WHO WE ARE
Literacy Connexus advises and assists in literacy projects throughout the state of Texas and beyond. We are a growing network of leaders, volunteers, and partners working together to provide support and direction to literacy projects, using resources from—as much as is possible—the local community. Join thousands of volunteers in church-based ministry who teach ESL, provide access to books for children, and assist adults in their quest for high school equivalency through Literacy ConneXus!
Literacy ConneXus was established in 2004 by Texas Baptists to help churches help people with literacy needs. Now we collaborate with churches of all denominations in Texas and beyond. We aspire to give voice to the millions of people who struggle with speaking, reading, and writing English and to mobilize churches to meet those needs.
Lester Meriwether
Executive Director
Lester Meriwether has been the Executive Director of Literacy Connexus since May 2004. Literacy Connexus is a not for profit organization that helps churches help persons with literacy needs in Texas and beyond. In this capacity, Meriwether represents and advocates for hundreds of volunteers who each week teach English, basic literacy or conspire to provide beginning home libraries for families with no books. He works with talented volunteers across Texas who serve in a variety of ways to help churches help people with literacy needs. Lester and his wife Donna have three children and four grandchildren and live in Fort Worth.
Taynim Johnson
ESL Associate
Taynim Johnson, a native of Hawaii, relocated to Texas in 2011. After earning her Bachelor’s in Spanish and Linguistics from the University of Texas at Arlington, Taynim entered the nonprofit world at Literacy ConneXus after connecting with Lester Meriwether during her TESOL internship. Working with the TEX program at Literacy ConneXus allowed Taynim to explore her passion for ESL. Literacy ConneXus led her to Fort Worth ISD where she now teaches ESL in the Adult Education Program. She also serves as a Teacher Trainer and Customer Service Representative for Burlington English. Taynim is married and has a 5-year-old daughter with a BIG personality.
Karen Peiser
ESL Coordinator
Karen is the volunteer ESL Coordinator at Literacy Connexus and the Director of ESL Ministry at Southland Baptist Church in San Angelo. There she teaches ESL classes and tutors students to get their Citizenship. Karen has 25 years of ESL teaching under her belt and has 3 of her own workshops. Before she taught ESL she was a Missionary in New York City and studied French in Paris, France in 1961. In 2010 Karen was awarded volunteer of the year by Literacy Texas.
