Cheers to 20 Years!

September 2022 Newsletter

Cheers to 20 Years!

Reading Power kicked off its 20th program year on Monday, September 19th, 2022. Classrooms were filled with smiles, laughter, and nervous energy as students and tutors greeted each other for the first time. Over the academic year, these new friends will grow and work together, with the goal of each student making significant literacy gains along the way.

Reading Power Is Made For This Moment

Since 2003, Reading Power has changed the educational journeys of over 4,500 children. This year, students need added support more than ever.

A return to normal is not enough.

Research shows that the high-dosage tutoring that Reading Power provides is a proven catalyst for accelerated learning with the added social-emotional benefit of one-to-one personal connections for both students and tutors.

"It (the pandemic) erased the progress, and it exacerbated the inequality. Now we have our work cut out for us."

- Dr. Andrew Ho

Read about the pandemic's effect on the learning gap in The New York Times article, "The Pandemic Erased Two Decades of Progress in Math and Reading," by Sarah Mervosh.

New Places and Faces

Reading Power is launching programs in two new schools this fall, Whittier Elementary and Little Fort Elementary, both located in Waukegan, IL. The schools join returning programs at LEARN 6, LEARN 10, Oakdale Elementary, Beulah Elementary, and Green Bay Early Childhood Center and increase the number of students to whom we can provide early literacy intervention.

New programs require new staff. Reading Power welcomes nine new program staff members to the team this fall. Look out for their photos and bios coming in an upcoming newsletter.

Tutor One Student. Change Two Lives.

Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago, IL, was the site of our 20th-year tutor kick-off and training session on August 31st. CEO Lisa Bulzoni and Programs Director Kristin Fine welcomed new and returning tutors to the Reading Power family. Over 90 new tutors have joined Reading Power this fall. However, we still need more tutors in our Waukegan and Zion programs to reach all of our students.

BECOME A TUTOR TODAY

Tutors enjoying the patio between sessions at Greenbelt Cultural Center

Tutors enjoying coffee and breakfast

Director of Programs Kristin Fine and new Associate Director of Programs Viri Perez

New members of the Reading Power staff at the tutor kick-off event

We've Got The Love

Reading Power has been fostering the promise of literacy for 20 years, and Marla Guziec, pictured left with Reading Power CEO Lisa Bulzoni, has been with us since the beginning.

Congratulations on your 20th year, Marla! We are so thankful you are part of the Reading Power family.

In The Press

Thank you to Highland Park Neighbors for featuring Reading Power in their September 2022 issue! Click HERE to read the article.

Play For Literacy Golf & Games Event

Our rain date for Play for Literacy, Monday, September 26th, is quickly approaching. If you are planning to join us and haven’t already, please RSVP by Tuesday, 9/20.

RSVP TODAY