Funding will help to establish a city-wide child literacy campaign! Our literacy campaign will allow students to connect by reading to one another, and utilizing writing as a tool of therapy to cope with day-to-day issues. Children will have the opportunity to learn the basics of becoming a writer, illustrator and a self-published author. Utilizing the funding we will partner with local schools and organizations to gift over 10,000 copies of a book to underserved children throughout New Orleans but starting first in the Lower Ninth Ward. 

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My team and I will partner with schools, businesses, and organizations to host readings and invite other local authors and musical talent to encourage the children and parents to read! 

Reading is a foundation of learning, and when a child is not reading at age level by third grade, their future is less certain. Why? Third grade is a critical time when students go from learning to read to reading to learn.

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 Not understanding how to read and write creates self-esteem issues amongst children and young adults which causes them to act out in a variety of ways and become less interested in educational programs. When it comes to child literacy Louisiana ranks 50th in the nation. In New Orleans public schools, only 34% of third-graders read on grade-level by the end of the third grade and only 40% of kids 16 & older read at a third grade level! 

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A child’s ability to read by the end of third grade is an important predictor of future success. Children who read on grade level by the end of third grade are more likely to graduate high school and have higher earnings as adults. This means the vast majority of our city's children miss this critical milestone! 

 

It’s time to make a difference…TOGETHER!