Chatham Literacy’s 2025 Fall for Literacy Luncheon was an uplifting celebration of learning, resilience, and community connection. Held at the Chatham County Agriculture and Conference Center, the annual fundraiser brought together supporters, volunteers, and readers to honor the power of literacy to transform lives.
View the highlights of the event here. | View even more photos here.
A Learner’s Journey: Ruth Castillo Liborio
The program began with an inspiring presentation from learner Ruth Castillo Liborio and her tutor Anne Dobson, whose seven-year partnership exemplifies Chatham Literacy’s mission in action.
Ruth, a medical doctor in her home country of El Salvador, spoke candidly about the challenges she faced upon arriving in the United States 14 years ago. Because her medical degree was not recognized here, she had to begin again – rebuilding her professional credentials, as well as learning English and navigating a new culture.
Through Chatham Literacy, Ruth was paired with Anne, who guided her in improving her English and encouraged her to pursue a new career in health care. With Chatham Literacy and Anne’s support, she improved her English and earned several health care certifications, ultimately becoming a dialysis nurse and nearing completion of her Family Nurse Practitioner program.
Ruth also shared a deeply personal milestone: with help from Chatham Literacy’s citizenship program, she became a naturalized U.S. citizen. Her speech concluded with gratitude to her tutor, her husband, and the organization that supported her journey: “Looking back, Chatham Literacy played a vital role in helping me achieve my goals.”
Her tutor Anne followed with heartfelt words about the joy of teaching: “If you’ve ever been a teacher, tutor, or coach, you know the joy it brings to help someone along in their progress. Ruth is a shining example.” Their story drew a standing ovation and embodied the luncheon’s theme of transformation through opportunity.
Watch the video of Ruth’s speech.
Keynote Conversation: Finding Joy in Connection
The event’s keynote presentation featured Steven Petrow, national columnist, award-winning journalist, and 2024 North Carolina Piedmont Laureate, in dialogue with Jill McCorkle, bestselling novelist and recent inductee into the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame.
Petrow discussed his acclaimed new book, The Joy You Make – Find The Silver Lining, Even On Your Darkest Days, which blends memoir, reflection, and research into what he calls “a roadmap to finding a joyful life.” Known for his Washington Post and New York Times essays and a TED Talk viewed by millions, Petrow described how his search for joy grew from a period of profound personal loss. “In 2017, I lost my parents, separated from my husband, and my sister was diagnosed with ovarian cancer,” he said. “Through all of it, I learned that joy and grief can coexist – that we can hold both at once.”
McCorkle, herself a master storyteller, guided the conversation with warmth and humor. She praised the book as “part memoir, part how-to – an honest, courageous guide filled with wisdom, recipes, and even dance songs for cultivating everyday joy.”
Together, they reflected on how joy is rooted not in fleeting happiness but in authenticity, gratitude, and connection. Petrow contrasted the two emotions: “Happiness is often external – getting the last scone at the bakery,” he joked, referencing a story from his book. “But joy is what happens when you share that scone with someone else.”
The pair’s conversation ranged from grief and empathy to humor and resilience, reminding the audience that joy is not found in avoiding hardship but in finding meaning within it. McCorkle noted how Petrow’s reflections echo what Chatham Literacy stands for: community, connection, and the belief that every story matters.
Watch the video of their conversation.
SAVE THE DATE!
April 22, 2026: The 2026 Spring for Literacy Luncheon will feature speaker Daniel Wallace, author of Big Fish and other bestselling novels.