2023-08-18T15:16:41-04:00 2022-12-31 275007858 DEBBIE BUNERO CPA 252 W MAIN STREET STE E AZLE TX 760203100 990 2022-01-01 760764561 LITERACY CONNEXUS LITE 8176969898 3020 S CHERRY LANE 123168 FORT WORTH TX 76121 LESTER MERIWETHER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 8176969898 2023-08-15 true LESTER MERIWETHER XXX-XX-XXXX false DEBBIE BUNERO CPA P01404083 8173072828 2023-08-18 2022 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z X LESTER MERIWETHER 3020 S CHERRY LANE 123168 FORT WORTH TX 76121 97565 false X WWW.LITERACYCONNEXUS.ORG X THE MISSION OF LITERACY CONNEXUS - FOUNDED IN 2004 - IS TO HELP CHURCHES HELP PEOPLE WITH LITERACY NEEDS. 4.8 MILLION ADULTS LIVING IN TEXAS QUALIFY FOR ADULT BASIC EDUCATION. MANY OF THESE PERSONS NEED HELP WITH ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION.ADDITIONALLY, LITERACY CONNEXUS HELPS CHURCHES ADDRESS THE LITERACY NEEDS OF CHILDREN FOR SCHOOL READINESS AND AVOIDING THE SUMMER READING SLIDE. WE NOW PARTNER WITH LEARN (LITERACY EDUCATION AND READING NETWORK) FOR LIFE TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ADULTS WHO DO NOT READ WELL ENOUGH TO STUDY FOR THE GED. LITERACY CONNEXUS PROVIDES TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHURCHES ENGAGED IN LITERACY. 10 10 2 50 0 110898 96983 4585 525 5 57 0 115488 97565 0 0 72022 70263 0 0 37784 38114 109806 108377 5682 -10812 51806 39758 0 51806 39758 X THE MISSION OF LITERACY CONNEXUS - FOUNDED IN 2004 - IS TO HELP CHURCHES HELP PEOPLE WITH LITERACY NEEDS. 4.8 MILLION ADULTS LIVING IN TEXAS QUALIFY FOR ADULT BASIC EDUCATION. MANY OF THESE PERSONS NEED HELP WITH ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION.ADDITIONALLY, LITERACY CONNEXUS HELPS CHURCHES ADDRESS THE LITERACY NEEDS OF CHILDREN FOR SCHOOL READINESS AND AVOIDING THE SUMMER READING SLIDE. WE NOW PARTNER WITH LEARN (LITERACY EDUCATION AND READING NETWORK) FOR LIFE TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ADULTS WHO DO NOT READ WELL ENOUGH TO STUDY FOR THE GED. LITERACY CONNEXUS PROVIDES TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHURCHES ENGAGED IN LITERACY. true false 19302 24246 TEACHING ENGLISH CONNEXUS - TEC'S ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS TEX (TEACHING ENGLISH WITH EXCELLENCE), THE LITERACY CONNEXUS PROGRAM OF TRAINING VOLUNTEERS TO TEACH ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES IS NOW TECS - TEACHING ENGLISH CONNEXUS. THIS CHANGE IN NAME REFLECTS AN EXPANSION OF OUR PROGRAMING BEYOND TEXAS AS WELL AS A FOCUS ON USING TECHNOLOGY MORE IN OUR TRAINING. A TEAM OF NINE SKILLED VOLUNTEER TRAINERS PROVIDE A BLEND OF ONLINE AND IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION TO CHURCH-BASED VOLUNTEERS. THESE VOLUNTEERS WILL PROVIDE CLASSES IN ENGLISH TO INTERNATIONALS, REFUGEES, ASYLEES AND IMMIGRANTS. LITERACY CONNEXUS DEVELOPED THE TECS TRAINING PROGRAM IN 2007 AND HAS PROVIDED TRAINING TO VOLUNTEERS IN MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED CONGREGATIONS IN TEXAS. 19302 24246 WHAT'S FOR LUNCH? IS A PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY LITERACY CONNEXUS TO DEFEAT A PROBLEM KNOWN AS THE SUMMER SLIDE IN READING ABILITY. DURING THE SUMMER, WHEN SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL LIBRARIES ARE CLOSED, CHILDREN IN LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS HAVE LESS ACCESS TO READING MATERIALS AND SPEND LESS TIME IN LEARNING ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES THAN THEIR WEALTHIER COUNTERPARTS. AS A RESULT, THESE CHILDREN ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO LEARNING LOSS THAT OCCURS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. THE CUMULATIVE EFFECTS OF THIS SUMMER SLIDE ARE BELIEVED TO ACCOUNT FOR MUCH OF THE GAP IN READING ACHIEVEMENT BETWEEN LOW-INCOME AND HIGH-INCOME YOUTH. TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, WE EQUIP CHURCHES AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED GROUPS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO BOOKS AT FREE SUMMER MEAL SITES (OPERATED DIRECTLY BY THE GROUP OR AT AN EXISTING USDA FREE SUMMER MEAL SITE WHERE THE GROUP WILL VOLUNTEER). IN RECENT YEARS, THESE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN SITUATED IN CHURCHES, PUBLIC SCHOOL CAFETERIAS, AND IN PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES. IN ALL THESE SETTINGS, WHAT'S FOR LUNCH? PROGRAM PROVIDERS ESSENTIALLY ACT AS MOBILE LIBRARIES OPERATING DURING ESTABLISHED MEALTIMES, ENSURING THAT CHILDREN IN LOW- INCOME HOUSEHOLDS CAN READ ENOUGH TO AVOID LEARNING LOSS OVER THE SUMMER. 19302 24246 READY FOR SCHOOL PREPARES CHILDREN OF REFUGEES FOR KINDERGARTEN. FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS, LITERACY CONNEXUS HAS PARTNERED WITH COOPERATIVE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP FIELD PERSONNEL TO ASSIST CHILDREN OF REFUGEES IN GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL. BASED ON GUIDELINES FROM THE FORT WORTH INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, THIS EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM TAKES PLACE IN APARTMENT COMPLEXES IN FORT WORTH WITH HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF REFUGEE FAMILIES. CHILDREN WHO PARTICIPATE IN READY FOR SCHOOL RECEIVE A NEW BOOK EACH WEEK OF THE 20-WEEK PROGRAM. READY FOR SCHOOL IS A FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM THAT ASSISTS PARENTS IN EDUCATING THEIR CHILDREN. 19300 24245 SINCE 2014, L.E.A.R.N. FOR LIFE (LITERACY EDUCATION AND READING NETWORK) HAS SERVED ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHOSE READING SKILLS ARE LOW ENOUGH TO PRESENT A BARRIER TO THEIR REACHING PERSONAL GOALS AS WELL AS MAKING PROGRESS IN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT. OUR STUDENTS, GENERALLY NATIVE OR OTHERWISE PROFICIENT ENGLISH SPEAKERS, ARE DRIVEN BY THE DESIRE TO IMPROVE THEIR EMPLOYMENT OR SEEK FURTHER EDUCATION, TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL, OR TO MEET OTHER PERSONAL NEEDS SUCH AS READING THE BIBLE. COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING SUPPORTS THIS EFFORT FOR AN ALL-VOLUNTEER GROUP OF TUTORS WHO ARE ALSO MENTORED IN THE PROCESS OF MEETING THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH ADULT. WHERE NEEDED, OUR STUDENTS ARE CONNECTED TO OTHER CLASSES THROUGH OUR TARRANT COUNTY ADULT EDUCATION AND LITERACY CONSORTIUM OR OTHER APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY RESOURCES. UNDERLYING ALL OUR WORK IS OUR CONNECTION WITH OTHER LOCAL AND STATE PROGRAMS TO COLLABORATE, PARTICIPATE IN CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND REMAIN AWARE OF PROGRESS IN THE FIELD. 19300 24245 77206 true true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 0 0 false 2 false false false false false false false false false false false false X 10 10 false false false false false false false true true false false false true true true true true false false false X LESTER MERIWETHER 8176969898 3954 SOUTHWEST BLVD RM 113 FORT WORTH TX 76116 X GERALD ARREDONDO BOARD MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 LYNDA BERTRAM SECRETARY 2.00 X X 0 0 0 PATRICK LOC PRESIDENT 10.00 X X 0 0 0 SHELLY LOWE BOARD MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 SUE MATKIN BOARD MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 BRENT MCCLAIN SECRETARY 10.00 X X 0 0 0 SHEWANDA RILEY BOARD MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 JACOB RODRIGUEZ TREASURER 10.00 X X 0 0 0 LINDA WAGGONER BOARD MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 BECKY WILLIAMS VICE PRESIDE 10.00 X X 0 0 0 false false false 96983 96983 PROGRAM SERVICE INCOME 525 525 525 57 57 97565 582 48000 24000 24000 13963 13963 4800 2400 2400 3500 1750 1750 4300 4300 441 441 22442 20519 1923 6352 6352 2727 2533 194 1852 948 904 108377 77206 31171 0 51806 39758 51806 39758 0 0 X 31380 23140 20426 16618 51806 39758 51806 39758 X -10812 -1236 X false false X 121772 124960 131175 110898 96983 585788 121772 124960 131175 110898 96983 585788 585788 585788 13855 1.00000 1.00000 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED FORM 990, PAGE 1, ITEM B THIS RETURN IS BEING AMENDED SIMPLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT: PAGE 1; LINE 6 - TOTAL NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS (ESTIMATE IF NECESSARY) WAS OMITTED ON THE ORIGINAL FILING. THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS FOR 2022 WAS 50. FORM 990 - ORGANIZATION'S MISSION THE MISSION OF LITERACY CONNEXUS - FOUNDED IN 2004 - IS TO HELP CHURCHES HELP PEOPLE WITH LITERACY NEEDS. 4.8 MILLION ADULTS LIVING IN TEXAS QUALIFY FOR ADULT BASIC EDUCATION. MANY OF THESE PERSONS NEED HELP WITH ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION.ADDITIONALLY, LITERACY CONNEXUS HELPS CHURCHES ADDRESS THE LITERACY NEEDS OF CHILDREN FOR SCHOOL READINESS AND AVOIDING THE SUMMER READING SLIDE. WE NOW PARTNER WITH LEARN (LITERACY EDUCATION AND READING NETWORK) FOR LIFE TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ADULTS WHO DO NOT READ WELL ENOUGH TO STUDY FOR THE GED. LITERACY CONNEXUS PROVIDES TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHURCHES ENGAGED IN LITERACY. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 2 LEARN FOR LIFE FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4B WHAT'S FOR LUNCH? IS A PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY LITERACY CONNEXUS TO DEFEAT A PROBLEM KNOWN AS THE SUMMER SLIDE IN READING ABILITY. DURING THE SUMMER, WHEN SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL LIBRARIES ARE CLOSED, CHILDREN IN LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS HAVE LESS ACCESS TO READING MATERIALS AND SPEND LESS TIME IN LEARNING ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES THAN THEIR WEALTHIER COUNTERPARTS. AS A RESULT, THESE CHILDREN ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO LEARNING LOSS THAT OCCURS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. THE CUMULATIVE EFFECTS OF THIS SUMMER SLIDE ARE BELIEVED TO ACCOUNT FOR MUCH OF THE GAP IN READING ACHIEVEMENT BETWEEN LOW-INCOME AND HIGH-INCOME YOUTH. TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, WE EQUIP CHURCHES AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED GROUPS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO BOOKS AT FREE SUMMER MEAL SITES (OPERATED DIRECTLY BY THE GROUP OR AT AN EXISTING USDA FREE SUMMER MEAL SITE WHERE THE GROUP WILL VOLUNTEER). IN RECENT YEARS, THESE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN SITUATED IN CHURCHES, PUBLIC SCHOOL CAFETERIAS, AND IN PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES. IN ALL THESE SETTINGS, WHAT'S FOR LUNCH? PROGRAM PROVIDERS ESSENTIALLY ACT AS MOBILE LIBRARIES OPERATING DURING ESTABLISHED MEALTIMES, ENSURING THAT CHILDREN IN LOW- INCOME HOUSEHOLDS CAN READ ENOUGH TO AVOID LEARNING LOSS OVER THE SUMMER. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4D SINCE 2014, L.E.A.R.N. FOR LIFE (LITERACY EDUCATION AND READING NETWORK) HAS SERVED ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHOSE READING SKILLS ARE LOW ENOUGH TO PRESENT A BARRIER TO THEIR REACHING PERSONAL GOALS AS WELL AS MAKING PROGRESS IN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT. OUR STUDENTS, GENERALLY NATIVE OR OTHERWISE PROFICIENT ENGLISH SPEAKERS, ARE DRIVEN BY THE DESIRE TO IMPROVE THEIR EMPLOYMENT OR SEEK FURTHER EDUCATION, TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL, OR TO MEET OTHER PERSONAL NEEDS SUCH AS READING THE BIBLE. COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING SUPPORTS THIS EFFORT FOR AN ALL-VOLUNTEER GROUP OF TUTORS WHO ARE ALSO MENTORED IN THE PROCESS OF MEETING THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH ADULT. WHERE NEEDED, OUR STUDENTS ARE CONNECTED TO OTHER CLASSES THROUGH OUR TARRANT COUNTY ADULT EDUCATION AND LITERACY CONSORTIUM OR OTHER APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY RESOURCES. UNDERLYING ALL OUR WORK IS OUR CONNECTION WITH OTHER LOCAL AND STATE PROGRAMS TO COLLABORATE, PARTICIPATE IN CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND REMAIN AWARE OF PROGRESS IN THE FIELD. FORM 990, PART VI ALL BOARD MEMBERS RECEIVED AN ELECTRONIC COPY OF THE RETURN AND INPUT FROM THEIR RESPONSES WAS USED IN EDITING THE SUBMITTED RETURN. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY EACH BOARD MEMBER BEFORE IT IS FILED. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C AT ANNUAL MEETING, BOARD MEMBERS COMPLETE CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 18 990 IS ON FILE WITH GUIDESTAR FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 GOVERNING DOCUMENTS AND REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9 DECREASE IN ACCRUALS -1,236