DLC Clients, Tutors, Staff and Supporters,

I am writing to explain a potential health concern in Durham Literacy Center (DLC) office (1410 W. Chapel Hill St.) and to inform you of the actions DLC is taking to address it. For several years, the presence of mold in the DLC building has been a nagging but manageable concern. In the past 4 years, DLC has spent more than $15,000 to contain and destroy the mold that grows in the building’s damp basement and the attic. Unfortunately, conditions worsened significantly early this fall. The occurrence of allergic symptoms associated with mold increased. When it became clear that staff were having allergic reactions to the mold, we asked two environmental engineers to assess the building. The engineering report is pending. Although we have not yet received the report, they have clarified that the office is inundated with mold. [MORE]

We are actively pursuing a long-term solution. In the meantime, we have taken some immediate, temporary measures to ensure the health of our community. Effective immediately, DLC office hours have been cut back to 10am-3pm, Monday through Friday with only one or two administrative staff working from the office. These actions seriously impact the Adult Literacy program, which has had to move all classes off-site to the Durham County libraries and alternate sites. In addition, staff have been advised that they may work from home.

Our next step is to secure temporary office space so we can close 1410 W. Chapel Hill St.We are aggressively pursuing relocation optionsand hope to secure a space by the end of October. We could use your help identifying potential spaces and funding possibilities!

Once we have secured short-term office space, we will decide whether to renovate the existing building or seek a permanent new location. Unfortunately, both of these options are far beyond the scope of our current budget, so we will be working hard to find creative funding solutions.

Durham Literacy Center’s mission is to empower Durham County residents who want to enrich their lives by improving their literacy skills. Health literacy -- enabling people to make informed decisions about their own health care -- is crucial to our mission. Thus we want to share as much information as we can with you, our DLC community. Please check our website for updates; we will post the latest news there.

We regret any inconveniences that this may cause you, and we are grateful that we can draw on such a strong community during this difficult time. The good news is that Adult Literacy, ESOL, and Teen GED classes are continuing to meet at several locations throughout Durham. We are confident that we can solve this problem by working together as a community.

Kind regards,

Reginald Hodges

Executive Director

Durham Literacy Center

rhodges@durhamliteracy.org

(919) 489 8383 ext: 22

Fax: (919) 489 1456

www.durhamliteracy.org