|
| In April, we celebrate Earth Month and Day, a time to reflect on how today’s choices shape the world future generations will inherit. While environmental issues may seem separate from our work, our mission is grounded in that same commitment to the future: creating opportunity, stronger communities, and a better future for those who come after us. | |
| | |
As we prepare to celebrate 40 years of Literacy Source at our upcoming fundraising luncheon, we keep coming back to the stories of the people who were there at the beginning. Literacy Source was founded by Anne Hemholtz, a visionary leader who saw adult education as key to building stronger communities. We started small, with volunteers, educators, and community members working out of a church basement, united by the belief that adults deserved strong support to build the skills they needed for work, family, and daily life. What stands out in these reflections is not just how humble those beginnings were, but the heart behind them, and one quality that has carried Literacy Source forward for four decades: responsiveness. Again and again, long-time community members described an organization that listened closely to students and adapted to meet changing needs. What began 40 years ago as a literacy-focused tutoring program for native English speakers has grown into a broader hub for ESOL, digital literacy, work readiness, and citizenship, and it shifted to online learning with extraordinary speed when COVID hit because meeting learners where they are has always guided our work.
Across classes today, students are building skills that are practical, creative, and deeply connected to their lives. ESOL 1 students practiced money handling by presenting receipts from their own shopping trips, while ESOL 2 students shared favorite recipes and ESOL 3 students wrote about people they admire for taking a stand. In ESOL 4/5, students developed problem-solution essays and presentations; Academic English students designed science experiments regrowing vegetables from scraps and wrote essays analyzing the results; and Citizenship students practiced interview questions drawn from the naturalization process. Together, these projects show what it looks like when learning is shaped by students’ goals, interests, and everyday lives.
To help us continue our year-long celebration, we hope you’ll join us for our 40th Anniversary Fundraising Luncheon on Friday, April 24 at noon at The Mountaineers - you can register here. It will be a powerful opportunity to reflect on where Literacy Source began, celebrate how far this community has come, and invest in where we are headed next. If the past 40 years have shown us anything, it is that Literacy Source will keep listening, keep evolving, and keep growing to meet the needs of our community, and your support helps make that future possible.
In Community,
| | |
Cat Howell
Co-ED, Educational Director
| | |
Shira Rosen
Co-ED, Managing Director
| | |
Student Spotlight: Jeong K
“I have received so much kindness and support from teachers, volunteers, and neighbors, and now volunteering feels like a way to give that back."
| | |
Jeong, a student in our ESOL 4-5 class and now also a volunteer, came to Seattle from Korea four years ago, bringing with her a love of nature, a spirit of curiosity, and a remarkable willingness to learn. While living on Jeju Island, she even helped build her own home with family and friends, a reflection of the same openness to learning that continues to shape her life today. Through Literacy Source, Jeong has strengthened her English, expanded her perspective, and found a community where people from many backgrounds can share their stories and see that their lives matter.
You can read Jeong's full story here.
| |
Jeong with her LS instructor, Britt | | |
Welcome, New Staff!
Sawyer, our new Volunteer Program Manager, is a Washington native who grew up on Vashon Island before living in Bellingham, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where he spent the past five years. Most recently, he worked in workforce development, helping people navigate barriers to employment through volunteer-led job readiness classes and individualized support services. With extensive experience in volunteer program development and coordination, Sawyer is passionate about volunteering and the vital role volunteers play in supporting organizations. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his dogs, being outdoors, and watching the Mariners.
| |
| Miles joins Literacy Source as the Outreach, Systems, & Library Coordinator through the AmeriCorps VISTA Program. Originally from San Francisco, Miles moved to Seattle to attend Seattle University, where they earned a BA in Public Affairs, and has worked and volunteered in youth development and young adult services. Most recently, Miles spent two years in Peru as a Peace Corps Youth Development Volunteer. Outside of work, they enjoy bouldering, exploring Seattle with friends, and is both a twin and a black belt in karate. | |
| |
Literacy Source Annual Fundraising Luncheon
Join us at our 40-year anniversary celebration and fundraising luncheon on April 24th. We look forward to celebrating 40 years of literacy and lives changed together!
Details:
When: Friday, April 24th, 12-1 pm.
Doors open at 11:30 for check-in and networking.
Where: Seattle Mountaineers 7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
Space is limited, please register early to let us know you’ll be there.
| | | Expanding Partnership: Seattle Public Library Conversation Circles | | We will be starting a new in-person conversation class in partnership with SPL in our own neighborhood. Beginning Tuesday, March 31st, the Lake City Branch of Seattle Public Library will be hosting a new Conversation Circle on Tuesdays at 5:30pm. Adult ESOL students level 2 and up are able to practice their conversation skills in a safe, fun environment while making new friends and building community. This will now be our 8th conversation circle we facilitate for SPL (one online, and 7 others in person at various branches). Classes are drop in for those working on their English skills, but space is limited. See our website for more information and locations! | |
| Advocacy April is a nationwide campaign led by the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) to elevate adult education through policy advocacy and public awareness. At Literacy Source, we know adult learners and workers thrive when they have access to education, training, and the broader investments that help people participate fully in work and community life. | | | National Skills Coalition’s current campaigns, A New Promise of Work, Keep Our Workforce Strong, and Making College Work, highlight the importance of treating workforce development as a first-choice investment and protecting the pathways that connect learning to opportunity. This month, we invite you to learn more, share these campaigns with your network, and urge lawmakers to protect funding and policies that expand access to adult education and workforce opportunity. | | |
Seattle/King County Clinic
The Seattle/King County Clinic will take place April 23–26, 2026 at Seattle Center, offering free medical, dental, and vision care to anyone who needs it. No ID, insurance, proof of income, or immigration status is required, and interpreters are available to support patients in many languages. You can learn more about services, how to receive care, or volunteer opportunities 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 | | | | |
