Unlocking Potential: The Power of Literacy and Community Engagement

Unlocking Potential: The Power of Literacy and Community Engagement

Learning doesn’t stop in the classroom, so why should literacy? Beyond skill-building, learning to read can be a fundamental act of identity, agency, and joy. Even better, it’s a skill that can be enjoyed as a bonding activity.

The Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI) is dedicated to working with Pre-kindergarten through Eighth Grade teachers to create an environment where children can not only learn to read, but also foster a love for reading.

Through one-on-one embedded teacher coaching, training in anti-racist best practices, leadership development, and the provision of high-quality classroom books and materials, CLI is helping educators adopt high-impact and culturally sustaining instructional strategies. It’s a holistic approach that starts with the head of the classroom to benefit the entire school community.

By empowering educators and nurturing professional learning communities that foster lasting, impactful change, they build lasting capacity in teachers, principals, and school systems to advance equity in education—so everyone can benefit from a love of reading.

Reading is Power

CLI believes that learning to read is an act of liberation, especially when high-impact, culturally sustaining instructional strategies support it. For CLI, this process starts in the classroom—even better, it starts with books.

The books children encounter in the classroom have a profound and lasting impact on their perceptions of themselves and the world around them. At these pivotal ages, it’s more important than ever to establish self-confidence and the ability to use critical thinking to understand and navigate the world. That’s why CLI is committed to providing an anti-racist experience for Black and Latinx children by offering literature that affirms their identities and life experiences.

These books convey essential messages such as “You matter,” “You are important,” “You belong here,” and “You can bring about change.” By featuring books that center on Black and Latinx children and other marginalized groups, CLI ensures that every child sees themselves reflected in the stories they read and understands that their knowledge, strengths, and skills are valued.

But it’s not just kids who can benefit from these messages—when shared with parents and caregivers, these books can set the groundwork for positive conversations around self-love and cultural joy, all while reinforcing the literary skills learned at school. The cognitive and social benefits of engaging with authentic texts are impressive, making the need for them that much more important. Operating from an understanding of the inherent inequities in education, CLI understands that many students from underserved communities lack access to age-appropriate and culturally relevant books at home and works to equip families with the resources they need to support their children’s literacy development.

Family and Caregiver Engagement

By advancing equity in education, CLI aims to dramatically improve early literacy outcomes for children in underserved communities. Equally important is the role of family in nurturing a love of literacy in the home and the broader community.

Families are essential partners in a child’s educational journey. Families bring diverse experiences, unique viewpoints, and contributions that enrich the school culture, and CLI schools work to welcome these contributions at every turn.

By focusing on cultivating a caring, healthy, and joyful environment through relationship building and removing barriers to full family participation, schools and families continually learn from each other, promoting meaningful communication and collaboration. It’s a collaborative effort that makes families active participants in their children’s education and in shaping the school’s vision and culture.

Leaning into the community, CLI has launched a collaboration with Mychal Threets, PBS Librarian in Residence, as their 2024-2025 Literacy Ambassador. A champion for inclusive literacy practices, Mychal is an example of the joy, diversity, and identity development that comes with a love of reading. As a literacy ambassador and library adult who has spent his career inspiring library kids and adults alike, Mychal commits to using his vast social media presence of over 800,000 followers to champion expanding CLI’s reach and impact.

Through mission-driven outreach, CLI forges genuine connections with educators, parents and caregivers, policymakers, and community members, spreading the message that literacy is a tool for understanding and celebrating diverse narratives.

Open Books Open Doors

Launching in June 2024, the “Open Books Open Doors” initiative is the newest tool in CLI’s toolbelt, showcasing the organization’s belief that literacy is the key to achieving your dreams. Stories are an engaging way for children to learn about the world around them and explore their interests. This campaign is designed to provide children with access to high-quality books and the support they need to develop strong literacy skills, setting the foundation for a lifetime of learning and empowerment.

Reading is power, and together, we can harness that power to unlock the limitless potential within every child—it all starts with literacy.

To learn more about CLI’s book philosophy and how to get involved in the movement to promote equitable literacy practices, visit cli.org