Do you have a New Year's intention to get more involved in your community? To support nonprofits and causes you care about?

R2S has you covered with five essential ways to support our community-powered literacy programs in Asheville and Buncombe County.

1. Sign up to be a Reading Tutor
Due to Helene, local students missed more than a month of school. Now, more than ever, they deserve the absolute best our community can give them to support their education!

New training dates for volunteer tutors are right around the corner, and now is the time to sign up! All new volunteer reading tutors are required to complete a minimum of six hours of training (two hours a day spread across three days) of training.

WHAT: R2S Volunteer Tutor Training
DATES: Wednesdays, Jan. 15, 22, and 29th, 2025
WHERE: 6 PM - 8 PM on Zoom

Click HERE to learn more and complete a Volunteer Application today!

2. Become a Monthly Donor
Sustained giving really adds up for grassroots nonprofits like R2S!

• $15/mo. provides three books to three students each month.
  
• $25/mo. supports weekly read-alouds in PreK classrooms.
  
• $50/mo. fills Tutor Toolkits and funds ongoing coaching.
  
• $100/mo. serves community partners with literacy training (and earns you a spot in the R2S Page Turners Circle!)
  
  

Commit to monthly giving in 2025, and know that your support directly impacts local students and their families.  Click HERE to get started today!

3. Follow R2S on Social Media
One of the best ways to stay up to date on all the latest R2S happenings - from volunteer opportunities to family reading events, guest author visits, and press - is to follow us at @r2sasheville on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

4. Join our Page Turners Circle
R2S Page Turners Circle members receive special R2S swag, get exclusive updates from Co-Executive Directors, and attend special events. Any donor giving more than $1,000 in a calendar year automatically becomes an R2S Page Turners Circle member!

Click HERE to learn more and join the Page Turners Circle today!

5. Learn about the youth literacy crisis
Did you know that more than half of all NC third-graders do *not* read on grade level? When you sub-aggregate that data by race and income level, the numbers are even more astonishing.

The BEST way to support literacy is to learn about how our city, state and country got to this crisis and how educators everywhere are using the Science of Reading to reverse the curve and show up for students in unprecedented ways.

Stream "The Right to Read" documentary, listen to "Sold a Story" podcast, and follow R2S in the press to get started.

The Read 2 Succeed blog was a rich resource in 2024, featuring children's book recommendations, free printable literacy activities, family reading ideas, and much more. Check out our top 8 posts from 2024 below!

1. 13 ABC Books Featuring Black and Brown Characters & Celebrating All Bodies
Print awareness, letter recognition, and learning letter sound names are critical components of early literacy skills children acquire in PreK and kindergarten. This fan-favorite blog post features incredible BIPOC-centered ABC books that help children learn their ABC's and everything that comes with them!

2. 8 More Black Children's Books About LOVE
A follow-up to our most-visited post in 2023, this Valentines-inspired blog post celebrates love of family, self, and community.  Book recommendations feature incredible authors like Kevin Lewis, Lupita Nyong'o, and Ama KariKari-Yawson - don't miss it!

3. Meet Ms. Ann Davis | Read 2 Succeed's New Storytime Specialist
R2S was thrilled to welcome literacy champion and founder of Books Alive! with Mrs. Ann to the team in the spring of 2024 as our new Storytime Specialist. Mrs. Ann reads in Head Start and PreK classrooms across the county with partners at Community Action Opportunities and Christine W. Avery Learning Center as well as at school and community events.

4. 5 Summer-Inspired Reading Activities for Elementary Students
We soaked up the summer sun with free printable reading activities for students and families to enjoy over break. From A-Z scavenger hunts to reading challenges and more, there was no end to the literacy fun that helps kids keep reading skills sharp while they are out of school.

5. 5 Summer-Inspired Literacy Activities for Pre-K Students
Embrace the amazing amount of brain development happening 0 - 5 years old with these seasonal literacy activities for pre-kindergarteners. Ideas included free printable ice cream cone letters to playing "I Spy" with sounds, and more!

6. 10 Children's Books With Black Olympians
R2S celebrated the 2024 Summer Olympics with a fun post featuring incredible children's books all about different Black Olympians, including Usain Bolt, Wilma Rudolph, Simone Biles, Muhammad Ali, Vonetta Flowers, Jesse Owens, and more!

7. Autumn-Inspired Literacy Activities for Elementary Students
Free printable reading activities in this fall-tastic blog article included a synonyms puzzle, autumn code breaker, and magical madlibs! Engaging multi-sensory activities that get kids reading are sure-fire ways to create positive experiences with learning that will last a lifetime.

8. Working With Children After Crisis & Disaster
With the support of Child Life Disaster Relief, R2S was able to offer training to volunteer tutors and community partners following Hurricane Helene all about trauma-informed support for children. Our blog post from Elementary Literacy Directory Lindsey Sterrett shares key best practices for supporting students after a disaster - from emotional regulation to handling big questions and building relationships.

Related Posts:
Best of 2023┃Read to Succeed Blog

Read 2 Succeed (R2S) is on a mission to help close the race-based opportunity gap through community-powered literacy programming that engages children, families, and community partners.

Due to Helene, students missed more than a month of school. Now, more than ever, they deserve the absolute best our community can give them to support their education!

We are looking for dedicated volunteer reading tutors who are available to build a lasting relationship with a student for the entire school year, meeting with them twice a week either during or after school. Our volunteers believe in all students' innate ability to learn and grow as a reader and understand the role of community-powered literacy in Asheville and Buncombe County.

Tutor training happens Wednesday, 1/15, 22, and 29, 2025 on Zoom from 6PM - 8PM. Tutors are required to complete *all* three days of training.

What does reading tutor training involve?
Over the last three weeks of January, R2S will host training sessions with new volunteer reading tutors, exploring the state of literacy in Asheville City and Buncombe County schools and the Essentials of Foundational Reading Instruction. You will workshop best practices for teaching phonics and phonemic awareness and learn how to use the reading curricula and R2S lesson plan.

How long is reading tutor training?
All new volunteer reading tutors are required to complete a minimum of six hours of training (two hours a day spread across three days). All upcoming trainings will take place on Zoom.


How do I get started?
Learn more and fill out a volunteer application by click the button above.

Questions? Contact Volunteer Coordinator Camille at [email protected]

By: Lindsey Sterrett, R2S Elementary Literacy Director

As we return to tutoring, or for some, begin new tutoring relationships with students, I wanted to share key takeaways from a recent training, "How to Competently and Confidently Connect with Children After Crisis/Disaster." The session was facilitated by Child Life Disaster Relief, a group of clinical professionals who founded their nonprofit after recognizing the need for trauma-informed community support in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Here are some insights I’d like us to carry forward in our practices and relationships as we resume tutoring:

Our students, like us, have experienced the trauma of this natural disaster in various ways. It has been a lot to process, and for many in our community, this remains a time of uncertainty and hardship. As we get back to learning and connecting, our relationships with students become even more essential. Your time together can be a source of predictability and consistency for them.

Here are some ways to support our students in this process:

• Be present with your full awareness and attention. Many families are under extreme stress right now, and your presence and focused attention are a true gift.
• Let them share experiences on their terms. Children need to feel in control of what and how much they share. Some children may have a lot to say, while others may not want to discuss it at all. Avoid leading conversations or asking direct questions about how the hurricane impacted them. Research shows that it can take 9–18 months after a trauma for children to process these events cognitively.
• If they do share, reflect and validate their experience without probing further. Acknowledge what you hear, but give them space to open up at their own pace.
  
• Be mindful of potential triggers to their stress response. These might include rain, thunder, wind, clouds, loud noises, safety drills, or sirens.
• Monitor your own emotions. Your emotional regulation can significantly influence children, just as their emotions can affect ours.
  • One easy way to support regulation is how we breathe. When you exhale longer than you inhale, you activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which can help you feel calmer and more relaxed
    • Slows your heart rate: Exhaling longer than you inhale signals your vagus nerve to release acetylcholine, which slows your heart rate.
      
    • Reduces stress and anxiety: This breathing technique can help you feel more relaxed and reduce stress and anxiety. 
      
• Handle big questions with care. If a child asks a challenging question or shares a difficult issue, validate their feelings, respond honestly, and acknowledge the significance of their question. If it feels beyond your expertise, reflect what you hear and suggest, “I wonder who you can talk to about big questions. Is there someone you trust?”
  
• Build relationships through play. Play is the language of children. As we return to our work, let’s create space for play. The R2S resource library offers many useful resources for this.
• Offer choices in your routine or lesson plan. For example, let them choose a book or decide if they’d like to play a game at the beginning or end of the session.

If you’d like to learn more about Child Life Disaster Relief (CLDR) and its resources click HERE.

📚 Meet the Authors!
We are honored to host Veronica N. Chapman, a Social impact ideator & activator, author, and founder of Boxxout Enterprises, the creative force behind Black Baby Books and Black Children’s Book Week. Veronica is a Spelman College and Babson College alum who has dedicated her career to designing solutions for social change. Veronica will be sharing her children’s book, "King Khalid is Proud," with the first 100 families receiving free copies!

🎉 We’re also excited to welcome Jaha Avery, lawyer, thought leader, and author of the powerful book, "I Heard: An American Journey." Jaha’s work explores themes of heritage and identity through a rich narrative inspired by her background in civil rights law and advocacy.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to meet these inspiring authors and celebrate their contributions to literature and social change.

🎈 Family Fun & Festivities
In addition to author meet-and-greets and book signings, we have a full lineup of holiday-themed activities to bring joy to the entire family:

• 🎨 Face Painting
• 🍪 Cookie Decorating
• 🎡 Carnival Games & Prizes
• 🎁 BIPOC Holiday Market featuring local businesses
  
  

🍴 Delicious Food & Entertainment
Pick up a free meal from Cooking with Comedy and Blessed Soul Food, while enjoying music by DJ Big Wave. The day will also feature a special performance by entertainer Virtuous, ensuring the energy stays lively all afternoon.

🎄 Don’t Miss Out!
This is a celebration you won’t want to miss! Celebrate local authors, enjoy family-friendly holiday fun, and connect with the community in a meaningful way.

Click here to RSVP on Eventbrite and secure your spot today. Admission is free, but space is limited—don’t wait! Let’s make this year’s Holiday Extravaganza the best one yet. We can’t wait to see you there.

📣 Spread the Word!
Share this event with friends, family, and neighbors. Together, let’s celebrate the season, support Black children's book authors, and strengthen our community.

We are thrilled to welcome Camille Harris-Wallace to the R2S team as our new Tutor & Volunteer Coordinator! With a rich background in early childhood education and youth support services, Camille brings her thoughtful expertise and passion for education and families to the critical work of coordinating community volunteers.

Read below for a quick Q&A with Camille to get to know her and her role at R2S a bit more:

What role has reading played in your life?
I love reading. I have always thought of reading as the best movie. As a woman of color, many books are not written with me in mind. I have the ability to imagine people as I want them to be. Reading has also given me a love of language. I love discovering new words, and having a thesaurus handy while reading was one of my favorite things to do to increase my vocabulary during high school.

What was your favorite book as a child? What is your favorite book now (if it changed!)
I think my favorite book as a child was The Secret Garden.  I think as an adult I have many favorites. One of the books that influenced significant change for me was the Power of Now by Echart Tolle.

What do you most enjoy about your work with R2S?
Hands down what I have enjoyed the most on day 2, is getting to know the people I work with. Everyone has been extremely welcoming and the people you work with can make or break a job.

Where does your passion come from?
My mother was an avid reader. She instilled the love of reading in me.

Give us a glimpse at your life off the clock.
1 am feeding, diaper changes, laundry, cleaning the house. That’s all I do right now with a 3 month old.

What is one of your favorite things to do in Asheville/favorite aspect of Asheville?
One of my favorite things to do had been to walk around the greenway. I love to listen to live music and enjoy Pisgah Brewing Company. I love gardening, sewing, and doing anything crafty.

Synonyms, or words that have similar meanings, are a bonafide way to build a student's vocabulary and background knowledge. Print this free pumpkin synonym puzzle, cut out the pieces, and encourage your student to piece it together. Once they solve the puzzle, discuss the synonyms present and their shared meanings.

Download this free printable with directions, puzzle, and word list with meanings - click here.

Don't miss this brain-teasing word scramble. Rearrange the letters on each line to form an autumn-inspired word - practice spelling, learn new vocabulary, and have fun!

Download this free printable with activity and answer key - click here.

Really challenge students with this code breaker activity that requires them to spell out words be decoding pictures and letters. Practice with working memory, handwriting, spelling, reading, and vocabulary, this unique activity will inspire students to create codes of their own!

Download this free printable with activity and answer key - click here.

Prepare for loads of laughter with this fall-inspired magic madlibs activity! To play, have one student ask another student to give them specific words based on the blanks, i.e., "Give me a type of food, animal, verb, etc." You do not want the word-giver to know the context of the story yet. Then the student writing the words down can read back the full story with the blanks filled in.

Download this free printable with activity and answer key - click here.

We hope this message finds you safe and surrounded by support. In light of the recent hurricane, we wanted to share some updates regarding Read 2 Succeed's operations and how we can continue to support each other during this challenging time.

Read 2 Succeed Staff and Operations
We are relieved to report that all staff and board members of Read 2 Succeed have been accounted for and are safe. We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of care from our community and will continue reaching out to tutors, volunteers, and supporters as communication is restored.

Cancellations and Program Adjustments
In response to the ongoing challenges, all Read 2 Succeed tutoring and PreK read-aloud sessions are canceled until further notice. Both Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools have announced an indefinite closure, and many of the community centers and schools we partner with are currently without water. We will continue to keep you informed as more details become available.

Additionally, all upcoming R2S volunteer events and planned R2S support is cancelled until further notice - this includes the Thomas Wolfe 8K, Oct. 8th Bingo Books & Booo's at 12 Bones Brewing (South Asheville), and the Christine W. Avery Learning Center Falling for Families Festival (moved to Spring 2025).

Gratitude for Recent Support and Local Businesses
The day before Helene hit, we held our 4th Annual R2S Fall Mixer at River Arts District Brewing (RAD Brew Co). Despite the weather, many of you came together to enjoy a delicious meal from Blessed Soul Food, support our raffle, and create a joyful space for connection. We are thankful for those who attended, and we will carry the warmth of that experience with us as we move through the months of recovery ahead.

While RAD Brew Co. fared better than many businesses near the river, we are deeply saddened to learn that several local businesses featured in our raffle were devastatingly impacted by the storm, including Second Gear and 12 Bones BBQ in the River Arts District and JW Bell, Scout Boutique, Corner Kitchen, and Lilly Pulitzer in Biltmore Village. Other contributing businesses in Weaverville and Old Fort, including Reems Creek Nursery and Painters Greenhouse, are working to recover and support loved ones and their communities.

We extend a huge thank you to those who purchased raffle tickets to help advance the R2S mission, and we also want to take a moment to honor the work and resources these businesses specifically have put into their community.

Supporting Our Community
Like many of us, the students and families R2S serves have been incredibly impacted by this disaster, facing daily challenges to surviving without water, power, reliable cell service and internet, and limited access to fuel and food. If you have the physical and emotional capacity to pitch in, we encourage you to check out the open source WNC Helene - How to Help Guide or visit HandsOn Asheville for volunteer opportunities, or plug into your neighborhoods and the organizations you already follow and support.

If you or your family are in need of supplies or assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. As a community-powered nonprofit, Read 2 Succeed is committed to connecting people and partners with resources and supporting one another through this recovery process.

With love and gratitude,
Jess & Ashley

Jessica McLean & Ashley Allen
Co-Executive Directors
Read 2 Succeed Asheville/Buncombe

There are tons of FUN ways to celebrate reading, enjoy a beautiful fall, and support R2S this October! From bingo to trucks to fall festivals and more - check out all the ways to get involved below.

Looking for your next great meal in Asheville? Grab brunch, lunch, or dinner at this delicious West Asheville eatery during October, and round up at the register to support R2S community-powered literacy programs.

Click here to visit their site and check out their menu!

What: Bingo, Books, and Boooo's @ 12 Bones Brewing
Date: Tuesdays, Oct 8 & 29th, 2024
Time: 6 PM - 8 PM
Where: 12 Bones Brewing @  2350 Hendersonville Rd, Arden 28704

Play bingo, drink beer, win prizes AND support Read 2 Succeed literacy programs! Join for the bingo fun Tuesdays in October (10/8 and 10/29), and make sure to dress up on the 29th in your best costume for the Halloween Costumer Contest!

Proceeds from each Bingo Night in October at 12 Bones Brewing will go directly toward Read 2 Succeed community-powered literacy programs.

Learn more and plan your visit to the brewery at 12bones.com.

What: CWA Falling With Families Fall Festival
Date: Saturday, Oct 12, 2024
Time: 11 AM - 3 PM
Where: Stephens-Lee Community Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave, Asheville, NC 28801

Join R2S at the Christine W. Avery Learning Center (CWA) Falling with Families Fall Festival! Enjoy delicious food, family activities, engaging literacy games, new children’s books, and more. And be sure to attend our read-aloud sessions from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM with R2S Storytime Specialist Ms. Ann.

Don't miss this exciting opportunity to celebrate literacy and community—bring the whole family for a day of learning and fun!

If you'd like to come support CWA students and families as an R2S volunteer, please reach out to [email protected] for more info.

What: Thomas Wolfe 8K
Date: Sunday, Oct 20, 2024
Time: 8:00 AM Race Start
Where: Downtown/Montford Area

Volunteers and runners needed!

The 47th Annual Thomas Wolfe 8K is just around the corner, and you can help earn a donation for R2S by volunteering as a course marshal – or you can sign up to run and donate to R2S as part of your registration.

Click here below to learn more about the race and how to get involved. Thanks to Kick It Events for their ongoing partnership with R2S!

What: Junior League of Asheville Touch-A-Truck Family Festival
Date: Sat, Oct 26, 2024
Time: 11 AM – 3 PM
Where: Tanger Outlets Asheville, 800 Brevard Rd, Asheville 28806

Come join R2S for an unforgettable day of family fun at the Junior League of Asheville (JLA) Touch-A-Truck Family Festival!

Explore and interact with an exciting lineup of vehicles, including public service, emergency, utility, and construction trucks. Plus, play Touch-a-Truck Reading Bingo & pick up children’s books and reading resources from R2S. Come dressed in your favorite family-friendly Halloween costumes!

If you'd like to come support this event as an R2S volunteer, please reach out to [email protected] for more info.

Calling our R2S family! Whether you're a volunteer, community partner, donor, board member, educator, family, you name it – we would love to see you at the 4th Annual R2S Fall Mixer on September 25th!

Click the button below to RSVP and reserve your free spot (friends and family welcome)! Food and drinks will be provided as well as music, swag, door prizes, children's books, and games. We will also have a special opportunity to contribute to R2S literacy programs and win one of a handful of spectacular raffle baskets!

We look forward to kicking off a beautiful fall with you and bringing our R2S community together for a fun social event. See you there!

WHAT: 4th Annual R2S Fall Mixer
DATE: Wed., September 25, 2023
WHEN: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
WHERE: River Arts District Brewing Co. (13 Mystery St. 28801)
 
Click the button below to RSVP.