News & Updates

Literacy Now Annual Video 2023
Videos
KHOU 11: Shaping Houston
Press RoomJacque Daughtry is tackling illiteracy. With a relationship-centered strategy, Jacque and the reading nonprofit organization LiteracyNow make it a purpose to uplift children and empower
Literacy Now Annual Video 2022
Videos
The Kelly Clarkson Show
VideosWatch the full episode on NBC.com

Meet Lisa G
Volunteer SpotlightsHow long have you been a Literacy Now volunteer? I have been a member of Literacy Now since September 2021 (7 months!) Which program or

Meet Renee H
Volunteer SpotlightsHow long have you been a Literacy Now volunteer? I volunteered during the Guild Luncheon in 2021 and so shortly after that I actually joined

Meet Liza Rivera
Volunteer SpotlightsHow long have you been a Literacy Now / Making It Better volunteer? 2 weeks. Which program or activity have you volunteered for? Lunch Bunch

Meet Dale Kurtz
Volunteer SpotlightsHow long have you been a Literacy Now / Making It Better volunteer? I’ve been involved with Literacy Now for almost one year. Which programs

Meet Sheri Jacobs
Volunteer SpotlightsHow long have you been a Literacy Now / Making It Better volunteer? I volunteered through iWRITE on Literacy Night. Which program or activity have

Meet Suzi Russell
Volunteer SpotlightsHow long have you been a Literacy Now / Making It Better volunteer? 6 years. Which program or activity have you volunteered for? Book Distribution

Meet Megan Michon
Volunteer SpotlightsHow long have you been a Literacy Now / Making It Better volunteer? 3 years. Which program or activity have you volunteered for? Lunch Bunch

Meet Sarah Latham
Volunteer SpotlightsHow long have you been a Literacy Now / Making It Better volunteer? Since October 2021. Which program or activity have you volunteered for? Lunch

Meet Karen Dunlap
Volunteer SpotlightsHow long have you been a Literacy Now / Making It Better volunteer? I’ve been a volunteer since the beginning. Which program or activity have

Meet Sally Burgett
Volunteer SpotlightsHow long have you been a Literacy Now / Making It Better volunteer? 5 Years. Which Program or activity have you volunteered for? Administrative Support,

Meet Nok Jones
Volunteer SpotlightsHow long have you been a Literacy Now / Making It Better volunteer? Six Months. Which program or activity have you volunteered for? Lunch Bunch

Houston Reads Day 2022 – Recap
EventsTake a look at what happened on Houston Reads Day 2022 all across the city. Click on each school name to go to the folder

Welcoming Aspen Hayes
AnnouncementsPlease help us welcome our new Volunteer Coordinator, Aspen Hayes. Aspen received her bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Memphis. After interning

Book Donations Needed
AnnouncementsWe are excited about the upcoming school year and working hard to prepare for the kids and families we serve! One thing we are focusing

New Board Member Dale Lockett
AnnouncementsWe are thrilled to welcome Dale Lockett to the Literacy Now Board of Directors. Dale is the Director of Local Programming and Community Marketing at

Literacy Now Annual Video 2021
Videos
Employee Spotlight: Walnut Bend Team
Staff SpotlightsOur Reading Interventionist team at Walnut Bend Elementary does whatever it takes to support the students and teachers on their campus. They have a “can-do”

Featured in Houston Business Journal
Press RoomThanks, Houston Business Journal (HBJ), for including Jacque Daughtry’s article about the importance of preparing our kids for the workforce beginning before kindergarten. Read the

New Board Member Jasmine Castleberry
AnnouncementsWe are pleased to welcome Jasmine Castleberry to our Board of Directors. Jasmine is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Afterschool Professional and

New Board Member Giselle Rodriguez Greenwood
AnnouncementsWe are pleased to welcome Giselle Rodriguez Greenwood to our Board of Directors. Giselle is editor-in-chief of the Houston Business Journal and comes to us

Houston Reads Day Included in Houstonia Magazine
EventsClick the Houstonia Magazine link below to learn more about Literacy Now’s first annual Houston Reads Day event. https://www.houstoniamag.com/news-and-city-life/2020/12/volunteer-for-houston-reads-day-2021

Houston Reads Day in Houstonia Magazine
Press RoomThank you, Houstonia, for featuring our inaugural Houston Reads Day in this wonderful magazine. Read the full article here.

Mini Magnums Made a Difference
AnnouncementsSocial distancing didn’t keep us from making a positive social impact as we completed three LIVE virtual Mini Magnums! Special thanks to our Chairs, Rebecca and

Staff Spotlight – Kelli Burleigh
Staff SpotlightsKelli Burleigh joined Literacy Now as a Reading Interventionist in August of 2019. She currently serves students at Ross and Piney Point elementary schools and

2020-2021 Back to School Plans
AnnouncementsWhile we are more determined than ever to bring our transformational programs to schools and students who need us most, we face significant challenges due

Mini Magnums Make a Difference
EventsUnder normal circumstances, this one-of-a-kind wine dinner is held at the St. Regis Houston with more than 200 guests attending. However, due to COVID-19, this
Update from our Executive Director
AnnouncementsAs each day seems to bring a new challenge and change, we wanted to share in the video below how we are navigating the current

The State of Literacy Now
AnnouncementsDear friends, The past 2 ½ months have been strange at best, and COVID-19 is affecting each one of us in multiple ways. As we continue

Thank You to our Underwriters, Sponsors and Advertisers
AnnouncementsWe would like to extend our gratitude to the following individuals and companies who continue to support us even after the cancellation of our 7th

Helping Hands for a Family in Need
AnnouncementsIn the immediate aftermath of school closures, Literacy Now’s first thought was, “How can we help our families?” We knew that many have barriers preventing them
Adapting to a New Normal
AnnouncementsWe hope this post finds you and your family safe and well. As everyone is making adjustments to their daily lives during this time, we are
Coronavirus Impacts 2020 Guild Luncheon
AnnouncementsDear Friends, As things continue to unfold in the Houston area related to concerns about the spread of the Coronavirus, it seems prudent to cancel

Spring Parent Workshops
EventsEighty-four parents attended our parent workshops last month, and we distributed literacy kits and 120 books to add to their home libraries! Workshops are offered

Meet Barbara Lamport
Volunteer SpotlightsWe are so excited to share our first Literacy Now Volunteer Spotlight of 2020! As a retired kindergarten teacher with over 40 years in the

Read Aloud Month 2020
EventsResearch indicates that a child’s reading level by the third grade has a direct impact on future success (i.e., academics, dropout rates, incarceration, poverty). In

Family Literacy Night at Shadowbriar Elementary
EventsFamily Literacy Night at Shadowbriar Elementary was a great success! This mystery-themed event had sleuths of all ages looking for literacy clues and having fun

Family Literacy Now at Bruce Elementary
EventsThis mystery-themed event at Bruce Elementary had sleuths of all ages looking for literacy clues and having fun while learning at numerous literacy-based activity stations.

Family Literacy Night at Mark White Elementary
EventsFamily Literacy Night at Mark White Elementary was a great success! This mystery-themed event had sleuths of all ages looking for literacy clues and having

Employee Spotlight: Audrey Hollis
Staff SpotlightsAudrey has been a valued member of the Literacy Now team for over 5 years. She has worn many hats in the organization including Reading

Employee Spotlight: Connie Sherer
Staff SpotlightsThis is Connie’s first year with Literacy Now and we are so grateful she chose to become a part of our team! She currently teaches in

Allegiance Bank Volunteers with Literacy Now
AnnouncementsRun, Run As Fast As You Can! Community partner Allegiance Bank hosted a winter-themed literacy event with the 48 2nd and 3rd-grade students at Pat

Employee Spotlight: Kintra Blackmon
Staff SpotlightsKintra has been with Literacy Now since 2009 and is currently a Reading Interventionist at Pat Neff Elementary. Kintra has in-depth knowledge from years of

Employee Spotlight: Kadijah Dancy
Staff SpotlightsIn 2018, Kadijah started her journey with Literacy Now as the Site Assistant in our former Steps 2 Success after-school program. This school year, Kadijah
Giving Tuesday 2019
AnnouncementsHelp us get little ones on track to reading! All aboard The Reading Express as we hit the streets of Houston in collaboration with the Harris County
Literacy Now Annual Video 2019
Videos
Literacy Now Was On The Case
AnnouncementsLiteracy Now recently hosted its first Family Literacy Night of the year at Belmont Place Apartments. This mystery-themed event had sleuths of all ages looking
