Imagine living in a home that doesn’t have any books much less a book shelf. Mom loves and works hard for you, but has little to give after her 2nd part time job ends at 8pm. Did I mention that mom doesn’t speak English? She wants to help you with your homework, but can’t read the words on the page. She only finished 4th grade in Mexico so she can’t help. 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 16,000 of them are English Learners and 86% are living in poverty.

How do we make a difference in a city and a school system that has so much need?

We believe the answer is simple.

It only takes two hour a week. But can change a kids future.

We believe one of the biggest ways you can change a city is by helping a child learn to read.

As Every Neighborhood Partnership steps into the 2016-17 school year we are putting a greater focus on Literacy.

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. A 2009 study by researchers at Northeastern University that found that high school dropouts were 63 times more likely to be incarcerated than college grads.

Reading matters.

In an effort to continue to educate ourselves and others on the need and importance of literacy ENP put together a panel.  The following panel was hosted by Artie Padilla of ENP at The Well Community Church and features the following panelists.

1. Joy Nunes, FUSD Principal of Susan B. Anthony Elementary
2. Linda Gleason, Children’s Movement & Cradle to Carrer
3. Sandra Flores, UCSF Pre-Term Birth Initiative

If you are interested in learning more or in becoming a Literacy Mentor click here.

Enjoy!