Literacy

ENP Literacy Report for the 2023-2024 School Year

July 10, 2024 Ashley Goldsmith Campus Presence, ENP News, Literacy

After a Year of Literacy Support, How Are Our Students Doing?

A child’s reading skills are directly tied to their ability to thrive as an adult. Completing job applications, applying for scholarships, registering to vote, and getting a car loan all involve reading! Students with strong literacy skills are more likely to have higher self-esteem, graduate high school, and earn a living wage.

Because of this, Every Neighborhood Partnership (ENP) believes a city that works for everyone is a city where all children are given the support they need to become strong readers. However, in Fresno Unified School District (FUSD), only 22% of our 70,000 students are reading at their grade level.

What is the Impact of $903,060 in Volunteer Time?

April 3, 2024 Ashley Goldsmith Campus Presence, Community Outreach, ENP News, Literacy, Neighborhood Presence, Saturday Sports, Serving Our Neighborhoods, Serving Our Schools

Nonprofits like Every Neighborhood Partnership (ENP) cannot do what we do without volunteers.

In 2023, volunteers invested 28,938 hours in Fresno schools and neighborhoods through ENP’s School Support and Neighborhood Development programs. These hours are equal to $903,060.53 in value. That’s almost $1,000,000 of volunteer hours poured into the city of Fresno!

“If you look around your city and see things you want to change, but you don’t know how, start by volunteering with a nonprofit,” says Andrew Feil, ENP’s Executive Director. “Your time is worth more than you can imagine.”

1,017 volunteers

28,938 hours given

$903,060.53 in value

2023 Every Neighborhood Partnership Volunteer Data

Continue reading to learn what impact volunteers have on Fresno schools, neighborhoods, and future generations. ↓

Important Literacy Documentary, “The Right to Read,” Playing at Tower Theatre on March 4th

February 28, 2024 Ashley Goldsmith ENP News, Literacy, Partnership Spotlight

Fresno residents are invited to attend a local screening and panel discussion of the documentary, The Right to Read, at the historical Tower Theatre on Monday, March 4th at 6 PM.

The Most Important Contributor to a Student’s Academic Success

December 28, 2023 Ashley Goldsmith Literacy, Neighborhood Presence, Parent Engagement, Serving Our Schools

What is the most important contributor to a student’s success in school?

In Fresno Unified, 80% of students are unable to read at their grade level. Fresno schools are growing their early intervention programs and literacy mentors are providing one-on-one support to students. However, data shows reading skills and educational success are dependent on many factors outside the classroom.

In fact, “parental education might be the biggest factor” in determining a student’s academic success according to a 2022 EdSource article.

If parents are unable to read with their kids at home, don’t know about school events, or are unsure who to contact with concerns, their students are less likely to feel confident in school.

“Schools are doing a lot,” says Sabrina Rodarte, Every Neighborhood Partnership’s Extended Learning Coordinator. “What we need is more support for parents. We need to ask, how can we build up a parent so they can build up their child?”

Schools are doing a lot. What we need is more support for parents.
Sabrina Rodarte, ENP’s Extended Learning Coordinator

Working with Elementary Kids Changed This College Student’s Life

November 14, 2023 Ashley Goldsmith Campus Presence, Literacy, Neighborhood Presence, Partnership Spotlight, Saturday Sports, Serving Our Neighborhoods, Serving Our Schools

Before working with Every Neighborhood Partnership (ENP), Sheng Xiong says she felt she was at her lowest point in life. Her job at a fast food restaurant made it difficult for her to balance her college and work responsibilities.

When Sheng received a message to her Fresno State email about an opportunity to work with elementary-aged kids through ENP, “it felt like fate.”

Our Children’s Ability to Read Now Will Have a Lifelong and City-wide Impact

May 8, 2023 Ashley Goldsmith Campus Presence, Literacy, Parent Engagement, Serving Our Schools

In third grade, Sam reads stories about farm animals, giant peaches, and magical dragons. About 75% of his peers struggle to read at third grade level.

In sixth grade, Sam is a little taller and strong enough to lug around a backpack full of books he will pour over for his history project on Ancient Civilizations. This year, several of his former classmates don’t pass the history class because they’re unable to comprehend the assigned reading making up 85% of their curriculum.

In twelfth grade, Sam tours colleges, sifts through complex financial aid documents, and writes application essays. About 1 in 6 of his friends who weren’t reading at grade level in third grade have dropped out of high school.

Children’s ability to read has profound implications for their lives and their engagement with their community.

The Power of Tutoring: ENP’s Impact on FUSD

May 3, 2023 Grace Berg ENP News, Literacy, Serving Our Schools

GO Public Schools Fresno has released their 3rd and final report, titled Are The Kids Alright? In this report, they document academic achievement, equity and inequity, behavioral health, and how we move forward as a city for our kids.

Every Neighborhood Partnership is proud of to be highlighted in the report as a crucial and vital part of student’s academic and behavioral health recovery from COVID-19.

“Every Neighborhood Partnership has seen consistent growth with students who participate in their literacy tutoring [programs]….There is a clear benefit to enrolling students in this type of program.”

GO Public Schools Fresno

Read the rest of the report to hear a comprehensive understanding of the current state of Fresno schools in 2023.

Are the Kids Alright?

How to Serve Your Community (No Matter Your Life Stage)

January 9, 2023 Ashley Goldsmith Literacy, Neighborhood Presence, Parent Engagement, Perspectives, Saturday Sports, Serving Our Neighborhoods, Serving Our Schools

Developing a Heart of Service at a Young Age

Mary Avigliano knew when she grew up, she wanted to help others. As a child, Mary developed relationships with volunteers of local urban ministry organizations who left a life-long impact on her and her family.

“If it weren’t for a group of people who were passionate about urban ministry knocking on my family’s door when I was a kid, I wouldn’t be sitting here.”
~Mary Avigliano

In 2008, when Mary was a recent college graduate with a little extra free time, she became one of Every Neighborhood Partnership’s first volunteers.

How One Woman’s Love for Reading Initiated a Lasting School-Church Partnership

July 12, 2022 Ashley Goldsmith Campus Presence, Literacy, Serving Our Schools

Ayer Elementary School & Butler Church: How the Partnership Began

Since she was a little girl, Debra Brensinger has loved reading. Under the protection of her covers, she would squint her eyes as she read late into the night.

Several decades later, Debra was looking for ways to be more involved in her local community. When Debra heard about Every Neighborhood Partnership’s Literacy Mentoring program, she knew she wanted to serve as a mentor. Sharing her passion for reading by teaching elementary students literacy skills seemed like the perfect way to invest in her neighborhood.

But Debra didn’t stop there.

Virtual Literacy Mentoring Program: It’s Hard to Say Goodbye

July 1, 2022 Andrea Ricci Literacy

As we come to the end of another school year, and after making the tough decision to transition solely back to in-classroom mentoring, we’ve been reflecting on all that was accomplished these past couple years through the Virtual Literacy Mentoring Program.