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 1,000 PreK- 5th grade students over the past twelve 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-5th 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 learning to read at grade level. We serve children and their families in Asheville and Buncombe County, through community PreK and elementary after-school 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, two 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.
Source: North Carolina School Report Cards
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.

Recent Blog Posts

6/4/2025
Looking for a book-tastic way to support Read 2 Succeed *and* an incredible local BIPOC-owned bookstore? Support the Cuentos y Café Summer Reading Book Drive now through June 30, 2025!
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6/2/25
Books give families an amazing opportunity to center stories, experiences, and history they may have never heard. Take a moment to explore these child-friendly books and learn more about how your family can honor the history of the Juneteenth holiday.
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4/24/2025
When children see characters like themselves, it builds trust, encourages curiosity, and supports language development. Celebrate the huge transition to kindergarten milestone with these 10 titles recommended by R2S:
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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 & Brewing
Asheville City Schools
Asheville PEAK Academy
BorgWarner Turbo Systems, Asheville
Buncombe County
Buncombe County Public Libraries
Buncombe County Schools
Buncombe Partnership for Children
Burial Beer Co.
CareSource Foundation
Chai Pani/Botiwalla
Children First (Communities in Schools)
Chosen PODS After-School & Summer Camp
Christine Avery Learning Center
Community Action Opportunities
Corner Kitchen
Firestorm Books & Coffee
Hood Huggers
Housing Authority of the City of Asheville

Jack & Anne Glenn Foundation
Junior League of Asheville
Kimpton Hotel Arras
Literacy Together
Modera Wealth
Reems Creek Nursery
Second Gear
Self-Help Credit Union
Sutherland Foundation
The City of Asheville
The Hop Ice Cream
The Matt & Molly Team (Keller Williams)
United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County
University of North Carolina Asheville
WNC Bridge Foundation
Youthful HAND
YWCA of Asheville