Literacy Together

08/21/2026

This year’s Author’s For Literacy student speaker was Eleazar, a graduate from our Adult Literacy program and a man of many talents.

Eleazar is a working artist and professional ballet dancer, but his dyslexia prevented him from graduating from high school.

He started working with a Literacy Together tutor two years ago, with the goal of getting his GED. This spring, he passed his final subject test and achieved that goal.

His next dream is to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry (he will begin his studies at UNCA this fall). “I want to be in a lab, uncovering how the world works,” he says. “To me, learning something is happiness.”

Watch his inspiring speech here: https://youtu.be/-he9oWNoel0?si=CnABYopooTVJ7qCR

Are you interested in becoming an adult literacy tutor or learning more about our program? Contact us at Literacy Together at [email protected] or 828-254-3442 x202

We are so grateful to our Adult Literacy student, Eléazar, for shar...

08/17/2026

👀 Did you know we have a store? Shop online for a unique gift and support our mission to transform lives in our community through literacy. 📚✨

https://literacy-together.printify.me/

08/12/2026

Every month, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library connects families through the simple joy of sharing a book. 📚

James was just 5 years old when he shared his enthusiasm for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in our 2021 video. Now 10, James has grown into an avid reader, especially of non-fiction books about history. His dad, Greg, is proud to say that James reads well above his grade level, and his favorite thing to learn about is presidential history!

Literacy Together is one of the many organizations around the world that facilitates this opportunity, and this partnership (made possible by Buncombe Partnership for Children) allows us to serve the unique needs of our community.

Together, we’re part of a global movement inspiring a love of reading in children across five countries! ❤️

Help us keep the joy of reading growing in our community. Sign up for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library today ⬇️

https://lit-together.org/register-your-child/

08/10/2026

For 32 years, Sonia lived in the United States with one goal always somewhere on the horizon: one day, she would become a United States citizen. 🇺🇸

That dream finally became reality this spring, closing a chapter that began when she left El Salvador decades ago in search of a better life.

Along the way, she worked in factories, raised two children as a single mother, learned English one lesson at a time, and refused to let hardship define her future.

“I worked hard for that,” she says simply. “Very, very hard.”

When Sonia became eligible, she enrolled in English and citizenship classes offered by Literacy Together. For four years, she studied English while working full time.

Then she began working online with a Literacy Together tutor to prepare for the citizenship exam. She practiced mock interviews, studied vocabulary every day, and worked even harder once she submitted her application.

“Once I applied,” she says, “I studied even harder.”

On the day of her citizenship interview, Sonia was extremely nervous. But years of practicing English with tutors helped her remain focused.

When the civics portion began, Sonia answered the first six questions correctly without missing a single one. Because six correct answers are enough to pass, the officer stopped asking additional questions.

At the end of the interview, the officer returned with the words Sonia had waited more than three decades to hear:

“You passed.”

About a month later, Sonia returned to Charlotte for her naturalization ceremony alongside about 70 other new Americans. Both of her children came to celebrate with her.

For Sonia, citizenship represents much more than a legal status.

“I’m not hiding anymore,” she says. “I’m not always being so careful. I can relax a little.”

Citizenship is not the end of her journey. She plans to continue studying English, just as she has for years.

Because after 32 years of hard work, sacrifice, and determination, she knows that every step forward is earned—and every new beginning starts with the courage to keep learning.

📖 Read Sonia’s full story: https://lit-together.org/perseverance-pays-off-sonia-celebrates-becoming-a-u-s-citizen/

📚Want to help someone else on their journey?
Volunteer with Literacy Together: https://lit-together.org/volunteer-roles-literacy-together/become-a-volunteer/

08/07/2026

🔔Our Adult Literacy Program has received an influx of new students, and we have a critical need for female tutors.

One of our new students recently moved from public housing to her very own trailer within Buncombe County, and she is excited to be in her own place for the first time. She's an energetic, friendly woman in her mid-40s and lives with her daughter who is in elementary school. Like many parents, she came to us for tutoring because she wants to be a better source of support for her child. Both of them have ADHD and dyslexia - a pretty common combination - and need help with basic literacy.

She looks forward to sharing what she learns in tutoring with her daughter so they can study together. After many years of personal struggles, our new student is getting her life back on track and says: "I enjoy trying to figure out myself right now!" ❤️

In total, we have 12 women in need of individualized tutoring for basic skills literacy and for GED math support. Each of these women prefer a female tutor.

📲If you’re interested in learning more, please contact [email protected], or give her a call at 828-254-3442, ext. 202.

08/07/2026

Twenty-eight young adults are working with developing readers and multilingual learners this summer 📚. Partnering with Christine Avery Learning Center, Youth Transformed for Life, and the YMCA, these Literacy Leaders work with K-6 students all summer long to support reading, writing, and communication skills.

Yesenia has worked with Literacy Together for more than a year as a Literacy Leader intern.

“The power of literacy means having the ability to communicate,” she shared. “To learn from others and teach others. It’s the key to interacting with the world, regardless of time, space, age, or race. It’s expression.”

This summer, Yesenia supports two third grade students. “A huge win is that they aren’t too shy or scared to try reading out loud now!” she shared.

We are also so grateful for partners that come alongside this work! 🙌 We are thrilled to announce a grant from WNC Bridge Foundation. They’ve awarded our Youth Literacy Program $50,000 to strengthen this program, develop multisensory curriculum to best support struggling students, and engage young adults in a robust internship program with leadership development.

We are also grateful to The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation for their support toward stipends for our paid high school interns! 💙

Together, we help more than 150 K-12 students in our community who need extra literacy and language support. This year, we launched a new partnership at Pisgah View Apartments, where volunteer tutors and high school interns are matched with young scholars to focus on reading, writing, and communication skills.

Thank you to WNC Bridge Foundation, Blue Cross NC Foundation, Pigsah View Apartments, and every volunteer tutor and young adult intern. Together, we are transforming lives!

08/05/2026

Watch the video below to see the beautiful work created by Lexington Glassworks and hear more about our exciting collaboration!

08/03/2026

We are always grateful for the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with the people behind the support.

It was a pleasure to catch up with the team from First Horizon Foundation when they visited our office to present Literacy Together with $5,000 toward programming. This generous grant helps expand our team’s capacity to match 500 students each year with a tutor.

Thank you, First Horizon Foundation, for investing in our mission and supporting the work that helps learners in our community thrive.

07/30/2026

We are thrilled to announce that our Adult Literacy and English for Speakers of Other Languages programs have received two new grants for funding!

These critical programs are funded in part by a grant from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina's Ramble Charitable Fund. The Ramble Charitable Fund was created to improve the quality of life in the Shiloh and South Buncombe communities by supporting education, economic development, health care and other projects that promote community development.

We were also chosen as a ProLiteracy® Literacy Opportunity Fund award winner! ProLiteracy uses this fund to give select programs general operating fund to offset day-to-day expenses, expand programming, host events, purchase materials, or for any other pressing needs.

Our community is stronger when every adult has the chance to reach their full potential. Thank you to these funders for allowing Literacy Together to multiply our impact.

07/28/2026

Back-to-school season isn’t just for students—it’s also the perfect time to give back.

If you’ve been looking for a meaningful way to make a difference, becoming a volunteer tutor doesn’t just help a child grow, it can benefit your health, too.

Research shows that acts of kindness, like volunteering in your community, can help you ward off depression, anxiety, and loneliness. People who stay engaged in their communities through volunteering have lower blood pressure, fewer illnesses, and live longer. This good news is not a surprise to our tutors, who tell us they feel valued by and enjoy spending time with their students.

Volunteering two hours a week is a great way to meet your personal wellness goals while giving back to our community of learners. It's as easy as 1 - 2 - 3!

1️⃣ Register for our next volunteer orientation (August 11th or 13th) to see how you can change a life in just two hours a week.

2️⃣ Spread the Word: Invite us to speak! Whether it’s your book club, neighborhood association, or faith community, we’d love to share our mission with your circle.

3️⃣ Be an Advocate: Tell a friend about us! A personal recommendation is our most powerful recruitment tool. Share our page or a post!