For most middle and upper-class families, the ability to read is something we take for granted. Books were aplenty in our homes and still are.

Imagine living in a home that doesn’t have any books, much less a bookshelf. Mom loves and works hard for you, but has little to give after her second part-time job ends at 8:00pm. Did I mention Mom doesn’t speak English? She wants to help you with your homework, but she only finished fourth grade in Mexico so she can’t read the words on the page. This situation and many others like it play out every day in our schools.

Fresno Unified is made up of just over 74,000 kids. Over 18,000 of them are English learners, and 86% are living in poverty.[1] How do we make a difference in a city and a school system that has so much need? How do you go about changing the future of Fresno? Help a kid learn to read.

Every Neighborhood Partnership (ENP) was started over eight years ago. Inspired by The Well’s partnership with Susan B. Anthony Elementary, ENP had the goal of creating church-to-school partnerships for every elementary school in Fresno. Currently, we have 40 such partnerships. As we consider how the church of Fresno/Clovis can change a generation, we believe helping every kid learn to read by the third grade is one of the best investments we can make.

According to research, being able to read by the third grade is the most important indicator of high school graduation and career success. If a student is not reading by third grade, they are four times less likely to graduate high school on time and six times less likely if they come from a low-income family.[2] A 2009 study by researchers at Northeastern University found high school dropouts were 63 times more likely to be incarcerated than college grads.[3]

Reading matters.

Do you have just two hours a week to support a child and change their future?

ENP exists to equip you so you have the necessary knowledge and tools to support the kids you work with. Not only is reading going to help them in their academic success, but we desire to see relationships built in the classroom that turn into long-term mentoring relationships. We would love for the little ones you support to see the gospel – the good news of Jesus – lived out in the way you read with them and the way you share it with them.

The relationship you will build with a child is another positive adult believing in them and supporting them. This can and does change lives. Together, we can change a generation one kid at a time.

Find out more about becoming a Literacy Mentor.

[1] Kidsdata.org: http://www.kidsdata.org/region/461/fresno-unified/summary#6/demographics and http://www.kidsdata.org/region/461/fresno-unified/summary#37/family-economics

[2] The Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2010). EARLY WARNING! Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters. Baltimore, MD: Author. Retrieved from http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/AECF-Early_Warning_Full_Report-2010.pdf.

[3] Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University. (2009). The consequences of dropping out of high school: joblessness and jailing for high school dropouts and the high cost for taxpayers. Boston, MA: Sum, Andrew & Khatiwada, Ishwar & McLaughlin, Joseph. Retrieved from http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/AECF-Early_Warning_Full_Report-2010.pdf.