Chatham Literacy

08/27/2026

At Chatham Literacy, we are remembering and celebrating the life and legacy of Dolly Parton -- a woman whose belief in the power of books, children, and opportunity has touched millions of lives.

Through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, children have been given the gift of a book to call their own, helping families build a love of reading from an early age. Her vision reminds us that literacy is more than learning to read -- it is about opening doors, building confidence, and creating possibilities for a lifetime.

We invite you to honor Dolly’s legacy in whatever way is meaningful to you:

Give to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and help continue her dream of putting books into the hands of children.

Give to Chatham Literacy and help us bring the power of literacy to adults and families right here in our community.

Every book shared, every learner supported, and every new reader empowered carries Dolly’s legacy forward.

Let’s celebrate her life by continuing the work she believed in: putting books in hands and opening doors through literacy.

07/29/2026

Thank you to Literacy Foundation for our 2026 adult literacy grant!

Funding received will support our English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Program which provides free tutoring services through a combination of in-person and distance learning so our adult learners gain the literacy skills needed to better their lives.

07/20/2026

We’re excited to share that we are one of 750 grantees selected to receive a 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant from and AARP North Carolina!

We’re incredibly proud to receive this investment to help make Chatham County more livable for people of all ages. With this grant, we will offer digital classes using refurbished laptops, WiFi access, and local pop-up labs led by trained volunteers. Participants will build basic online skills to access services, communicate and use technology more confidently.

Thank you AARP for helping us to close the digital divide in Chatham County!

Learn more about the AARP Community Challenge: www.aarp.org/CommunityChallenge

--- Vicki Newell, Chatham Literacy Executive Director, Chatham County Literacy Council, Inc., Siler City, NC

07/02/2026

Meet Kelly Dalton: Chatham Literacy’s New Development Director!

When Kelly Dalton was searching for her next job, she did what so many people do -- she applied everywhere.

"I had applied to about 40 jobs," she says. "They were all just a need to have a job until I found Chatham Literacy's post."

She bookmarked it.

Then a close friend, who was also searching for work, sent her the same listing with a simple message: "This has you written all over it."

Kelly laughed. She had already moved it to the top of her list.

“I really wanted to be here,” she says. “Nothing made me more excited.”

That excitement came from something bigger than a job description. Since moving to Pittsboro in 2021, Kelly has immersed herself in the community, meeting people through local coffee shops, music, the arts, and volunteer work. By the time she discovered Chatham Literacy, she realized she already knew many of the people connected to the organization.

“It was my community already,” she says. “I am more amped up and excited to be out helping it.”

Kelly brings years of experience in communications, marketing, nonprofit development, and event planning, but what stands out most is the way she talks about people. For her, development isn't simply about raising money -- it's about helping people find a place where they belong and feel invested.

“I think to start is to make sure that people know about us, because I didn't know about us,” she says. “I want people to feel excited to give, and not necessarily financially. I want people to be excited to be involved.”

She hopes to create opportunities for donors, volunteers, learners, tutors, and community members to come together -- not just around fundraising, but around the shared belief that literacy changes lives.

Ultimately, that's the future she sees for Chatham Literacy.

“I want people to feel excited to be involved, having this be one big community where everyone is the same kind of contributor.”

We're excited to welcome Kelly to our team and can't wait to see the connections she'll help build throughout Chatham County. Please join us in welcoming her to Chatham Literacy!

07/01/2026

What an incredible first Haiku Contest!

Thank you to our amazing community, local partners, and volunteers for making our inaugural contest such a success. Your creativity, support, and enthusiasm made this so much more than we imagined for a first-time event.

The contest has officially closed! Our judges, local authors Daniel Wallace and Jill McCorkle, will now read every entry and select our winner, whose Haiku will be turned into a beautiful work of art by a local creative. The winner will be announced at a special event in August, so stay tuned for details!

And the celebration doesn't stop there: Round 2 opens September 1st, kicking off National Literacy Month! Missed this round or want a fun summer challenge for the family? You've got two months to prepare. Entry is just $5 for adults (online or Venmo) and $1 for kids — a great summer time activity to bond and learn together.

Thank you for being an awesome community! Your support helps us bring free adult literacy services to our beloved Chatham community. We can't wait to see your creativity next round!

Donate at chathamliteracy.org/haiku, or scan one of the QR codes in this video.

Email your haiku with subject line “HAIKU” to [email protected], and include your name and phone number.

Questions? Call us at 919-742-0578.

06/24/2026

Calling all poets! Chatham Literacy is soliciting haiku poems! Challenge your friends and loved ones!

Here are the guidelines:

- 3 Lines; 5, 7, 5 Syllable Structure
- $5 entry for 18+
- $1 entry younger than 18
- Email haiku to [email protected] with the subject line "HAIKU"
- Enter as many times as you want
- Open for one month starting June 1
- Local authors will judge
- Winner will receive bragging rights + your haiku framed and illustrated by a local artist
- The haiku structure does not have to be followed rigidly - it is intended as a limiting factor to spark creativity.
- Challenge your friends and family!

Visit chathamliteracy.org/haiku for more information.

06/17/2026

06/09/2026

Chatham Literacy currently has three job openings:

++ Program Coordinator for Digital Literacy

Chatham Literacy seeks a talented, upbeat person as Program Coordinator for our Digital Literacy Program – providing guidance and support to volunteer tutors on digital literacy. Recruit, conduct orientation and new tutor training, match tutors with learners, provide in-service support and training, appreciate progress, and track data and outcomes for volunteer tutors and adult learners.

This person will have an associate’s degree or 2 years of experience working with computers, community outreach or volunteer engagement. They will have general skills and knowledge of computers such as word, excel, and the basic use of computers.

The position is part-time, 20 hours per week with a flexible work schedule.

The ideal candidate works well independently and as part of a team and is bilingual in Spanish and English.

Enjoy your job while making a difference in the community!

Submit your cover letter and your resume to: [email protected]


++ Case Manager with Chatham Literacy

Chatham Literacy seeks a talented, upbeat person as Case Manager – providing case management services for an assigned caseload of clients participating in the United Way’s Bold Goal Initiative. Works with a cohort of agencies to develop comprehensive program plan/goals; evaluates client's progress by conducting mentoring and counseling sessions with client and/or staff; and serves as advocate for client to acquire services that will enable them to functionally cope with their environment.

The position is part-time, 20 hours per week with a flexible work schedule.

The ideal candidate works well independently and as part of a team and is bilingual in Spanish and English.

Enjoy your job while making a difference in the community!

Submit your cover letter and resume to: [email protected]


++ Communication and Marketing Coordinator

Chatham Literacy seeks a talented communication and marketing professional (20 hours per week in Siler City, NC) to drive engagement in our mission of helping adults acquire the literacy and educational skills they need to succeed. The ideal candidate will generate awareness of Chatham Literacy and our adult literacy services and increase program accessibility using a variety of mediums, including email, website, social media, video and print.

If you are experienced in nonprofit communication and motivated by a mission that helps adults build better futures, this position may be for you!

If you are interested – Email cover letter and resume to: [email protected]

For more information about Chatham Literacy or to review the job descriptions for these positions, visit our website at https://chathamliteracy.org

06/09/2026

NOW HIRING: Communication and Marketing Coordinator

Chatham Literacy seeks a talented communication and marketing professional (20 hours per week in Siler City, NC) to drive engagement in our mission of helping adults acquire the literacy and educational skills they need to succeed. The ideal candidate will generate awareness of Chatham Literacy and our adult literacy services and increase program accessibility using a variety of mediums, including email, website, social media, video and print.

If you are experienced in nonprofit communication and motivated by a mission that helps adults build better futures, this position may be for you!

If you are interested – Email cover letter and resume to: [email protected]

For more information about Chatham Literacy or to review the job description for this position, visit our website at https://chathamliteracy.org