Posts

Read Muskegon Launches Countywide Literacy Collaborative

 

Muskegon County is clearly on the move, but over 20,000 adults in our community are at a virtual standstill because they cannot read well enough to fill out a job or housing application, read safety information in the workplace, follow healthcare instructions, or read to their children and grandchildren. The literacy statistics are even more staggering for our children.  Less than 50% of our 5-year-olds enter kindergarten ready to learn and more than 60% of our incoming 4th graders are not reading at grade level.

 

There is a literacy crisis in Muskegon County and it is time to take dramatic, focused action to combat it.

 

We know that no single education system, government agency or non-profit organization can independently resolve this issue.  That’s why Read Muskegon is leading a countywide effort to develop a results-oriented literacy collaborative dedicated to combating the illiteracy crisis through collective impact. Together, Read Muskegon and its extensive network of collaborative partners are focused on ensuring that all individuals in need of improved literacy skills, no matter their age, have access to the information and resources they need to succeed.

 

The collaborative includes a broad spectrum of community partners including: the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District, Community Foundation for Muskegon County, MI Reading Corps, Mercy Health – Community Health Project, Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office, Muskegon Community College, Baker College, Goodwill, United Way, Talent 2025, Chamber of Commerce, Region 4 Adult Education, West MI Works, White Lake Community Education, Muskegon Area District Libraries, Hackely Public Library, Urban League, and city & state government officials.  Equally as important, we are actively engaging resident voices as members and leaders of the collaborative.

 

Over the past 12 months, collaborative members have been working in partnership with the National Center for Families Learning to assess the literacy landscape in Muskegon County through interviews, surveys and community focus groups. What did we find?  We’re doing a lot of things right and we’ve got a lot of great programs ready to support our communities.  But, we also found a lot of gaps in service and systemic challenges that are creating barriers to success for our most vulnerable learners, across their life span.

 

 

85 individuals gathered last September to review the findings and prioritize next steps.  As a result, three initial action teams were formed. The Collaborative Steering Committee has been focused on creating the mission, vision and structure for the group. The Public Awareness team will work on creating a campaign to increase the general public understanding of illiteracy and connect community members to services. The Integrated Continuum of Services team is working to ensure a seamless transition from birth through adult literacy supports with a focus on family literacy and breaking generational cycles.

 

The next meeting of the collaborative will take place on Thursday, March 26th, from 9:30-12:00. If you are interested in more information, please contact Melissa Moore. 231-830-5539 or Melissa.moore@readmuskegon.org.

 

 

Experience Read Muskegon: A Conversation About Literacy

 

                 

Join us at our new Family Literacy Center at 26 E. Broadway for a one-hour conversation. Learn how adult illiteracy is impacting our county. Find out how Read Muskegon is breaking generational cycles of illiteracy through customized programs that meet the unique needs of our learners. Tour our new location and learn how it will play a critical role in our mission.

June 22 8:30 am     June 22 4:30 pm

July 11 10:00 am     July 11 4:30 pm

July 20 8:00 am     July 20 5:00 pm

Aug 3 10:00 am     Aug 3 4:30 pm

RSVP to Tish Williams:

tish.williams@readmuskegon.org    231-747-7273

www.readmuskegon.org

 

 

 

 

The Gift of Literacy – Part 2

In mid-December, we hosted our 2nd Annual Holiday Literacy Village for families involved in Read Muskegon programs, enrolled in local Head Starts or participating in other parent support programs. Parents and children made their way through nine stations, each focused on fun ways to build early literacy skills. Before heading home, each child was able to select several books to keep and each parent was provided with a literacy resource bag. Thank you to all of those who helped make this event possible including our many individual donors. And a big thanks to the Whitehall High School NHS students who got up bright and early on a Saturday morning to volunteer! The gift of literacy is one that will last a lifetime.

 

IMG_1506                  IMG_1508

IMG_1513                  IMG_1509

IMG_1473                  IMG_1459

IMG_1475                 IMG_1484

IMG_1514           IMG_1478

IMG_1458            IMG_1456

IMG_1449             IMG_1446

 

It’s Pumpkin Time at EXIT!

The October Family Literacy Dinner at EXIT was all about Halloween!  The EXIT participants were able to decorate pumpkins with their families which was the highlight of the night.  Special thanks to our friends at the Harbor Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Muskegon for providing a delicious dinner and to Todd Greiner Farms of Hart for donating the beautiful pumpkins.

 

A pumpkin                    boy and pumpkin 2

boy and pumpkin                               tiny girl

boy in lap 2

boy with dinner                            dad and baby 2

dad and daughter smile                    daughter face

family holding hands                  family pumpkin

boy in lap decorating    grandson 2

grandson                   little boy decorate

paul and family             Reading the story

 

                                                                  small boy decorating