Non-Profit Stories: Inspiring Tales from Silicon Valley

Sep 20, 2023

A Future Where Every Child Unlocks Boundless Potential Through Reading with ‘Reading Partners’

'Reading Partners' – Silicon Valley's Outreach for Assistance: Commencing its journey in Silicon Valley in 1999 as "Yes Reading," Reading Partners rapidly expanded its presence. Shortly afterward, it extended its reach across California by 2007, eventually evolving into a national nonprofit organization. This transformation mobilized communities, allowing them to provide students with the essential and specialized reading support needed to achieve grade-level proficiency by the fourth grade. Moreover, by establishing solid partnerships with teachers, parents, and community volunteers and equipping tutors with thoughtfully crafted, research-based lesson plans, Reading Partners effectively nurtures students. This approach helps them become confident and enthusiastic readers. Continuing this remarkable path, they expanded their reach into 12 diverse U.S. regions. In each of these regions, they introduced a groundbreaking blueprint in 2018. By 2022, they had successfully conducted over 2.5 million tutoring sessions. America's Child Illiteracy Problem: * Two out of every ten children enter kindergarten with skills two to three years lower than their grade level, and another two children start school with a one-year disadvantage * Illiteracy is a significant factor in whether adolescents graduate from high school. One in 6 high school students — or about 1.2 million teens — drop out each year * Children of adults with low literacy skills are 72% more likely to be at a low reading level in school * Data cited from internet sources and may not be 100% updated Reading Partners Mission: Reading Partners aims to help children become lifelong readers by empowering communities to provide individualized instruction with measurable results. About the Guests: Starting with Felicia Webb, she has an impressive career spanning over two decades in both the education and nonprofit sectors. Initially, she held roles as an educator and therapist, later transitioning into a leadership consultant. Before fully committing to nonprofits, she guided individuals in their career journeys. Furthermore, Felicia excels in nonprofit management, creating educational materials, and securing grants. She also possesses a talent for workplace evaluation. Additionally, she's initiated projects to enhance reading skills, facilitate job placements, and promote community rehabilitation. Fueled by her unwavering commitment, she consistently advocates for a holistic approach to youth education, often fondly recalling her foundational days as a teacher. On the other hand, Michael Andrade is the Director of Development at Reading Partners. With an equally rich background spanning two decades, Michael brings a wealth of skills to the table. Specifically, he excels in strategic planning and DEI facilitation. Furthermore, he's renowned for mentoring executives, bridging gaps within senior teams and organizations, and providing specialized business consultancy. As a result, his extensive expertise greatly benefits Reading Partners. In this Episode: In this episode, we'll discuss Reading Partners, originally known as "Yes Reading," which began its journey in Silicon Valley in 1999. Following that, we'll explore how they expanded, first in California by 2007 and then into 12 other regions across the U.S. Afterward, we'll delve into their pivotal 2018 plan, which played a significant role in improving children's reading skills. As we approach the end, you'll be fascinated to discover that they've conducted an impressive 2.5 million tutoring sessions by 2022. So, if you're interested in stories about education, community engagement, and remarkable achievements, this episode is just for you! "Empowering children through literacy is the bridge to a brighter future." – Felicia Webb Show Notes: * A brief overview of Reading Partners and its origins, tracing back to Yes Reading's beginnings in Silicon Valley in 1999 * How the shift in branding changed the organization's direction * 2007 – A Milestone Year: Exploration of the ambitious expansion throughout California * Tracing the growth of Reading Partners into 12 strategic regions across the U.S. * How the organization reached a milestone of 2.5 million tutoring sessions by 2022 * A deep dive into the various programs initiated by Reading Partners to tackle literacy, under-employment, and more * About the importance of creating and sustaining strong community relationships * Why Reading Partners advocate for a comprehensive approach to child education * Lessons from the Field: Insights from Felicia Webb's experience as an adjunct college professor, therapist, and workforce development counselor * How important organizations like Reading Partners are in shaping community growth and education Links Mentioned: * Bank of America * Cisco * Leo M. Shortino Family Foundation * Qualcomm * Donate to ReadingPartners.org * Connect with Felicia Webb and Reading Partners: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Reading Partners Org If you or someone you know faces barriers with reading, Contact Reading Partners: Address: 600B Valley Way Milpitas, CA, 95035 Phone: +1 (510) 444-9800 Email: felicia.webb@readingpartners.org

30 min