Literacy Connexus, Inc.

Since 2004, Literacy ConneXus has equipped churches to transform lives through literacy. We believe literacy opens doors to education, employment, community engagement, and meaningful relationships – providing a foundation for the organization's name, a play on nexus and the idea that “Literacy connects us!”. By partnering with churches and community organizations, we provide training, resources, and programs that help children, adults, immigrants, refugees, and families develop the literacy skills they need to thrive.

For more than two decades, Literacy ConneXus has served communities throughout Texas by equipping volunteers to teach English, tutor struggling readers, prepare refugee families for school success, and foster a love of reading among children and families. Today, we are expanding our reach nationwide and internationally through online training, digital resources, and practical tools that enable churches of every size to establish effective literacy ministries, while remaining firmly rooted in North Texas.

Our work is carried out through 4 primary programs.

Teaching English ConneXus (TECs) equips churches and organizations to develop high-quality English as a Second Language (ESL) ministries. We provide volunteer ESL teacher training, coaching for churches starting new ESL programs, curriculum recommendations, teaching resources, and our comprehensive Teaching English ConneXus (TECs) ESL Teacher Training Manual, available in both print and digital formats. Through these resources, churches are able to build sustainable ministries that help English learners integrate into their communities while building meaningful relationships. In 2026, Literacy ConneXus launched ESL Everywhere, an initiative under the TECs program umbrella, designed to bring English instruction to learners and communities with limited access to traditional ESL programs. The initiative began as a pilot ESL ministry in an ICE detention center in Texas and is expanding to include multiple classes in detention centers and online ESL classes serving formerly detained students after their release or deportation. ESL Everywhere also enables rural and under-resourced churches to provide English instruction even when they lack the volunteers or capacity to establish a traditional local ESL ministry. By combining technology, trained volunteers, and strategic partnerships, ESL Everywhere extends the reach of church-based ESL ministry far beyond the classroom. 

Ready for School (RFS) prepares refugee children for success in American schools while helping refugee parents become active partners in their children's education. Weekly programming introduces children to foundational school readiness skills while parents receive instruction in English, basic literacy, and practical orientation to the U.S. educational system. The program strengthens the entire family by increasing confidence and helping parents navigate their children's educational journey. We are proud to share that our program director, Heather Smith, was recently awarded the Volunteer of the Year award from Fort Worth ISD.

LEARN for Life serves English-speaking adults who have never learned to read or write. Through individualized coaching, trained volunteers help adult learners develop foundational literacy skills that increase independence, employment opportunities, and confidence while improving everyday quality of life. The program began to serve learners who speak English as their first language, but has recently seen more and more students who are from multilingual backgrounds. 

What's for Lunch partners with churches and community summer meal programs to combat summer learning loss by creating engaging reading opportunities for children. The program provides age-appropriate books, backpacks, literacy activities, welcoming reading spaces, and family reading resources so that children have access to books and encouragement throughout the summer months. During the school year, the program partners with churches and community organizations to provide books, host pop-up reading events, build reading spaces, and create free libraries.

Across every program, Literacy ConneXus equips volunteers, strengthens churches, and serves learners through practical, relationship-centered literacy ministry. Rather than only operating programs alone, we multiply our impact by helping churches and community based organizations become effective centers for literacy education in their own communities.

As Literacy ConneXus expands beyond Texas, we continue to develop online training, digital resources, and partnerships that make it possible for churches across the United States and around the world to launch and strengthen literacy ministries. Our vision is a world where every church is equipped to help people overcome literacy barriers and discover new opportunities through education, caring relationships, and hope.