Reading with Kings
“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”
- Frederick Douglass
The ability to read is often taken for granted. Imagine going through your day without the capacity to turn letter symbols into something you can relate to. In other words, all around you are messages that you can’t interpret. Your environment would seem hostile. There would be no way to have a sense of belonging in the world. Think of the frustration you would feel. This frustration can easily turn into anger and self-destruction.
85% of all juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate.
Over 70% of inmates in America's prisons cannot read above a fourth grade level.
Reading with Kings (RWK) is a literacy program launched in 2021 with the purpose of increasing the reading level and ability to comprehend in minority boys. Over the last two summers, RWK has worked with over 50 boys with exciting results. Each boy increased their reading level an average of three levels, their ability to understand what they read improved drastically, and their interest and effort in their own education increased well into the school year. These boys have proven that one-to-one time with a dedicated teacher can have amazing results. With sessions of just 30 minutes, one or two times each week, the young men in our program have shown a renewed determination to succeed that their parents have been amazed by.
Literacy instruction has to be wide enough and deep enough to counter an historical ugliness rooted in multiple forms of exploitation that has manifested into academic underperformance, social unrest, and personal and social suffocating for many students. Literacy also has to be wide enough to break new ground and fashion new imaginations and new realities.
- Dr. Alfred Tatum, 2009
Allowing young men to fulfill their potential. Literacy is literally life-changing!
Based on the work of Alfred Tatum, Reading with Kings provides each young man with literature that is of interest to them. Books by “brother authors” that depict an experience and characters that they boys can relate to is of vital importance. While also encouraging and motivating the boys to read literature that is often considered too advanced for their abilities.
“I love teaching reading because it is a good that I can do for others that cannot be undone. This is the power of effective reading teachers.”
- Dr. Alfred Tatum, Author
In September 2022, Reading with Kings received its first every nonprofit grant from the Community Foundation of Central Georgia. The grant of $15,000 will allow the RWK program to operate during the school year. We are so excited at the prospect of being able to work with young men that need our help immediately and to put the right resources in their hands to make a drastic improvement in their reading and ultimately in their lives.
Achieve Foundation
Reading with Kings | $15,000
To support the ‘Reading with Kings’ literacy program to increase reading levels and comprehension as well as sparking excitement about reading among minority boys.
If you would like to donate or volunteer for our ‘Reading with Kings’ program
Cash App to support @$AchieveAccount
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