Ten years ago, Leon Gatewood started the HOLLA! organization after hearing that only one in eight black boys knew how to read. “If only one in eight black boys are reading at grade level, something’s missing,” he said.

Although Gatewood has never married or had children of his own, the children of Anson County are his biggest priority. “I’m in it to make a difference,” he said.

After opening the HOLLA! Center in Morven two years ago, Gatewood established a Reading Room, where kids can go after school and on weekends to read books, or in some cases, learn to read at all. He said he wants to bring the same thing to communities throughout Anson County, and he’s starting with what he calls “the hood” in Wadesboro.

By the end of September, the first house he lived in as an adult will be transformed into what he calls a Literacy House. The house, located on Ingram Street, will be haven for kids ages 5-18 — and adults, too — who want to learn how to read or who need access to books.

“We’re excited because we’re getting to do something positive,” Gatewood said. “I see a lot of Boom Boom Rooms and liquor houses popping up all over, and I think the kids are thirsty for something different. They’re thirsty for knowledge.”

Gatewood’s brother, Julius Gatewood, donated the house on Ingram Street to be used by HOLLA! for its first literacy house. The Literacy House will function much the same as the HOLLA! Center’s Reading Room, and will be stocked with Florita Bell Griffin’s Little Flower Literacy Project. Gatewood said he hopes to open similar Literacy Houses in Polkton, Lilesville and in other locations in Wadesboro.

“It’s amazing when you start putting books in front of kids,” he said. “Books have a lot of competition, but we have to fight. If we believe that kids need to learn to read, we have to fight for it.”

Although the HOLLA! Center was built thanks to grants from the Golden LEAF Foundation, Gatewood said the Literacy House is more of a “grassroots” effort. “We have a saying at the HOLLA! Center,” he explained. “We don’t wait for the money. We’ve got to keep moving.”

In addition to literacy projects, HOLLA! also sponsors a tennis team, which recently traveled to Florida for an American Tennis Association tournament. The HOLLA! Eagles represented all of North Carolina, and Gatewood said, did Anson County proud.

“One of the organizers said that this group from North Carolina really grasped things like none of the other kids did,” he said. “They grasp things so easily because they’re motivated.”

Also, Gatewood pointed out that HOLLA! isn’t just for kids. After all, HOLLA! stands for “Helping Our Loved ones Learn and Achieve.”

“One of the problems we have is that a lot of the adults can’t read, so they don’t know how to teach the kids to read,” he said. “I’d like for adults to know they’re welcome, too. If you want to just come in and listen, that’s fine. But you can also learn to read if you’d like.”

For all of his efforts, Gatewood was recently recognized in Our State Magazine as one of “100 Voices from 100 Counties.” He joked that he didn’t know how the magazine got his number, but he was honored to represent Anson for the rest of the state.

“Certainly, I don’t do it for recognition,” Gatewood said in a Facebook post, “but I reckon that comes with the territory.”

For more information or to donate to HOLLA! and its literacy projects, you can call the HOLLA! Center at 704-851-3144, visit the website at HOLLA.ws or mail a donation to P.O. Box 88; Wadesboro, NC 28170.

HOLLA! founder Leon Gatewood poses inside what will be a new Literacy House on Ingram Street in Wadesboro.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_IMG_1720.jpgHOLLA! founder Leon Gatewood poses inside what will be a new Literacy House on Ingram Street in Wadesboro. Abby Cavenaugh | Anson Record

This house, at 809 Ingram St. in Wadesboro, will be HOLLA!’s first Literacy House, bringing books and knowledge to the local community.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_IMG_1723.jpgThis house, at 809 Ingram St. in Wadesboro, will be HOLLA!’s first Literacy House, bringing books and knowledge to the local community. Abby Cavenaugh | Anson Record

Leon Gatewood and HOLLA! were featured in the September issue of Our State Magazine.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_IMG_1724.jpgLeon Gatewood and HOLLA! were featured in the September issue of Our State Magazine. Abby Cavenaugh | Anson Record
Literacy program gains statewide attention

By Abby Cavenaugh

acavenaugh@civitasmedia.com

Editor Abby Cavenaugh may be reached at 704-694-2161, ext. 2301 or on Twitter @TheAnsonRecord.