Learn About Us
Board of Directors
Vision, mission, policies, and guidance for our organization are provided by a Board of Directors.
Board of
Directors
Selena Worrell, Vice Chair
Worrell Contracting Co., Inc.
Board of
Directors
Becky Craig, Board Treasurer
Wayne UNC Health Care (retired)
Board of
Directors
Renita Dawson
Wayne Community College
Board of
Directors
Veta Ham
Department of Social Services
Board of
Directors
Jennifer Lewis
Wayne County Public Schools
Board of
Directors
Mack Murray Jr.
The Housing Authority of the City of Goldsboro
Board of
Directors
Sherry Rogers
Wayne Memorial Hospital (retired)
Board of
Directors
Bill Thompson
Educator (retired)
Literacy Connections Staff
SUZIE ACREE
Executive Director
919.735.1990 ext. 2
suzie.acree@waynegov.com
LEE HULSE
SUSIE MARTINEZ
REBECCA
SCOTT REYNOLDS
Our Journey

In 2008, a Community Development Committee established as part of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce’s Education Committee conducted a study and identified adult literacy as a critical need for the advancement of local workforce development in Wayne County. More specifically, there was a lack of services for adults who did not possess the most fundamental literacy skills and who required exceptional academic and life resources in order to acquire those basic literacy skills.
An initial inquiry addressed by the literacy project group was whether to establish the new organization as a 501.c.3 and the decision was made to first build capacity and then to seek 501.c.3 status at a later date.
The committee recommended to house the initial literacy program in the Employment Security Commission Office in Goldsboro and to adopt the curriculum published by Reading Connections as a ‘starter curriculum’. Vested community sectors were identified for representation on the initial Board of Directors. Initial grant funding was received from United Way, and a half-time Executive Director was hired in March 2010. Office space was provided at the Wayne County Public Library and the first agency operations started there under the program title Literacy Connections of Wayne County. Prospective adults were tested and registered at both the Wayne County Public Library and the Employment Security Commission office. The Board of Directors of Literacy Connections of Wayne County participated in various trainings with Reading Connections of Greensboro, Partnership for Children of Wayne County, and Wayne Community College.
A capacity building grant was acquired for the purchase of computer technology to establish an office for the literacy program. Recruitment of volunteer tutors was ongoing, and tutors were matched with available adult literacy students. Literacy Connections outgrew the limited space at the library and was moved to a Wayne County building located at 2001-D East Ash Street in April 2012.
As of April 2017, Literacy Connections of Wayne County has served over 1,400 students. Those students were provided with over 33,148 hours of instruction from 443 local volunteers, a value of $764,724 based on the national 2016 volunteer rate of $23.07 per hour.
Present
With your support Literacy Connections continuous to address the literacy needs of the community through:
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Your contribution may be tax deductible and is an integral part in assisting individuals experience a life laced with hope and opportunity. TAX ID #: 47-4594755