(828) 526-0173 | [email protected] | Copyright 2024 – All Rights Reserved.
LnRiLWJ1dHRvbltkYXRhLXRvb2xzZXQtYmxvY2tzLWJ1dHRvbj0iOWQ0NzE3ODZhYmMwMjlmZThjYTExNzM0NTMyYTc2ODUiXSAudGItYnV0dG9uX19saW5rIHsgYmFja2dyb3VuZC1jb2xvcjogcmdiYSggMTU5LCA4MiwgNTcsIDEgKTtib3JkZXItcmFkaXVzOiAwO2NvbG9yOiByZ2JhKCAyNTUsIDI1NSwgMjU1LCAxICk7Zm9udC1zaXplOiAxMnB4O2xpbmUtaGVpZ2h0OiAxMHB4O3RleHQtdHJhbnNmb3JtOiB1cHBlcmNhc2U7Y29sb3I6IHJnYmEoIDI1NSwgMjU1LCAyNTUsIDEgKTsgfSAudGItYnV0dG9uW2RhdGEtdG9vbHNldC1ibG9ja3MtYnV0dG9uPSI5ZDQ3MTc4NmFiYzAyOWZlOGNhMTE3MzQ1MzJhNzY4NSJdIC50Yi1idXR0b25fX2ljb24geyBmb250LWZhbWlseTogZGFzaGljb25zO21hcmdpbi1yaWdodDogNXB4OyB9IC50Yi1idXR0b25bZGF0YS10b29sc2V0LWJsb2Nrcy1idXR0b249IjlkNDcxNzg2YWJjMDI5ZmU4Y2ExMTczNDUzMmE3Njg1Il0gLnRiLWJ1dHRvbl9faWNvbjo6YmVmb3JlIHsgY29udGVudDogJ1xmNTA4JzsgfSAudGItY29udGFpbmVyW2RhdGEtdG9vbHNldC1ibG9ja3MtY29udGFpbmVyPSIwZDE0OTNjMGNlYzVjNDIyZGIzM2U5NzY2ZmNhMWZkNyJdIHsgcGFkZGluZzogMTBweCA0MHB4IDEwcHggNDBweDsgfSAudGItY29udGFpbmVyW2RhdGEtdG9vbHNldC1ibG9ja3MtY29udGFpbmVyPSJlZDM4MzJhYTYyMDFjYmVjNWIxZTViOTAyZGMwNjdlMiJdIHsgcGFkZGluZzogMjVweDsgfSAudGItYnV0dG9uW2RhdGEtdG9vbHNldC1ibG9ja3MtYnV0dG9uPSJlNWQwYzBhZmNlYzVlZGI5MDkxYTAwZTdmNzZmYmM4OSJdIC50Yi1idXR0b25fX2xpbmsgeyBiYWNrZ3JvdW5kLWNvbG9yOiByZ2JhKCAxNTksIDgyLCA1NywgMSApO2JvcmRlci1yYWRpdXM6IDA7Y29sb3I6IHJnYmEoIDI1NSwgMjU1LCAyNTUsIDEgKTtmb250LXNpemU6IDEycHg7bGluZS1oZWlnaHQ6IDEwcHg7dGV4dC10cmFuc2Zvcm06IHVwcGVyY2FzZTtjb2xvcjogcmdiYSggMjU1LCAyNTUsIDI1NSwgMSApOyB9IC50Yi1idXR0b25bZGF0YS10b29sc2V0LWJsb2Nrcy1idXR0b249ImU1ZDBjMGFmY2VjNWVkYjkwOTFhMDBlN2Y3NmZiYzg5Il0gLnRiLWJ1dHRvbl9faWNvbiB7IGZvbnQtZmFtaWx5OiBkYXNoaWNvbnM7bWFyZ2luLXJpZ2h0OiA1cHg7IH0gLnRiLWJ1dHRvbltkYXRhLXRvb2xzZXQtYmxvY2tzLWJ1dHRvbj0iZTVkMGMwYWZjZWM1ZWRiOTA5MWEwMGU3Zjc2ZmJjODkiXSAudGItYnV0dG9uX19pY29uOjpiZWZvcmUgeyBjb250ZW50OiAnXGY1MDgnOyB9IC50Yi1maWVsZFtkYXRhLXRvb2xzZXQtYmxvY2tzLWZpZWxkPSJlOTU0MThmODFiZmYyMWMzNDU5NmRiNjYyOGY0NWViMiJdIGEgeyB0ZXh0LWRlY29yYXRpb246IG5vbmU7IH0gIFtkYXRhLXRvb2xzZXQtYmxvY2tzLWltYWdlPSJmMjkxMmI4MzNkMzUyMTNiY2I4YzczOGVkYzBmNTllNyJdIHsgbWF4LXdpZHRoOiAxMDAlOyB9IC50Yi1maWVsZHMtYW5kLXRleHRbZGF0YS10b29sc2V0LWJsb2Nrcy1maWVsZHMtYW5kLXRleHQ9IjhiYWFmMGY5NmVkZjMzMmRlODgyZGZkMjM0NWRmNjMyIl0geyBtYXJnaW4tdG9wOiAwO3BhZGRpbmctdG9wOiAwOyB9IEBtZWRpYSBvbmx5IHNjcmVlbiBhbmQgKG1heC13aWR0aDogNzgxcHgpIHsgLnRiLWZpZWxkW2RhdGEtdG9vbHNldC1ibG9ja3MtZmllbGQ9ImU5NTQxOGY4MWJmZjIxYzM0NTk2ZGI2NjI4ZjQ1ZWIyIl0gYSB7IHRleHQtZGVjb3JhdGlvbjogbm9uZTsgfSAgIH0gQG1lZGlhIG9ubHkgc2NyZWVuIGFuZCAobWF4LXdpZHRoOiA1OTlweCkgeyAudGItZmllbGRbZGF0YS10b29sc2V0LWJsb2Nrcy1maWVsZD0iZTk1NDE4ZjgxYmZmMjFjMzQ1OTZkYjY2MjhmNDVlYjIiXSBhIHsgdGV4dC1kZWNvcmF0aW9uOiBub25lOyB9ICAgfSA=
A Busy and Successful Year
Written By: Anna Norton, The Literacy and Learning Center | Issue: December 2023
Fun and excitement was built into the Literacy & Learning Center’s busy 2023.
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
The Literacy & Learning Center had a busy and successful year in 2023, marked by significant growth and change.
The center hired two new employees, increasing the full-time staff from three to five. Caroline Cox was hired as Programs Manager, and Carolyn Middlebrooks was employed as a Pre-K Teacher.
Cox’s hire followed an organizational change, made possible by a capacity-building grant from the WNC Bridge Foundation, providing funding for a new position to support growth and expansion efforts. Previously, the Marketing Manager, Jenni Edwards, moved into the Development Officer position.
I transitioned from Senior Programs Manager to Marketing Manager, opening room for the fourth staff member to lead the TL&LC’s programs. Finally, Carolyn Middlebrooks was hired after the organization decided to respond to an urgent need in the community by starting a new pre-K program for four to five-year-olds.
TL&LC’s after-school program finished the 2022-23 school year at the First United Methodist Church and moved back into its facility in Highlands Plaza after a broken pipe and subsequent flood. The center’s staff worked hard to repair the damage and make the space safe and welcoming for students and families. The lobby was decorated by part-time resident and volunteer Kate Alice Dunaway. The new décor with personalized touches, including pictures of students, creates a warm and inviting space for visitors of all ages.
In addition to hiring new staff and moving back into its building, TL&LC made significant progress on its newly established pre-K program. Led by Middlebrooks and Cox, classroom set-up is in progress, and the center has received The Creative Curriculum and a set of My First School Book handwriting workbooks by Learning without Tears.
TL&LC is committed to providing educational and enrichment opportunities for all ages, and it looks forward to continuing to serve the community in ever-widening ways in 2024 and beyond.
LnRiLWJ1dHRvbltkYXRhLXRvb2xzZXQtYmxvY2tzLWJ1dHRvbj0iOWQ0NzE3ODZhYmMwMjlmZThjYTExNzM0NTMyYTc2ODUiXSAudGItYnV0dG9uX19saW5rIHsgYmFja2dyb3VuZC1jb2xvcjogcmdiYSggMTU5LCA4MiwgNTcsIDEgKTtib3JkZXItcmFkaXVzOiAwO2NvbG9yOiByZ2JhKCAyNTUsIDI1NSwgMjU1LCAxICk7Zm9udC1zaXplOiAxMnB4O2xpbmUtaGVpZ2h0OiAxMHB4O3RleHQtdHJhbnNmb3JtOiB1cHBlcmNhc2U7Y29sb3I6IHJnYmEoIDI1NSwgMjU1LCAyNTUsIDEgKTsgfSAudGItYnV0dG9uW2RhdGEtdG9vbHNldC1ibG9ja3MtYnV0dG9uPSI5ZDQ3MTc4NmFiYzAyOWZlOGNhMTE3MzQ1MzJhNzY4NSJdIC50Yi1idXR0b25fX2ljb24geyBmb250LWZhbWlseTogZGFzaGljb25zO21hcmdpbi1yaWdodDogNXB4OyB9IC50Yi1idXR0b25bZGF0YS10b29sc2V0LWJsb2Nrcy1idXR0b249IjlkNDcxNzg2YWJjMDI5ZmU4Y2ExMTczNDUzMmE3Njg1Il0gLnRiLWJ1dHRvbl9faWNvbjo6YmVmb3JlIHsgY29udGVudDogJ1xmNTA4JzsgfSAudGItY29udGFpbmVyW2RhdGEtdG9vbHNldC1ibG9ja3MtY29udGFpbmVyPSIwZDE0OTNjMGNlYzVjNDIyZGIzM2U5NzY2ZmNhMWZkNyJdIHsgcGFkZGluZzogMTBweCA0MHB4IDEwcHggNDBweDsgfSAudGItY29udGFpbmVyW2RhdGEtdG9vbHNldC1ibG9ja3MtY29udGFpbmVyPSJlZDM4MzJhYTYyMDFjYmVjNWIxZTViOTAyZGMwNjdlMiJdIHsgcGFkZGluZzogMjVweDsgfSAudGItYnV0dG9uW2RhdGEtdG9vbHNldC1ibG9ja3MtYnV0dG9uPSJlNWQwYzBhZmNlYzVlZGI5MDkxYTAwZTdmNzZmYmM4OSJdIC50Yi1idXR0b25fX2xpbmsgeyBiYWNrZ3JvdW5kLWNvbG9yOiByZ2JhKCAxNTksIDgyLCA1NywgMSApO2JvcmRlci1yYWRpdXM6IDA7Y29sb3I6IHJnYmEoIDI1NSwgMjU1LCAyNTUsIDEgKTtmb250LXNpemU6IDEycHg7bGluZS1oZWlnaHQ6IDEwcHg7dGV4dC10cmFuc2Zvcm06IHVwcGVyY2FzZTtjb2xvcjogcmdiYSggMjU1LCAyNTUsIDI1NSwgMSApOyB9IC50Yi1idXR0b25bZGF0YS10b29sc2V0LWJsb2Nrcy1idXR0b249ImU1ZDBjMGFmY2VjNWVkYjkwOTFhMDBlN2Y3NmZiYzg5Il0gLnRiLWJ1dHRvbl9faWNvbiB7IGZvbnQtZmFtaWx5OiBkYXNoaWNvbnM7bWFyZ2luLXJpZ2h0OiA1cHg7IH0gLnRiLWJ1dHRvbltkYXRhLXRvb2xzZXQtYmxvY2tzLWJ1dHRvbj0iZTVkMGMwYWZjZWM1ZWRiOTA5MWEwMGU3Zjc2ZmJjODkiXSAudGItYnV0dG9uX19pY29uOjpiZWZvcmUgeyBjb250ZW50OiAnXGY1MDgnOyB9IC50Yi1maWVsZFtkYXRhLXRvb2xzZXQtYmxvY2tzLWZpZWxkPSJlOTU0MThmODFiZmYyMWMzNDU5NmRiNjYyOGY0NWViMiJdIGEgeyB0ZXh0LWRlY29yYXRpb246IG5vbmU7IH0gIFtkYXRhLXRvb2xzZXQtYmxvY2tzLWltYWdlPSJmMjkxMmI4MzNkMzUyMTNiY2I4YzczOGVkYzBmNTllNyJdIHsgbWF4LXdpZHRoOiAxMDAlOyB9IC50Yi1maWVsZHMtYW5kLXRleHRbZGF0YS10b29sc2V0LWJsb2Nrcy1maWVsZHMtYW5kLXRleHQ9IjhiYWFmMGY5NmVkZjMzMmRlODgyZGZkMjM0NWRmNjMyIl0geyBtYXJnaW4tdG9wOiAwO3BhZGRpbmctdG9wOiAwOyB9IEBtZWRpYSBvbmx5IHNjcmVlbiBhbmQgKG1heC13aWR0aDogNzgxcHgpIHsgLnRiLWZpZWxkW2RhdGEtdG9vbHNldC1ibG9ja3MtZmllbGQ9ImU5NTQxOGY4MWJmZjIxYzM0NTk2ZGI2NjI4ZjQ1ZWIyIl0gYSB7IHRleHQtZGVjb3JhdGlvbjogbm9uZTsgfSAgIH0gQG1lZGlhIG9ubHkgc2NyZWVuIGFuZCAobWF4LXdpZHRoOiA1OTlweCkgeyAudGItZmllbGRbZGF0YS10b29sc2V0LWJsb2Nrcy1maWVsZD0iZTk1NDE4ZjgxYmZmMjFjMzQ1OTZkYjY2MjhmNDVlYjIiXSBhIHsgdGV4dC1kZWNvcmF0aW9uOiBub25lOyB9ICAgfSA=
Share this article:
