In the News
October 28, 2011
From Asheville to Cambodia: Literacy volunteers visit a student's homeland
"She moves with massive grace, a slight wiggle from side to side like a big-bottomed woman in stiletto heels. My husband, Lynn, and I perch on a platform that rests on her shoulders and sway with her." Join Tutors Cheryl and Lynn as they recall their trip to Cambodia to visit the homeland of Lynn's student Wann. To read thestorie as printed in the paper click here. Want more? To read the full version detailing thier trip click here.
September 21,2011
Vote: 2011 Asheville City Council Candidate Survey Responses and Voter Guide
The guide features responses by candidates to an eight-question survey that covers issues such as child poverty, the school achievement gap, transportation, and affordable housing .Children First/CIS thanks the following 13 other nonprofit co-sponsors: ABIPA, Asheville City Schools Foundation, Christians for a United Community, Just Economics of WNC, Irene Wortham Center, League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County, Literacy Council of Buncombe County, MANNA Food Bank, On Track Financial Education and Counseling, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, YMCA of WNC, YWCA of Asheville, and Western NC AIDS Project. To read the report Click here
August 11,2011
2011 TWIN Honoree Spotlight: Amanda Edwards,Literacy Council of Buncombe County.
The YWCA’s Tribute to Women of Influence (TWIN) event honors women who have made significant contributions to their fields, and recognizes those organizations that support such achievements. To read more Click here
May 18, 2011
The writing on the wall, Volunteer tutors critical to offset school budget cuts
Concern about looming state budget cuts has many public schools brainstorming ways to do more with less. To read more Click here
April 7,2011
Literacy Council Executive Director Honored
The UNC Asheville Alumni Association presented its alumni and student leadership awards at a campus ceremony and dinner. Amanda Edwards was recognized for her leadership at the Literacy Council of Buncombe County for the past 7 years. Special praise was given to the Literacy Council’s increase in fundraising and its expanded outreach to the community under Amanda’s leadership. Congratulations to Amanda for a well-deserved honor. To read more Click here.
March 23,2011
Thank you, RBC Bank!
RBC Bank’s $5,000 contribution to the Literacy Council invests in our Adult Education program. Through this program, we match adults who read at or below a basic skills level one-on-one with a highly trained volunteer tutor.
One in ten adults in our community cannot read at or above a basic level. These limited literacy skills pose challenges with daily tasks such as: understanding the instructions on a medicine bottle, reading teachers’ notes that children bring home from school, and filling out bank deposit slips. Adult Education students have courageously taken the step to give reading another chance and often show remarkable progress as a result of working with a Literacy Council tutor. Some earn their GEDs and others qualify for higher paying jobs. For the first time, many Adult Education students are able to read recipes, complete a job application, and help their children in school.
Research shows that for every dollar invested in Adult Education, the community receives benefits that value $33. With increased literacy skills, our students improve job prospects, increase labor productivity, assist their children as engaged and knowledgeable parents, and become active community members—in turn, building the strength of our local economy and community. We thank RBC Bank for investing in our Adult Education students’ futures.
January 11, 2011
LIteracy Council featured on Spotlight Carolina
Tiffany Ervin interviews our own Amanda Edwards. You can watch the video by followiing the link. Click here
January 2011
Renewed IRA Charitable Rollover legislation can benefit your family and our local community at large
The IRA Charitable Rollover is a provision of federal legislation that allows donors to make gifts directly to charities from their IRA accounts and avoid paying taxes.
Read the full Story
November 2010
New Partnership with the Inn on Biltmore Estate
The Inn on Biltmore Estate placed importance on their employees' English language development and approached the Literacy Council to begin a peer tutoring program. Read the full story
August 2010
Melvin R. Lane Fund Announces Grant to Literacy Council
The Melvin R. Lane Fund announced that they will award the Literacy Council of Buncombe County $150,000 over the next three years to build adaptive and technical leadership capacity; to increase the amount, diversity and sustainability of revenues; and to bring staff to full-time employment status. Read the full story
Asheville Augustine Project Launches in July
According to a recent report issued by the Asheville City Schools, only 41% of African-American third- through eighth-grade students have reading levels at or above grade level. Approximately 18% of children in Buncombe County will not graduate high school. Read the full story
Help needed to find locations for adult ESOL small classes.
The Literacy Council continuously seeks opportunities to expand small class instruction for adults in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Churches, schools, libraries, retirement centers, community centers, and businesses are all good locations to host small ESOL classes.
Read the full story
eNewsletter Archives
October 2011 E-News
- Tutoring sets Volunteer on New Life Course
- 2nd Annual Stakeholders Meeting
- Thanks for a Successful Authors Event
- Resources for Tutors
more>>
August 2011 E-News
- Authors for Literacy Dinner and Silent Auction
- Walter and Nancy McConnell Scholarship success
- Tutor In-Service Learning Opportunities
- Thank you Corporate Partners.
more>>
June 2011 E-News
- Ron Rash to Keynote Authors dinner
- Augustine Project Update
- Casas Testing
more>>
April 2011 eNews
- A Literacy Heroine
- Spring Potluck
- Fabric Art
- Chamber Challange
more>>
February 2011 eNews
- Preparing for Citizenship
- Thank You RBC Bank
- Unique Support
- New Curtains
more>>
December 2010 eNews
more>>
November 2010 eNews
- New partnership with Inn on Biltmore Estate.
- Local business support LCBC.
- What we have been up to.
more>>
May 2010 eNews
- Adult Ed Student Receives GED
- 20th Annual Spelling Bee
- Literacy Council volunteers Honored at DOVIA
- Augustine Project Launches
more>>
March 2010 eNews
- Help needed to find locations for ESOL classes.
- Volunteer tells story of tutor-student partnership.
- Development Director announced.
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January 2010 eNews
- Reaching out to more adult education students – an interview with Becca Loli.
- Erin Sebelius leads TESOL seminar at Mars Hill College to help educators care for English language learners.
- Literacy Council Board Chair Julie Heinitsh receives UNC-A Distinguished Community Service Award.
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December 2009 Bulletin
- Volunteer tutors needed for Prison Inmate Tutoring Program. Change an inmate’s future. Teach him or her to read.
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November 2009 eNews
- Our Literacy Council staff shares its knowledge: Executive Director speaks at Association of Fundraising Professionals.
- ESOL Coordinator conducts advocacy workshop at TESOL.
- Volunteer tutors needed for Adult Ed partnership with AB Technical College to tutor at local prisons.
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October 2009 eNews
- Our ESOL students embark on writing journey with Warren Wilson College students.
- The Book: A poem written for the Literacy Council by Fred Chappell, Poet Laureate Emeritus of NC.
- Grant award to teach ESOL to parents of middle school students.
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September 2009 eNews
- Mayor Terry Bellamy proclaims September as Adult Literacy Awareness Month in Asheville.
- Hugely successful fundraiser with Sara Gruen, keynote author, at 2 nd Annual Authors for Literacy Dinner and Silent Auction.
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August 2009 eNews
- TESOL supports Workforce Investment Act.
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July 2009 eNews
- Announcing 2 nd Annual Authors for Literacy Dinner and Silent Auction featuring Sara Gruen, bestselling author of Water for Elephants.
- Introducing new staff in marketing and Adult Education program.
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June 2009 eNews
- Givens Estates wins 19 th Annual Spelling Bee.
- Open house celebrates students’ achievements with Readers Are Leaders writing exhibit.
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