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

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).

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

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!

Growing Up in the Valley Magazine hosts BRL on morning show Living Local to talk about how we help adults learn English and our upcoming 14th Annual Scrabble Tournament

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

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.

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.

BRL's 13th Annual Scrabble Tournament, presented by HomeTrust Bank, included over 35 teams and raised over $8,000 for literacy efforts in the Roanoke Valley.

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.

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

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

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!

Did you see JoAnne Poindexter's article in the Roanoke Times about BRL's 2019 Scrabble Tourney Fundraiser? New location, catered meal, and lots of fun--all for literacy!

Thanks to the generosity of Northminster Presbyterian Church and community members, BRL distributed warm clothes to learners who needed them at the "BRL Boutique!"

BRL went on WFXR's morning show, Living Local, with community partner Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley to promote Literacy Month events throughout September.

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

You raised $2,795 for BRL during Roanoke Valley Gives Day 2018, an initiative of the Foundation for Roanoke Valley! Funds will be used to purchase new ESOL textbooks.

During the month of February:  when you purchase this bracelet, BRL receives $10.00!  Thank you to our friends at Southwest Native for selecting BRL as their February Cause+Effect non-profit.

Our thanks to The Roanoke Times, The Roanoke Star News, and WSLS-10 for their coverage of our latest project!  The box is located outside of Center in the Square, where anyone may take a book or share a book.

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

We joined our friends from Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley to talk about our upcoming Scrabble fundraisers on Daytime Blue Ridge. Get in on the fun March 21 and April 4!

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

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.

Macy's awards Blue Ridge Literacy $2,500 in support of their ESOL Classes that happen twice weekly for Pre-Beginning, Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced learners.

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.