Literacy Source

09/08/2026

Telling the story of why digital access matters isn’t just for organizations—individual voices often make the strongest impact. Whether you are an adult learner, volunteer, educator, or neighbor who believes internet access is a basic right, speaking up helps keep digital equity front and center.

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) just released a practical guide, Elevating Our Voices, packed with customizable social media templates and simple tips to help you share your perspective. It uses the recent NDIA v. Trump court ruling as a timely hook to show why local access matters and urge leaders to protect federal digital equity funding.

Download the toolkit & adapt the templates:https://www.digitalinclusion.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/NDIA-Social-Media-and-Press-Outreach-Toolkit.pdf

Want advocacy alerts and community updates from Literacy Source? Sign up for our newsletter: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/XjtgWYk/LiteracySourceemaillist

09/05/2026

Faced with the challenge of not having room in our classes for new students, we look for creative ways to keep adults learning whenever possible.

One way we do this, is through Conversation Classes offered through our partnership with The Seattle Public Library . While these classes don't provide the formal instruction of our ESOL (English) classes, they give students an opportunity to practice English, build confidence, and stay connected to a learning community.

For students who choose to attend Conversation Class, it can become much more than a place to practice English.

One student told us:
“I live alone and I have no one to practice speaking with. This makes a big difference for me.”

Another shared:
“Sometimes I feel lonely and low-confidence and isolated. Just coming to this class is a routine, and that’s an everyday small success."

For many students, Conversation Class is one of the few places they have to speak English, make friends, ask questions, share their experiences, and build confidence in their new community.

That's the kind of opportunity we work to create at Literacy Source and one we think all adults who need it should have access to.

Conversation Classes can provide an important bridge, but they cannot replace the formal classes students are waiting for. Please consider donating to our Back to School Appeal raising $50,000 to help more adult learners reach their goals.

Donate at the link below:
https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/ujxpMXQPrhnI2jaNX78GNQ
Join Conversation Class: https://www.literacysource.org/spl-conversation-circles
Volunteer: https://www.literacysource.org/volunteers

09/02/2026

Help Unlock our $20K Challenge Match!

As adults head back to school across our region, our classrooms are completely full—and turning motivated learners away is a reality we work tirelessly to prevent.

To keep adults learning, we lean into flexible options like our Conversation Classes. Whether hosted online, at our Lake City learning center, or in partnership with The Seattle Public Library, these drop-in spaces give students a welcoming place to practice speaking English, build confidence, and find community.

Right now, your support goes even further: every gift to our Back-to-School Appeal helps unlock an exciting challenge match, opening more seats for adult learners this fall.

Help us make room for everyone who is ready to learn: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/ujxpMXQPrhnI2jaNX78GNQ

08/31/2026

Fall is almost here!
Please note: Our office will be closed September 7th for the Labor Day Holiday.
Classes for Fall Term begin October 5th and run through December 11th. Enjoy the last part of your summer!

08/27/2026

Fall registration opened last week at Literacy Source, and before it even opened to new students, we had only 16 available spots left in our English classes.

That means we are already facing the hardest reality of our work: turning people away.

Behind every full classroom is an adult learner still waiting for their chance. Someone who rearranged work schedules, arranged childcare, and found transportation to our doors, only to find our programs at capacity. Even during our summer quarter, demand was so high that we had to turn prospective students away.

The need for adult foundational education in King County is greater than what local providers can currently meet.

Last year, Literacy Source grew to serve 165 more students than the year prior. This year, our goal is to double that and welcome 300 additional learners. To make that happen, we need to expand our capacity.

Your support during our Back-to-School campaign directly funds the instructors, classroom spaces, learning materials, and technology needed to open more doors this fall.

Help us ensure fewer adults are turned away. Donate today: https://secure.lglforms.com/form.../s/ujxpMXQPrhnI2jaNX78GNQ

08/24/2026

Please advocate urging the government not increase the cost of Citizenship. The comment period ends today!

Last week our staff and volunteers gathered for a comment writing party.

Here is an example of a comment:
"The proposed fee increases, and most specifically, the ending of the fee waiver and reduced fee options for naturalization are unfair and privilege the rich. Literacy Source works with dozens of naturalization applicants each year who are productive members of our society and want to naturalize, but often are low-income and these rule changes would disproportionally affect their communities and ability to naturalize."

USCIS has proposed major changes to naturalization application fees that would create serious barriers for many people seeking citizenship.

The proposal would increase fees for the N-400 Application for Naturalization and the N-336 appeal form by 75% to 83%, while also eliminating fee waivers and reduced-fee options that many low-income applicants currently rely on.

Follow the link below to share your comment:
https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/USCIS-2026-0265-0001

08/21/2026

The Hard Numbers:
The Need For Adult Education Is Bigger Than You'd Think

National data show a significant need. In 2023, 28% of U.S. adults ages 16–65 performed at Level 1 or below in literacy, while 34% performed at Level 1 or below in numeracy. These results come from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), administered by the National Center for Education Statistics.

In 2023, 24.8 million adults in the United States had limited proficiency in English, a population that includes both immigrants and U.S. born adults.

Here in King County, that need is reflected in our increasingly multilingual community. According to the Migration Policy Institute, nearly 1 in 4 King County residents was born outside the United States, and 28.3% speak a language other than English at home.

While not every immigrant needs English language classes, we know many adults in our community are looking for accessible opportunities to build their English and foundational skills. We see the need in our community every quarter, when our classes fill to capacity and we have to turn students away.

Adult education is an essential part of a thriving community, one our community desperately needs more support in.

Donate today support adult learners going back to school!
https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/ujxpMXQPrhnI2jaNX78GNQ

08/21/2026

One of our English Level 4/5 students recently shared:
“I feel more confident in my work when I talk to my clients. I learned a lot of new words and information about the USA. Just thank you so much!”

For this student, learning English isn't just about learning new words. It's about feeling more confident at work. Gaining confidence shows a mastery over what they've learned and new found freedom to use their skill. This is life-changing!

More than 1,000 adults come through our doors each year to build English, literacy, digital, and workplace skills. They arrive with different goals and different starting points, but they share a determination to learn and create greater opportunities for themselves, their families, and our community.

As more adults seek opportunities to learn, costs are increasing, and government funding is becoming less certain. We need your support to help Literacy Source meet the growing need.

This Back-to-School season, we're raising $50,000 to help prepare our classrooms and equip adult learners for another year of learning.

Donate today! https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/ujxpMXQPrhnI2jaNX78GNQ

08/20/2026

We're proud to recognize Friesz Architects as a sponsor of our 2026 Literacy Luncheon, celebrating 40 years of Literacy.

Join us in thanking Friesz Architects for their generous support and investment in our community!

To learn more about Friesz Architects visit: https://www.frieszarchitects.com/
To learn more about all our sponsors visit: https://www.literacysource.org/business-sponsorships

08/20/2026

This is a great article about the benefits of reading!
Teaching literacy skills is an honor we don't take lightly. For these reasons, and many more we are passionate about what we do.

Studies show that engaging with stories offers several cognitive benefits.

Since fiction helps readers understand complex social dynamics and enhances empathy, reading it may strengthen the social skills we use to understand and connect with others. https://wapo.st/4gejUF3