Announcements & News

2023 Annual Report Published

Ulster Literacy Association recently published its 2023 Annual Report. 

VIEW ANNUAL REPORT 

As I began my tenure as Board President of the Ulster Literacy Association, I committed to do all I could to advance the mission of ULA and work to improve the lives of the over 25,000 functionally illiterate adults in Ulster County.

Our impact on the community is only possible because of the partnerships we have developed and strengthened over the last 42 years. Despite a global pandemic, we made significant progress in keeping our staff and programs intact and can now envision a stronger ULA. The current Board owes a debt of gratitude to Merle Cosgrove, who stepped down from the presidency last June and whose leadership got us through the pandemic.

ULA cannot exist without its volunteers and donors. I am in awe of the generosity of our donors, as I am proud of our tireless volunteers. Together, they make it possible for us to advance the mission of Ulster Literacy. I applaud the bravery and self-determination of our learners.

This year, we created a framework that will continue to strengthen in the next year. We added new board members, held our second Ulster Literacy Day at seven bookstores across the county, five more than the previous year, cultivated relationships with our supporters and donors, and renewed and expanded past partnerships. The work in the year ahead involves several ambitious projects – a long-range planning process to create a path for the next several years, events to build awareness of ULA in the greater community, and expansion of our programs to answer the needs of our neighbors throughout the county.

I wish to express my deep gratitude to our valued donors, advisors, and partners. We are grateful for all that you do. I also want to thank my fellow board members for their passion and dedication to strengthening the Ulster Literacy Association. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank ULA’s staff and leadership for their outstanding work in building a more literate and empowered Ulster County.

Kristin Wenger
Board President

Spring Appeal Message

Dear Friend,

At Ulster Literacy Association, we envision a county where everyone has access to life-changing learning. In April 2023, we re-established our Correctional Education Program at the Ulster County Jail after a three-year pandemic pause. With 70% of all incarcerated adults reading below the 4th-grade level (National Adult Literacy Survey), the need for our services is great.

Our creative writing, art therapy, and GED preparation classes have served over 150 participants to date and offer an opportunity for incarcerated adults to improve their literacy skills, prepare for their high school equivalency exams (GED), and have opportunities for transformative social interaction.

Our work at the Ulster County Jail furthers our mission to provide adults with personalized instruction in reading, writing, and English communication skills through one-to-one tutoring, small group instruction, and English classes.

Please consider helping us continue this work by contributing to our Spring fundraising initiative or by contributing your time as a volunteer. For more information, call 845-331-6837 or email amy@ulsterliteracy.org.

Join us in transforming our community through literacy.

Amy Lenard
Executive Director
Ulster Literacy Association 

Read Our Spring ‘24 Newsletter >