SeptemberNEWSLETTER | 2026 | | |
| September is National Literacy Month, highlighting how foundational reading, math, and language skills shape daily life. For Literacy Source, it speaks directly to our mission—equipping adult learners to unlock new opportunities for themselves, their families, and our community. | |
| | |
September brings a meaningful moment to celebrate the rich tapestry of our community as we recognize both Hispanic Heritage Month and African Immigrant Heritage Month. Last school year, Literacy Source partnered with learners hailing from 72 different countries—a milestone we are poised to exceed this year. In fact, nearly half of our students connect directly to these heritage celebrations, with Spanish, Tigrinya, and Amharic consistently ranking among our top five spoken languages. Reflecting these backgrounds directly connects to our vision of building an inclusive community where all adults have access to quality education, the equity to thrive, and the voice to shape their world.
September is also Workforce Development Month, a fitting time to celebrate how our job-skills partnerships have grown to support career pathways across our region. Over the past five years, our specialized workplace literacy and community classes—collaborating with partners like UW, Seattle Children’s, Port Jobs, and the Seattle Public Library—have more than quadrupled, expanding from 2 classes to 9. That momentum mirrors our organizational growth as a whole: since 2021, our total reach has nearly doubled, serving close to 1,200 students through more than 66,500 instructional hours.
At the same time, we know adult education cannot be defined by economics alone. During our recent Back to School Lunch & Learn on “the conversations we’re not having,” we pushed back against the narrow framing that measures learning solely through workforce metrics, reaffirming our commitment to the full spectrum of student goals—whether that means advancing a career, helping a child with homework, or finding community and voice. Striving to meet all of these diverse aspirations brings an urgent reality: demand continues to outpace our capacity, and turning away motivated learners is a heartbreak we work tirelessly to prevent. That is what makes our Back to School campaign so essential this month. Meeting this moment takes collective community investment, and your incredible support ensures every adult who walks through our doors finds the resources, encouragement, and belonging they need to succeed.
| | |
Cat Howell
Co-ED, Educational Director
| | |
Shira Rosen
Co-ED, Managing Director
| | |
Class Spotlight: Conversation Class
Whether hosted in partnership with the Seattle Public Library or at our Lake City center, our Conversation Classes embody inclusion by offering a welcoming, low-barrier space for adult learners to build vital speaking and listening skills. In whole-class and small-group discussions, students explore daily life topics together while forging genuine community across cultures. That sense of celebration often reaches well beyond the classroom walls—like when our Lake City morning class recently headed out for a trek along the Oxbow Loop trail. Volunteer and master birder Cynthia organized an outdoor scavenger hunt so learners could practice real-world English in nature, turning up native berries, local birds, and even an unforgettable bear sighting!
| |
| Back to School Isn't Just for Kids | | |
For 40 years, Literacy Source has helped adults open doors through education, and today the need is greater than ever. As learners head back to school this fall, we are raising a record $50,000 to provide the instruction, technology, and support that make learning possible. Best of all, reaching $25,000 unlocks an exciting $20,000 challenge match—and with $11,465 already raised, every dollar brings us closer.
Will you stretch your impact with a gift to our Back-to-School Appeal? Your generosity ensures more students can access vital Conversation Classes and English instruction, creating opportunities that strengthen individuals, families, and our entire community.
| | Expanding Partnership: College Bridge Class | | We are excited that the Seattle Public Library is funding a special, one-term ESOL Level 5 class this fall as part of our wonderful partnership. Designed for students completing Level 4, this intensive 12-hour-per-week course strengthens academic reading and writing to prepare learners for college programs like I-BEST. | |
| While most of our fall classes are already full, enrollment is still open for this unique cohort! If you know an English Language Learner who is ready for college but isn't sure how to navigate the system, please encourage them to schedule a New Student Registration (NSR) appointment today to enroll. | | National Adult Education and Family Literacy (AEFL) Week runs September 14–18, celebrating the impact of adult learning across our communities. Even if you cannot advocate on Capitol Hill in person, you can make a meaningful difference from home. NAFTAE’s toolkit provides clickable resources, email templates, and call scripts to contact elected officials or request a local proclamation supporting adult education funding. Check out the AEFL Week Advocacy Toolkit to take quick action and amplify our learners' voices! | |
| |
Telling the story of why digital access matters in our communities isn't always easy, especially when time is limited. The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) just released a practical guide, Elevating Our Voices, with ready-to-use social templates and media tips to make that outreach easier. It uses the recent NDIA v. Trump court decision as a timely hook to highlight local digital equity work and push to protect federal funding. You can download the NDIA Social Media and Press Outreach Toolkit to grab the templates and get started. | |
|
|
Welcome New Board Members
We'd love to introduce three new members to our board!
| | |
Jeff L
Jeff spent six years as a Literacy Source volunteer, primarily assisting students in the school’s citizenship program. He came to Literacy Source after retiring from Microsoft where he served as a director in the company’s corporate marketing department. While at Microsoft, he managed the team responsible for production of the Microsoft home page (and a variety of other sites). He holds undergraduate degrees in journalism and history from the University of Colorado...
| |
| |
Lisa L
Lisa is an operations professional in the nonprofit sector, currently the Administrative Manager at Project Drawdown, an organization focused on advancing climate solutions. Previously, she worked at Community Center for Education Results, a nonprofit dedicated to equity in education and centering Black and Brown students across our region’s education systems. Lisa also brings extensive experience from the travel industry where she led customer-facing teams and managed logistics for international travel experiences...
| |
| |
Sarah B
Sarah is the K12 Fellowship Manager for the Strategic Data Project (SDP) and Center for Education Policy Research at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her work is focused on bringing high-quality programming to a data-focused educational fellowship. Sarah joined SDP in 2023 after having taught middle-grade humanities in Seattle-area schools and earning her M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership from the University of Washington. Sarah’s work has focused on supporting emerging educator professional networks...
| |
| You can read their full bios here. | | Ready to engage further with Literacy Source? | | To make a difference in the lives of others | | To invest in something that makes a lasting impact | | To have a strong and thriving workplace | | | | |
