2023 Impact Report
ONCE UPON A TIME, PHILLY CAME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE OUR YOUNG READERS. Reading Promise Week, Philly's annual family literacy festival swept through the city from October 7-15, 2023. Playgrounds transformed into theaters, city officials enchanted crowds as storytellers, and neighborhood blocks morphed into pop-up libraries. What started as a lofty dream has become a trailblazing tradition in just four remarkable years. To celebrate goes beyond festivity; In the face of a national literacy crisis, it’s equal parts radical and strategic. We know that skills are crucial. Yet we also recognize they must work hand-in-hand with joy and motivation. Through community-driven events, we cheer on young readers, share evidence-based resources, and remind families that they’re not alone in the journey of raising a reader. This year’s Reading Promise Week festival stands as an accomplishment. But what excites us most are the extraordinary individuals we’ve worked with every step of the way. Partnership isn’t just the key to a successful literacy festival, it's the fierce spirit of collaboration that makes Philly's early literacy movement exceptional.
There’s still work to be done. But Reading Promise Week marks a moment to remind our children, families, and each other of all that’s possible when we work together.
IMPACT SNAPSHOT
74 free family literacy events
67 event hosts (31 new)
49% of hosts were Reading Captains
131 volunteers helped pack resources
11,000 literacy bags shared
1 7,332 children’s books given to young readers
READING IS EVERYWHERE “It is exciting and inspiring to be involved in all of the literacy events happening throughout the city.” EVERENE WILLIAMS Family Literacy Coordinator, Kencrest Host, Reading Promise Week 2023
75% of Philly‘s residential zip codes celebrated
“The city needs this. We have members of this community who not only want the best for their child, but for their next door neighbor. To create moments like these where everyone comes together to address literacy issues in the community is everything.” LA POLITE Educator Partner, Reading Promise Week 2023
SPOTLIGHT | MI PAIS, MI ORUGOLLO
“Families, schools, and community partners working together create a triangle of success for our young readers.” KEVIN WATERS Managing Director, Impact & Innovation Teach for America Greater Philadelphia
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For the young and young at heart, learning through play is essential. Teach for America and Pan American Academy Charter School proudly presented a groundbreaking after-school Community Reading Carnival. These exceptional educators embraced the challenge of blending literacy instruction with the thrill of a carnival. Carefully delivering educational goals while spotlighting family fun. Families journeyed through stations where carnival games got a literacy makeover. Forget fishing for ducks; K-2 students caught "Digraph Ducks," reading letter sounds beneath the plucky toys. The cup stacking challenge had students racing to build sentences. While Balloon Pop winners practiced reading aloud mystery sentences hidden inside. The games drew large lines of cheering students, with parents gleefully joining the fun alongside their children.
CARNIVAL GAMES PUT LITERACY SKILLS CENTER STAGE
SPOTLIGHT | COMMUNITY KITE FLYING
“Family is the foundation of our society. Helping communities come together for simple activities that reconnect us and allow us to enjoy each other's company, is the greatest thing I could ever do." TETPWAV SOLEY Artist
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On a crisp fall morning in Malcolm X Park, all eyes were tilted to the sky. Shrieks of joy rose into the air chasing kites as they danced above trees. Kite making is a famous pastime in Haiti, one Reading Captain Yves Marie Desir brought to Philadelphia for her first Reading Promise Week event. In partnership with artist Tetpwav Soley, families were invited to attend a two-day workshop to learn how to create and fly Haitian kites. Following directions, measuring, cutting intricate geometric patterns—this workshop encouraged families to get creative while practicing new vocabulary, math, engineering, and design. Amidst the fluttering and excitement was an even deeper purpose. Kite making bridges generations, even continents. With each carefully constructed kite, families created new memories while holding tight to cherished traditions.
CREATIVITY SOARS AT COMMUNITY KITE FLYING
SPOTLIGHT | LITERACY IS A SONG
“Collaboration can lead to a symphony of learning.” DIANE MILLS Reading Captain
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How can we read a story in ways that engage and activate young readers? In celebration of Reading Promise Week, Martha Washington School students created art projects based on the life of opera singer and native Philadelphian Marian Anderson. Their work was then displayed at The Study, a premier hotel, drawing them further into the narrative. During the opening night of the exhibit, families were treated to an inspiring reading of When Marian Sang, interwoven with beautiful performances by the Philadelphia Opera. This immersive experience was topped off by the Marian Anderson Museum sharing artifacts from the artist's life, including her dresses, sheet music, and makeup. This event reflects the deep learning that’s possible through school-community partnerships.
OPERA STORYTIME HONORS PHILLY’S MARIAN ANDERSON
Have you checked out the Traveling Tree House? Tree House Books’ mobile library brings free books to community events during Reading Promise Week and year-round.
VOLUNTEERS DON’T JUST MOVE MOUNTAINS, THEY HELP SHIFT PHILLY’S LITERACY LANDSCAPE
Moving boxes of books is a tough job. Yet 130+ volunteers happily rolled up their sleeves to lend a hand during Packing Week. Sorting, sifting, organizing—not only did they help us move thousands of pounds of resources, their work tangibly increased access to quality literacy resources across Philadelphia.
IT’S NOT FICTION— PHILLY’S READING CAPTAINS MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE
Philly's got incredible heart. In nearly every neighborhood, you can find someone who looks out for the community. A pillar of strength, whom everyone knows and loves. It's this type of remarkable individual that often raises their hand to become a Reading Captain. This year, Reading Captains represented nearly half of Reading Promise Week hosts. With their fingers on the pulse of their community, they take expert care in designing uniquely meaningful experiences for families. And the payoff was truly impressive. Reading Captains' year-round dedication is an invaluable asset to the City of Philadelphia. And we are beyond grateful to call them partners and friends.
“I started out by volunteering in areas where I didn't see something happening that I knew needed to happen. If you don't feel like you can do it alone, then join in with people like me and other Reading Captains. It takes a village. It always took a village. And it always will take a village.” ELAINE WELLS Reading Captain
LESSONS FOR OUR NEXT CHAPTER
DOUBLING DOWN ON DIVERSE BOOKS In a time of widespread book bans, the imperative to share diverse books has grown. Beyond the invaluable role these books play in the lives of children, we've also found they inspire and uplift parents. Many adults didn’t grow up having access to stories that reflected them. So the chance to explore diverse children's books with their young readers provides additional motivation.
Read by 4th has continued our commitment to buying a portion of our books from independent Black-owned bookstores and local Philly authors.
“Growing up, I never saw books featuring queer characters. To see families have access to rich stories featuring LGBTQIA characters means so much. That a child can pick up a book that says their truth is not only ok but worth celebrating, is powerful even now as an adult.” Attendee, OURfest 2023
SKILL-DRIVEN PLANNING
SHARE FOOD PROGRAM PARTNERSHIP
Based on feedback from event hosts, planning meetings continue to be a welcomed support. In the weeks leading up to Reading Promise Week, hosts are invited to a series of meetings to help them design literacy events that are both authentic to the community and anchored in foundational literacy skills. Guided by past experience and proven frameworks, events were aligned with the 5 Reading Promises and Early Literacy Essentials.
This year, Read by 4th partnered with Share Food Program, the leading food bank in Philadelphia, as an operational partner. Their expansive facility not only housed hundreds of thousands of family giveaways, but also served as our official packing site. With space, top-notch equipment, enthusiastic volunteers, and an all-star staff, this partnership proved to be indispensable.
COOPERATIVE CALENDAR
A STORY WORTH SHARING
Fall is festival season in Philly. To make the most of it, Read by 4th partnered with prominent community events happening during Reading Promise Week. We infused early literacy into existing programming, executed plans for co-promotion, and formed mutually beneficial collaborations with the Latin American Book Fair, OURFest, and Too Small to Fail’s Free Laundry & Literacy Day.
Last year, event hosts asked for increased advertising to take our message even further. In addition to direct community outreach, Read by 4th ran a TV commercial on WHYY and newspaper ads in Metro Philadelphia to help spread the word about Reading Promise Week. The buzz was electric and events were covered in an article in the Philadelphia Citizen and a segment on 6ABC.
Reading Promise Week is organized by Read by 4th, Philly’s early literacy movement. Reach out if you’re interested in hosting an event, volunteering, or supporting next year’s festival.