Building Hope Through Literacy: Two Stories of Transformation and Community

At Redwood Literacy, we’ve always believed that literacy is about more than just reading and writing — it’s about unlocking potential, restoring dignity, and building communities of hope. Two stories from our work this past year remind us just how powerful that belief can be.

Emery’s Journey: Rediscovering Strength Through Words

For four years, Redwood Literacy partnered with Lawndale Christian Legal Center to provide literacy instruction, mentorship, and a supportive peer community for court-involved young people on Chicago’s West Side. Many of these students had been passed from grade to grade without ever learning to read. But when they began working with us, everything changed. They advanced by entire grade levels and began asking, “Why didn’t they teach it this way in school?”

One of those students, Emery, joined our Redwood @ Lawndale program from the very beginning. A young man in his early 20s, Emery made tremendous progress in reading, spelling, comprehension, and confidence. Week after week, he showed up with warmth, humor, and a quiet determination to invest in himself and his future.

When funding for the Lawndale program ran out, our team searched high and low for new grants and partnerships but kept hearing the same thing: “Good work, but no.” Yet, the need remains urgent. Literacy instruction is one of the surest ways to help young people like Emery move toward safety, fulfillment, and independence. Since the program paused, Emery continues to reach out, asking when classes will start again — a question we long to answer with good news.

This is where our community comes in. We’re seeking partners who share our belief that literacy can change the trajectory of a life. Supporting Emery’s continued education is more than a gift to one student — it’s an investment in hope.

Student E’s Legacy: Paying It Forward

While we’ve been working to bring Redwood @ Lawndale back to life, another inspiring story unfolded right here at Redwood. This past summer, the mother of one of our longtime students — we’ll call her E — reached out with gratitude and a generous idea.

After years of dedicated work, E completed the 12 Steps of the Wilson Reading System® and completely transformed her academic and personal confidence. Her family wanted to give back in a meaningful way, so they launched a GoFundMe in her honor, asking that all proceeds fund scholarships for other students to access Redwood’s services at free or reduced rates.

Within just 45 days, E’s family and community raised $20,000, funding scholarships for over a dozen students for the upcoming 2025–26 school year. Each of these students is now receiving the same kind of individualized, high-impact instruction that helped E thrive. It’s a living testament to how one person’s success can ripple outward — changing not just one life, but many.

The Power of People Investing in People

These two stories — Emery’s perseverance and E’s legacy — gave us an idea, what if we launched a GoFundMe Fundraiser specifically to re-launch tutoring services for Emery and others like him.

The tone of American life can feel heavy right now. Underserved communities are facing greater barriers than ever before. But as E’s family and Emery remind us, there’s still one reliable way to make good things happen: community. People investing in people.

We want to call Emery soon with good news — that his next chapter of learning is about to begin. If you’re passionate about social justice and believe in the power of literacy to transform lives, we invite you to join us.

Click here to help fund a year of literacy intervention for Emery and other court involved youth on the Chicago West Side🌟

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