Literacy Council of the Ouachitas

09/02/2026

Clark County, we’re coming to you!

We’re making it easier to learn about the free services available
through the Literacy Council of the Ouachitas, and you’ll have two new ways to connect with us this month.

Come see us at the Clark County Fair September 14–19 in the evenings.
Stop by our booth to learn more about our free literacy services,
volunteer opportunities, and ways to get involved.

Then, beginning September 23, Heather will be at the Clark County
Library every Wednesday from 1–4 PM for weekly office hours. Whether you’re interested in our services, want to volunteer, have questions,
or just want to stop by and say hello, we would love to see you!

Help us spread the word so more people in Clark County know these free resources are available

08/25/2026

We are so saddened to hear the news that Dolly Parton has passed. Ms. Dolly truly was a champion of literacy, and she embodied what it means to care about bettering one's community for generations to come.

We always ensure that all of our students with young children are signed up for the Imagination Library, a wonderful program that provides free books to children from birth to age five.

"Dolly’s award-winning Imagination Library initiative, inspired by her father’s inability to read or write, has put hundreds of millions of free books into the hands of children across America and was considered by her to be one of her greatest achievements.

“We’re giving books to kids who wouldn’t have a chance to get them otherwise,” she told American Libraries in a 2018 interview. “A lot of people think this is just for poor children—it’s for all children. It’s important to get books into the hands of any child that we can.”"

ALA is heartbroken at the passing of country music legend, cultural icon, and champion of literacy Dolly Parton.

Dolly’s award-winning Imagination Library initiative, inspired by her father’s inability to read or write, has put hundreds of millions of free books into the hands of children across America and was considered by her to be one of her greatest achievements.

“We’re giving books to kids who wouldn’t have a chance to get them otherwise,” she told American Libraries in a 2018 interview. “A lot of people think this is just for poor children—it’s for all children. It’s important to get books into the hands of any child that we can.”

ALA was proud to confer Dolly with an honorary lifetime membership, the Association’s highest honor, in 2023 for her lasting impact on librarianship, libraries, and the communities they serve.

Dolly was also part of ALA’s Celebrity READ campaign, in which she holds a copy of 'The Little Engine That Could.'

“I’ve always related to that book because I’m the little engine that did!” she said.

Thank you, Dolly. ❤️

08/24/2026

We’re looking for someone who wants to put 10–12 hours each week
toward something that matters in Clark County.

The Literacy Council of the Ouachitas is recruiting an AmeriCorps
Literacy Tutor to help us expand our reach and connect more Clark
County adults with literacy and workplace skill support.

This could be a great fit for a college student, recent graduate,
retiree, or anyone looking for meaningful, flexible experience while
becoming more involved in the Clark County community.

Interested? Check out the full opportunity and apply here: We’re looking for someone who wants to put 10–12 hours each week
toward something that matters right here in Clark County.

The Literacy Council of the Ouachitas is recruiting an AmeriCorps
Literacy Tutor to help us expand our reach and connect more Clark
County adults with literacy and workplace skill support.

This could be a great fit for a college student, recent graduate,
retiree, or anyone looking for meaningful, flexible experience while
becoming more involved in the Clark County community.

Interested? Check out the full opportunity and apply here: https://www.indeed.com/job/americorps-member-c242a7c54e3b4c16

Know someone who would be a great fit? Tag them or send this their way!

08/20/2026

We’re happy to welcome Heather Kizziar as the new Program Coordinator for the Literacy Council of the Ouachitas, serving Clark and Hot Spring Counties!

One of Heather’s first opportunities to get out in the community was at the Henderson State Community Fair. Thank you to Henderson State University for having us and giving us the chance to meet new people, make connections, and share more about the Literacy Council.

Heather is looking forward to getting to know both communities and working with local volunteers, businesses, and organizations to help grow literacy opportunities in Clark and Hot Spring Counties.

Please help us welcome Heather to the Literacy Council!

08/18/2026

We get a lot of phone calls from folks who are looking to learn Spanish. We unfortunately cannot offer Spanish as part of our program due to restrictions with our funding; however, we can and will be hosting a Spanish for Beginners class taught by Laura Dolence, a local certified Spanish instructor!

In this 6 week course, you will build essential vocabulary and communication skills, as well as practice pronunciation, useful real-life phrases, and basic conversation.

Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. A fee of $90 will need to be paid to Mrs. Laura Dolence before the first class begins (this covers all 6 classes).

Go here to get registered and see the payment method options: https://forms.gle/RcuwSeMMA1tn3MY37

07/28/2026

We had a great time celebrating our students and volunteers at this year's Summer Celebration! 💙 We had so much to celebrate this year - high school diplomas earned, English skills improved, Citizenship exams passed, and so much more. We genuinely appreciate all of the hard work that continues to be put in by our volunteer tutors and their students, and we can't wait to see the goals that will be accomplished over the next academic year.

Thank you to everyone who came by, and thanks to the Hot Springs Community Resource Center for letting us borrow your propane grill so that we could cook up some hamburgers and hot dogs for everyone!

07/28/2026

Another year in the books! 🎉

What a remarkable year of growth in our organization, and amazing accomplishments by our students. Check out some of these highlights and see what we've been up to!

07/21/2026

We're planning programs for the next academic year, and we need your help! If you would be interested in attending a free program for adults, would you prefer daytime classes, or are you only available to attend classes in the evening (after 5:00pm)?

This would pertain to one-time classes and class series, such as Smart Shopping on a Budget and First Time Homebuyers. We want to make sure our classes are as accessible as possible, so please leave your feedback in the comments below!

07/15/2026

Help us congratulate Debbie on her well-earned Arkansas High School Diploma! 💙

Debbie joined the Literacy Council of the Ouachitas as part of the Senior Community Service Employment Program through AARP. The goal of SCSEP is to support senior adults in gaining employment skills through placement at local businesses and non-profits. However, Debbie had a dream in her heart, and little did she know, the Literacy Council was the perfect place to achieve it! Debbie wanted to earn a high school diploma. She had tried over the years, but obstacles and barriers kept her from completing a program. The first step was starting with a math tutor and a reading tutor at the Literacy Council. When she learned about the diploma program through one of our partners, the Adult Learning Network, she decided to give it a try.

Debbie worked with teachers and coaches through the Arkansas Learning Network, along with tutors as needed at the council. On June 13th, less than a week after her 61st birthday, Debbie walked across the stage and received her hard earned high school diploma.

"Debbie has been a gift to our mission. She greets people entering the office, helps with important tasks, and is always willing to learn," says Sarah, executive director at the Literacy Council.

Taylor, our program coordinator, gushed about Debbie, "I absolutely adore Debbie! She is such a light in our office. I have seen her talk with several of our students, empathizing with their journey, and she truly has a way of lifting their spirits and making them realize that they are fully capable of reaching their goals. I am so incredibly proud of her for obtaining her high school diploma. She worked tirelessly to get it, and I can't wait to see what else she is able to accomplish now that she has this boost of confidence and knows that she can achieve whatever she sets her mind to!"

07/08/2026

Thank you to the Garland County Library for hosting another fantastic Non-Profit Fair! We are so grateful for the opportunity to spread the word about what we do in our community.💙