After three years of running our literacy program in DC’s Ward 7 and 8 neighborhoods, we’ve learned something important: when you help one child learn to read, their entire family feels the impact. That’s why we’re expanding our program this fall to reach 100 more elementary students across the District.
Why We’re Doing This Now
Last spring, we had to turn away 73 families who wanted their children enrolled in our after-school reading program. Our waiting list kept growing, and frankly, that didn’t sit right with us. These weren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet—they were kids like 8-year-old Marcus, whose mom called us five times hoping for an opening, or sisters Amaya and Zoe, who walked past our center every day asking when they could join.
The data backs up what we see on the ground. According to the most recent DC school assessments, nearly 6 out of 10 third-graders in Wards 7 and 8 are reading below grade level. But here’s what those statistics don’t show: the frustration in a child’s eyes when they can’t keep up with their classmates, or the relief parents feel when someone finally offers real help—not just another diagnostic test.
100+ Students
Additional children receiving dedicated literacy support
Trained Tutors
Certified educators and volunteers committed to student success
Proven Results
Evidence-based approach with measurable reading improvements
What Actually Happens in Our Program
We’ve stripped away the educational jargon and built something practical. Here’s what students actually do when they’re with us:
- Work in groups of 3-4 students with similar reading levels—no more, no less. We learned the hard way that five is too many and two feels like a spotlight.
- Get paired with the same tutor for at least 12 weeks. Consistency matters more than we initially thought.
- Choose their own books from our library of 2,400+ titles. Yes, we count graphic novels and sports magazines as reading—whatever gets them engaged.
- Participate in “Story Swap Fridays” where kids tell stories before they write them down. This was started by one of our tutors, Ms. Patricia, and it’s become the highlight of everyone’s week.
- Take books home—no fees, no penalties for late returns, no questions asked. We just want them reading.
- Have their parents join monthly family reading nights. We serve dinner because we know families are busy and hungry after work.
The Results We’re Seeing
Look, we’re not going to throw around perfect success rates or miracle stories. But we can tell you this: of the 87 students who completed our full program last year, 71 improved their reading level by at least one grade. More importantly, their teachers told us these kids were raising their hands more in class and actually checking out books from the school library.
One parent, Ms. Johnson, put it better than we ever could: “My son used to fake stomach aches every morning to avoid school. Now he reads to his little brother every night before bed. That’s worth more to me than any test score.” That’s the kind of change we’re working for—the kind that shows up at home, not just on report cards.
How You Can Help
We need 28 more volunteer tutors to make this expansion work. We’ll train you—you don’t need to be a teacher. We also need funding for books, snacks, and materials. Your $50 covers one student for a month. $200 covers a family for an entire semester.
What Comes Next
We’re starting enrollment for the expanded program in early November. Classes begin the first week of January 2026. Right now, we’re interviewing volunteer tutors and meeting with families to understand what they need. We’re also working with Kimball Elementary, Neval Thomas Elementary, and MLK Jr. Elementary to coordinate schedules and share resources.
This isn’t about us being heroes or fixing broken systems overnight. It’s about showing up consistently for kids who need someone to believe they can learn to read—and then helping them prove it to themselves. If you want to be part of that, we’d love to hear from you.
