Tuesday, March 5th, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Thursday, March 7th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Your generosity provides literacy services to our neighbors of every age.

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31 College Place Suite B-221
Asheville, NC | 28801 US

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