'Tis the season to appreciate the people who enrich your life, so we, the staff at Literacy Source, want to take a moment to express our gratitude to you for everything you do to strengthen our community and create an environment where our students can flourish.

As volunteer roles go, we know that Literacy Source asks a lot of you. You dedicate hours each week to building meaningful relationships with our students so that they can create opportunities for themselves, their family, and the community. On top of this, we know that you spread the word about our work and often support us financially as well. While a portion of our work is funded by government contracts and grants, we depend on our incredible community of supporters to ensure we can continue to provide high-level, personalized educational opportunities to everyone who needs it while providing our staff a living wage (more on that in our next e-news!).

No one is more aware of the hard work that goes into your work than our Volunteer Program Manager, Caroline Socha: "We are hugely grateful for the amazing volunteers we have at Literacy Source", she says. "Without all of you we could literally not fulfill our mission of offering individual instruction, a low student: teacher ratio in our classes, and elective learning opportunities outside of our basic skills instruction."

We wish all of you a wonderful holiday season and look forward to the exciting things 2025 will bring!

In community,

Liz Wurster

Communications Coordinator

Our big news this winter is that we are moving offices on January 3rd!

We know this is a busy season but if you are around and can help, we would love help unpacking and helping students find us the first week of classes. Here are the days/time slots when we need help.

UNPACKING:

• Mon.1/6: 9am – Noon or 1 – 3pm



OFFICE & STUDENT CLASS SUPPORT:

• Tues 1/7: Noon – 3pm, 6 - 8pm
• Weds. 1/8: 9am – 11am and 6 – 8pm
• Weds. 1/15: 8am – 11:30am
• Thurs. 1/16: 8am – 11:30am

Treats and sustenance provided! Please email Caroline if you can help.

Here is a detailed document explaining the ins and outs of the move: why it's happening, how it fits into our three-year strategic plan, and why this new space is a wonderful fit for our organization. We look forward to this new opportunity for growth and change in the new year!

Every month, in our "Courageous Conversations", we share a topic that may not be easy to tackle in conversations with others, and ways this topic can be approached with an open heart and mind. This month, we thought to share some ideas about how to engage in one of the most difficult conversations of all: the ones we have with ourselves.

There are so many ways to approach an end-of-year reflection, and we know you all are already a thoughtful, reflective bunch, but if you are looking for some inspiration, here are some ideas:



• Evaluate goals: Did you have goals for the year? If so, think about why you did or didn't accomplish them and how you can adjust your approach.
• Practice gratitude: Take a moment to appreciate the people and experiences that brought joy to your life this year. If you have the time and energy, share that gratitude with the people in your life.
• Identify personal growth: You most likely faced some challenges this year, but try noticing the qualities, insight, or growth you gained from those experiences.
• Set intentions for the new year: Wanting to pick up a new hobby, make a career shift, or take that trip you've been putting off for years? Think about the changes you want in your life and apply them to your plans for the new year.

If ever you feel like you'd like us to explore a conversation you've struggled with, let us know. We are always looking for engaging topics that are relevant to you. We look forward to exploring more courageous conversations with you in the future!

Winter Term is around the corner, we are busy registering new students this week! Please help them get off to a good start by honing your Zoom skills and being ready to help students trouble shoot in the first week of term. This training is required for all new classroom assistants and online tutors, and optional for returning volunteers.

Zoom Skills Workshop (online)

Thursday, January 9th , 6 - 7pm

OR

Saturday, Jan. 11th , at 11am - noon

The training reviews Zoom skills students need in their classes; it is a time for you to learn/review and practice these skills so you can assist students with troubleshooting. Please review the short training videos before the workshop, then you will have time to practice in the training. Topics include: screensharing, joining/leaving breakout rooms, using annotate tools, renaming and background effects (useful for privacy). Please join the Zoom Skills Google Classroom to register for the workshop you would like to attend, view videos, and get the Zoom link for the trainings.

Work Skills Tutors

We are looking for Work Skills Tutors for the winter term to help students with resumes, job applications, or interview skills. The commitment is to one student 1 x 10 weeks, for 2 hrs, online or in-person. Work Skills Tutor Job Description

Interested? Join the Work Skills Tutor Training online on Tuesday, January 14th, 4:30 - 5:30pm. Please email sarab@literacysource.org for more info.

Have You Made Your Year-End Gift Yet?

We invite you to join our Stay at Home Tea by making your year-end donation, sipping a warm cup of tea, losing yourself in a good book, and reflecting on all we’ve accomplished together this year.

With your support, we increased the number of students served, celebrated as students earned their U.S. citizenship, obtained their GEDs, and achieved life-changing goals. Make your year-end gift today to help us continue providing these opportunities in the year ahead. 

Donations must be dated by December 31st to qualify for 2024 tax deductions.

• Amy Yu (Conversation Class)
• Ann Krumboltz (Conversation Class)

Literacy Source partnered with five individuals who became new citizens in the past month: one from Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Mexico, and two from Morocco.

We know the hard work and dedication each of these individuals - and their tutors, instructors, and case managers - gives to this process. We are so thankful for the entire team that supports each of our new citizens.

Congratulations!

Elisa proudly shows her citizenship papers and her American flag.

The Burning Chambers

The Great Divide

The Mighty Red

A Psalm for the Wild Built

James

Welcoming the Unwelcome

Black Nativity

Dec 4-29 (Broadway Performance Hall, $25-110)

Langston Hughes’ Gospel Song-Play returns in this newly reimagined production! Celebrate the season with a cast of more than 30 actors, dancers, soaring vocalists, a live band, and a rousing city-wide gospel choir. Audiences will have the chance to raise your voice and sing-along during this stirring and joyful holiday musical for families of all backgrounds and beliefs. Don’t miss your chance to experience this treasured Seattle tradition as Intiman presents the second year of the new Black Nativity.

Arboretum Winter Solstice Walk 2024

Dec 20 & 21, 4-5:30pm and 6-7:30pm (Washington Park Arboretum, $30, 21+ only)

Whatever holiday traditions you follow, join us as we celebrate the Winter Solstice, where lights and introspection lift spirits and remind us that more light is on the way.

Take a luminary forest walk, enjoy live holiday music, craft and take home your own holiday gift tags (No swag-making this year!), and enjoy two festive alcoholic beverage (each ticket includes two free drinks, ID required)

New Year's Eve at the Center

Dec 31, 8pm-midnight (Seattle Center, FREE)

As Winterfest presented by Symetra comes to an end, celebrate our final event on New Year’s Eve. Seattle Center is the place to be for our free New Year’s Eve Celebration offers entertainment and festivities across our grounds. Pop by the Armory between 8pm and midnight and hear the soulful sounds of premier Northwest band The Blue Wave. At 10pm, head out to International Fountain for a Fountain of Light show featuring DJ Baby Van Beezley.

Just before midnight, find your spot outside to view Alaska Airlines New Year’s at the Needle, the Space Needle’s pyrotechnic extravaganza.

This is the city’s place to be on New Year’s Eve!

Our next New Volunteer Orientation (via Zoom) will be on January 8 at either 1pm or 7pm. 

Potential volunteers are invited to register online here. 

Miss any of our past volunteer newsletters? You can access archived newsletters at the bottom of the Volunteer Resources of our webpage.