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Our Youth Literacy Program has had another successful year!
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Our volunteer tutors and interns worked with 165 scholars throughout the last year, and we are so grateful for their commitment and support. Some of our tutoring pairs will continue their work throughout the summer, and our interns will provide intensive literacy support for scholars enrolled in our partner summer camps.
Our volunteer tutor, Karen, serves at the Christine W. Avery Learning Center and shared, “This has been one of the most joyful experiences of my life! My student has made tremendous progress since February, and I hope to work with her again next year.”
Laurel is one of our interns at Literacy Together. She works at Youth Transformed for Life, and she had this to say: “Literacy Together has been an incredibly valuable experience for both me and my scholar. One of the biggest obstacles we've been working through is a general intimidation of reading big words or books. We use a lot of rhymes, pictures, and hands-on activities to break words down into individual sounds in an engaging and memorable way. This past year, I've noticed not just his skills improve, but also his patience, receptiveness, and excitement about reading. At the beginning of the year, my student refused to read words with four letters. Now, he dives into words like "hamburger" with no hesitation! Seeing the progress he's made in such a short amount of time is so encouraging and really shows the power that a little extra help can have on both a student's academic performance and perception of reading.”
The Igniting Superhero Readers Summer Internship starts June 17, and we have already hired 95% of our interns for the program. This summer, we’ll work at the Christine W. Avery Learning Center, Youth Transformed for Life, and the YMCA at Johnston Elementary, serving 60+ students across eight weeks. Interns will undergo training in order to deliver 1:1 instruction to young scholars in need of support with their foundational literacy skills.
Our interns will also receive professional development from community partners, including Misfit AVL, First Bank, UNCA Career Center, United 4 Youth, and more. If you know someone between the ages of 15-23 who would be interested in joining our internship program, please encourage them to complete our application before May 31.
The Youth Literacy Program will also welcome and train new volunteers in September for the 24-25 school year. We will predominantly volunteer in the afterschool programs, but there are other options as well. Please reach out to Linda at Linda@lit-together.org if you are interested in joining our program next school year! Thank you!
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Authors for Literacy is almost here!
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| We couldn't do it without our corporate partners!
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| Corporate Partner Spotlight: Heartwood Realty
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Alisha and Jess are part owners of a small, locally focused firm at Heartwood Realty. Below, they tell us about their company and why they chose to support Literacy Together's work. Thank you!
What sets your company apart?
Alisha is a former teacher who is passionate about educating clients and going above and beyond to be there every step of the way. Her organization and communication skills that she has carried over from teaching means that no detail goes overlooked and no questions goes unanswered.
Alisha's passion for passing on knowledge with clarity and honesty make her clients feel comfortable and confident from start to finish. Jess' background is in therapy and mediation, and these strengths allow him to build strong relationships and carefully mentor and guide clients.
The process of selling or buying can be overwhelming and Jess is really able to help navigate these tough transitions and help clients accomplish their goals. Also, his experience in construction and remodeling allows him to identify nuances of a property that might be overlooked by others. He aims to always help clients be prepared to be successful homeowners and he's been known to go back and help with a home project after move in. Together, we are a strong complementary team that have the ability to provide you more than the average agent.
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| Take a peek at the office!
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Luz Marina and her husband Ricardo are taking classes to prepare for their naturalization exam. This week, she visited the office for a mock interview with Erin, the ESOL Program Director. We're rooting for you, Luz Marina! ¡Adelante!
Would you or someone you know like to support a neighbor who wants to improve their English and become a citizen? Our ESOL Program has a waiting list of 100 students! Get in touch with Laura at Laura@lit-together.org; she'll walk you through the process. Thanks!
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Check out our Spotlight Carolina interview on ABC News 13 WLOS
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Thanks so much for having us!
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The United Way's Volunteer Appreciation Event at McCormick Field was so much fun!
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| We received this thank you note from Grandma Debbie
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"I just wanted to thank Ms. Dolly Parton for this program. I signed up my grandson, who is autistic, and he gets so excited when he receives a book in the mail. He is not able to read, but his parents read them to him. I wish that, in these cases, they would go past age five. Keep up the great work, and again, thank you so much.” ~ Debbie L.
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We had the best time at the AC Reynolds Block Party in Haw Creek!
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Thanks to our amazing volunteer Liz for taking Dolly, games, books, candy, and her kindness! She loves Dolly, and it shows!
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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.
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66 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 an orientation meeting this month:
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I loved the stories that were shared of how volunteers were able to enhance the lives of adults and children through tutoring. I am genuinely excited to contribute to developing children's literary skills.
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| Upcoming Online Orientation Meetings
Tuesday, June 4th, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Thursday, June 6th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
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| Your generosity provides literacy services to our neighbors of every age.
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