Adult Learning Alliance

We had a wonderful time gathering with our Arkansas Reads AmeriCorps Members for training. We are so proud of this team!

We learned about some awesome projects (Fraud Bingo and Digital Literacy) that the members created and are sharing in their literacy councils. Our Engage AR Program Director, Zoe Tollette, joined us to talk about Education Awards. After lunch, everyone participated in a service project assembling treat bags for the summer program at Pfeifer Camp.

During lunch, Belinda presented Margaret Davenport, of the River Valley Adult Learning Alliance, with the 2026 AmeriCorps Member of the Year Award. Margaret is a first-year member who steps in to help as needed, including recruiting and training new volunteers and assisting with service projects. Margaret is the creator of the council's successful driver's license class, which is now hosted in five counties. Her Dardanelle class continues to boast a 100% pass rate! Margaret is an excellent tutor, but what makes her really special is the way she checks in on her students. She wants to see people succeed and both challenges and encourages them along the way. Congratulations, Margaret!

River Valley Adult Learning Alliance Twin Lakes Literacy Council Literacy Action of Central Arkansas Literacy Council of Western Arkansas Literacy Council of Bowie & Miller Counties, Inc. Literacy Council of the Ouachitas

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) awarded more than $200,000 in literacy grants to Arkansas nonprofit organizations, libraries, and schools. Of the $200,000, literacy councils received $105,892. Congratulations to all the grant recipients!

The awards are part of a record-setting, single-day total of nearly $16 million in grants nationwide, supporting adult, family, and summer literacy programs in the 48 states where Dollar General operates. The milestone surpasses the foundation’s previous record of more than $13.2 million granted in May 2025.

“Since the foundation’s inception in 1993, our focus has remained on making meaningful investments in students, teachers and the organizations that support literacy and learning at every stage of life,” said Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. “We are grateful for the impact teachers and educators make every day and are excited to have another record-setting year of helping expand literacy access for learners of all ages. These funds will help educators enhance their instruction and create opportunities that empower students to reach their full potential.”

The grants support schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations within a 15-mile radius of a Dollar General store or distribution center. Funding may be used to purchase new technology, books, materials, or software to enhance literacy programs.

Crawford County Volunteers for Literacy
Dogwood Literacy
The Literacy Council of Grant County, Sheridan, AR
Literacy Action of Central Arkansas
Literacy Council of Mississippi County
Literacy Council of the Ouachitas
Ozark Foothills Literacy Project
Ozark Literacy Council
River Valley Adult Learning Alliance
Twin Lakes Literacy Council

It's Volunteer Appreciation Week!

Our volunteers are at the core of everything our literacy councils do. In 2025, our council volunteers contributed over 31,443 hours of service!

Many thanks to them for their countless hours of dedication to adult literacy in Arkansas!


Twin Lakes Literacy Council Literacy Council of Benton County Dogwood Literacy Crawford County Volunteers for Literacy River Valley Adult Learning Alliance Literacy Council of the Ouachitas The Literacy Council of Grant County, Sheridan, AR Ozark Foothills Literacy Project Literacy Council of Bowie & Miller Counties, Inc. Literacy Action of Central Arkansas Literacy Council of Western Arkansas Literacy Council of Union County Ozark Literacy Council Literacy Council of White County, AR