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News

See where Blue Ridge Literacy is in the community with recent press coverage, events, and announcements!

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July 2023

New Board President

Please join us in welcoming BRL's new Board Chair, Tim Cerebe!  For Tim's full bio, please visit our Facebook page.

Click here for a full listing of Blue Ridge Literacy's Board Members.

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December 2021

BRL Receives Grant

We are honored to receive the Freedom First Community Investment Grant.  See the media coverage:  WDBJ7, WSLS-10, Roanoker Magazine, Opera News

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April 2020

Freedom First Community Investment Grant

BRL is honored to be the recipient of a 2019 Community Investment Grant provided by Freedom First.  

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February 2022

BRL Featured in Cardinal News

Thank you Michael Hemphill and Cardinal News for showcasing BRL in your recent story Learning How To Write Love Letters (Or Deal With The DMV).

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November 1, 2018

Small Business of the Year

BRL was honored to receive the 2018 Small Business Award in the Not For Profit: Micro category from the Chamber of Commerce. This award is given annually in several categories.

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July 1, 2018

New Board Members

BRL brought on 7 new Directors, including Shelia Umberger, Alicha Grubb, Sissy Kegley, Evelyne Nzikobanyanka, Elvir Berbic, Kat Pascal, and Baraka Kasongo.

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May 2022

BRL Board President Recognized

Congratulations to BRL Board President, Elvir Berbic, for receiving Virginia Western Community College's 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award!

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January 2021

Office of the New Americans

Ahoo Salem, Executive Director, has been selected to serve on the Governor's Office of the New Americans Advisory Board 

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June 2, 2019

Salem is New BRL Director

That's right! Blue Ridge Literacy has a new Executive Director. Ahoo Salem is originally from Iran and has been involved with BRL since 2016 as a volunteer teacher. Read more here!

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December 12, 2018

DBR Highlights Literacy

Executive Director, Stephanie Holladay, talks with Daytime Blue Ridge about the impact literacy services have on adults in the Roanoke Valley.

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September 13, 2018

RPL and BRL Team Up 

Blue Ridge Literacy talks with Natalie Founce on Daytime Blue Ridge about upcoming Welcoming Week and Literacy Month events in partnership with the Roanoke Public Libraries.

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May 16, 2018

Community Partners Week

Another successful Community Partners Week included the Roanoke Sheriff's office teaching a Women's Self Defense class to our newcomer job readiness ESOL class.

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March 2022

Remembering George Kegley

The staff, volunteers, and board of BRL offer our sympathies to George's children, Andy, Sissy, Robert, Richard, and their extended family.  George was BRL's longest board member and a true ambassador to the cause of literacy.

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June 2020

BRL Recipient of National Book Fund

Thanks to this generous donation, we have updated our resource library for ESOL and citizenship preparation classes and added new curricula to our programs.

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May/June 2019

Immigrants in Roanoke 

The Roanoker's May/June 2019 edition features three stories on the influence that immigrants and refugees have in our region, featuring a BRL Board Member. Check out the stories here!

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November 27, 2018

FFCU Awards $5,000 Grant

Blue Ridge Literacy receives Freedom First Credit Union's Community Investment Grant. These funds will go towards supporting BRL's citizenship program.

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July 5, 2018

BRL is a Safe Space for All

BRL spoke with Lezla Gooden of WSLS10 about the effect that ongoing immigration policy changes has had on BRL and some of our refugee and immigrant literacy learners.

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