The Literacy Program, leaving 2025 and heading into 2026...for Nottoway County

Glimpses of 2025

This program provides opportunity for the adults in this community to improve their reading and math skills, learn English as a 2nd language, to get a handle on using their phones, tablets and computers, to attend programs on health and nutrition, and financial issues. And also an opportunity for community gatherings to learn new skills and explore common interests for maintaining mental wellness. There are fewer operating literacy programs in the surrounding counties. But the leaders of Nottoway have seen a value to the community by supporting this program. My challenge is to gather resources to provide learning opportunities in the areas of reading, English, health, wellness, financial, workforce and digital literacy. And the other challenge is to get the word out to the county about what is available to them. Sometimes it is a guessing game as to what might interest those in the county. One thing I have learned, is that our biggest need is ESL classes. So this last year, we have added a 2nd class so now we have one in Crewe on Monday Mornings at 10AM. And the other is on Thursday evenings in Blackstone at 6:30PM. Both are very well attended. But if you or someone you know would like to join one of the classes, they are welcomed to. Just come by or call my office at the Crewe Library 434-645-9594.

Something new in 2026 with be programs or classes offered in the area of Fiber Arts, such as knitting, crocheting, embroidery, weaving, spinning and more. We will start off with a Fiber Tasting on Saturday, March 7th at the Crewe Library to show examples of many fiber arts. We invite you to come be inspired and to fill out a survey to let us know which workshops you would like to see and consider attending. In addition, please consider attending our monthly Knitting and Crochet Gathering the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 5pm in the Crewe Library. We will be expanding it to include spinning, weaving and embroidery.

I would also like to offer more programs in the areas of managing finances, such as protecting your money from fraud scams and another about planning final expenses. Benchmark Community Bank is a wonderful community partner that did 2 really well done programs for us last year.

And it would be very helpful to have the guys from Massey Cancer Center back to Crewe to provide information on cancer screenings and cancer prevention. All of us know someone who has had to deal with cancer and this information can save lives, maybe your own.

The Crewe Community Garden will begin it's 2nd growing season in 2026. As part of community participation and an exercise in wellness, the Literacy Program did an Herbal Tea Garden in one of the raised beds. The herbs were featured in a class in October that provided information about the medicinal and culinary uses of the herbs, and how to develop your own blends of tea. I would like to build on that for 20226. I am still working on some ideas. Your input would definitely be appreciated. In fact, I encourage your input so that I can better serve you, providing programs that interest you and your family.

I hope you will check back to this website often, and follow the Literacy Program on Facebook where you will get weekly informative posts in the areas of literacy such as on reading education, health, nutrition, financial, workforce and digital. This is information you can use and apply to your life. And please comment often. You help this program serve you better when you do.

So I look forward to serving your Literacy Needs in 2026. Please let m know if you have any requests for programs. Happy New Year!