Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe
We are on a mission to help close the race-based opportunity gap through community-powered literacy programming that engages children, families, and community partners.

Who We Are

We believe in working as a community to build an equitable world where all children are strong, confident readers who succeed in school and in life.  Founded by Isaac Coleman and a group of community activists, R2S has served more than 650 elementary students over the past ten years. Read more about our vision, mission, and core values here.

What We Do

Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe advocates for children's literacy through kindergarten-readiness programming with children birth to five-years-old, one-to-one and small group tutoring with K-3rd grade students, and community-powered literacy programming with families and community partners. Learn more here.

Who We Serve

With closing the opportunity gap in mind, our goal is to support students in achieving grade-level reading proficiency by the end of 3rd grade. We serve children and their families in Asheville and Buncombe County, through community afterschool programs as well as in partnership with Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools systems.
“Literacy unlocks the door to learning throughout the life, is essential to development and health, and opens the way for democratic participation and active citizenship.”

- Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations

The Literacy Crisis & the Opportunity Gap

One of the most potent ways to support a child’s academic and life success is by supporting their literacy achievement at an early age. In the U.S., however, one out of every three 4th grade students does not read at grade level. There is a literacy crisis occurring across our country and in our Western North Carolina communities. Many children enter kindergarten already behind in their reading, and research shows that students not reading on grade level by the end of third grade are 4X more likely than their peers to drop out of school.

Asheville has the fifth largest achievement gap nationwide and the largest racial achievement gap between Black and white students statewide for all of North Carolina’s 115 school districts.
Together, we can change the story for children in Asheville and Buncombe County and support them in unlocking a brighter future.

Our Impact

Donate to Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe

Donate today to help Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe support students in learning to read at grade-level through one-to-one tutoring and community-powered literacy programming.

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Recent Blog Posts

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2/3/23
Celebrate the Love of Reading & Black History Month
February is a triple treat of a month as we celebrate our *love* of reading, Black History Month, and Black Children's Book Week.
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1/11/23
R2S Recommends: "Black Boy, Black Boy"
Are you looking for a new children's book to share with your young ones? R2S recommends "Black Boy, Black Boy - Celebrate the Power of You."
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12/27/22
VIDEO: A Quick Look Back at R2S in 2022
2022 has been a year for the record books at R2S! Check out our quick look back in our latest video.
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Read to Succeed Community Partners

A special thank you to the ongoing support and generosity of our outstanding community partners.
12 Bones Smokehouse
Arthur R. Edington Center
Asheville City Schools
Barnes & Noble
Beverly-Hanks, Realtors
Bhramari Brewing Co.
Biltmore Farms (Hilton)
Borg Warner Foundation
BorgWarner Turbo Systems, Asheville
Buncombe County
Buncombe County Schools
Burial Beer Co.
Children First (Communities in Schools)
Christine Avery Learning Center
Community Action Opportunities
East Fork
Firestorm Books & Coffee
Flora Asheville
Goosmann Rose Colvard & Cramer, P.A.
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
Housing Authority of the City of Asheville
Jaguar Land Rover Asheville
Key Learning Center
Leadership Asheville
Literacy Together
Malaprops Bookstore
MB Haynes Corporation
Mosaic Realty
OpenDoors of Asheville
Panashe Real Estate in Asheville
Parsec Financial
Table for Two Pottery
The City of Asheville
The Junior League of Asheville
The Matt & Molly Team (Keller Williams)
Town Mountain Realty
Trinity Episcopal
Shady Grove Flowers
United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County
University of North Carolina Asheville
Wells Fargo Foundation
WNC Bridge Foundation
WNC Rotary Passport
Youthful HAND