Ordinary Life: Stories

What is Round About Books? Round About Books will be a literacy-rich worksite for opportunity youth ages 16 - 24, primarily placed and paid through our partnerships with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Program and the Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities Program. A bookstore manager will supervise the interns and provide training in soft skills and job skills as they guide them through the functions of running a business. Why a bookstore? Literacy Connections is a nonprofit that teaches people to embrace learning through one-on-one tutoring. Our goal with Round About Books is to create an environment for learning that feels nurturing and safe for people to develop confidence through the mentorship program while they further their education. We believe reading can ignite a love of learning, which opens new worlds and expands opportunities for happy and successful lives. All profits from the bookstore go directly back into the literacy nonprofit programs. What does an intern gain from this? Interns who successfully complete the program will leave with marketable job skills, a letter of recommendation, and the confidence to take charge of their lives. How can I help? This youth-run bookstore has been a dream of Literacy Connections for some time, and we are excited to see it become a reality. Round About Books is under construction and will add another dimension to Downtown Goldsboro’s cultural scene, a child-friendly spot for parents, and welcoming to all downtown visitors. If you are interested in being part of our story as a seed investor to raise capital for our new venture, please contact a Literacy Connections Board Member or staff at 919.735.1990 for more information. …