1-23-26

Update: We are OVERJOYED by your support! We now have Americorps tutors in FOUR counties! This has been a wonderful success and we have been asked to continue our growth within rural areas. That means we need new supplies, travel support, and additional infrastructure. We've upped our donation amount so we can continue to meet the growing needs. The amazing weatherproof stickers are still available for anyone who donates 25.00 or more (see below). Thank you for supporting rural literacy and investing in the future! We are honored and beyond grateful that you believe in, and support, this work!
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Let's Keep Going!

We are floored by the level of support and are hearing from you that we can keep this going! It takes 5,000 a year to run our Americorps program this year, and we are so grateful you all want to support this! It gives us SUCH HOPE that people believe in this work and are willing to invest. We know we are building rural models that can change material realities. And we are so grateful you believe in that work too!

Here are just a few behind the scenes photos from our work, including Joey reading a full book for the first time while his four year old daughter cheers him on; an Americorps member helping fill up the food pantry in Clarksville, Arkansas; a learner receiving a chromebook in Booneville, Arkansas so she can continue studying for a nursing degree; An information packed class with a group class in Dardanelle.

YOU make this possible. Thank you!

IN JUST TWO DAYS WE MADE IT TO 2,000.00!! WWWe We are beyond grateful! Your investment helps rural communities see their full potential. That means single moms find opportunities to study for the GED; it means people coming out of the county court system can get their drivers licenses reinstated; it means we bring reading intervention programs to adults who never accessed those resources as young people; it means we can provide ESL programing to smaller areas of our state. All of this work is how we bring workforce readiness and intergenerational literacy to small towns where needs are large and resources are sparse.

Let's get to 3,000.00!

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Did you know that around 30% of adults in our region score at or below Level 1 on the PIACC International Skills assessment? That means that while they may be able to read words on a page, they struggle to comprehend and apply the information. They often have difficulty understanding paperwork, avoiding online scams, or helping their children with homework.

We know that rural communities are our future. They are home to family farms, small businesses, cultural and linguistic diversity, and interwoven community. Whereas some might look at our region and see deficits, we see brilliance, grit, and innovation.

What our communities need is investment in new futures.

RVALA is a growing organization serving five mostly rural Arkansas communities: Franklin, Logan, Johnson, Pope, and Yell. Our coverage area is 3,815 square miles, with a population of 151,158 people! We started out with under ten adult students and have grown to over 600 hundred. If we count our family literacy programming, that number goes up to 700! (If you're interested in our bilingual family literacy programing with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, stay tuned for exciting developments!)

This year we are hosting four Americorps members, all of whom are focused on reaching adult learners in smaller towns in our community such as Paris, Dover, Atkins, Danville, Booneville, Ozark and Clarksville. Together, these Americorps members give over fifty hours a week in tutoring. That's a total of 2,200 hours a service term! They provide one-on-one or small group tutoring, provide computer help, help young people and adults obtain their drivers license, gain WAGE certification, and pass the GED.

Here is Where You Come In:

It costs RVALA roughly 5,000.00 in cash match and travel funding each year to operate the Americorps program. If you break that down, that's only 2.00 per service hour! Investing in this program is strategic and offers endless returns on investment. We are working hard to build new rural futures. And you can be part of that.

Donate 20.00 or more and receive this sticker!
Interested in your family or business become an official branded sponsor of this program? Donate 423.00 or more (the amount we pay into the Americorps program each month), and you will become an official supporter of rural literacy in our area! We will recognize you as a key partner in our rural work.

But what exactly does my donation support?, you ask. Here are just a few highlights:

Basic reading skills for adults.
WAGE certification for workforce readiness
GED study and test preparation from remote locations
Family literacy programs that help families grow and thrive together
English as a Second language
Computer skills and technology resources for all ages, including seniors
Scam prevention classes for communities
Meeting adults where they are and helping them gain the confidence and skills needed to reach their full potential

Your donation isn't a gift and it's not charity. It's an INVESTMENT in our future.

Reaching Rural Areas

Invest in Rural Futures: Support Adult Education and Literacy!