We Read. We Rise.

Building Readers. Empowering Families. Strengthening Communities.

Reading starts long before kindergarten and

grows through the

support of

families, educators, and

communities working together.

THE PROBLEM

Only 31% of Fourth Graders Read Proficiently

Reading success isn’t built by schools alone.

Children thrive when families, educators, and communities work together to support literacy from the earliest years.

Literacy Is Everyone’s Responsibility

WHAT IS WE READ – WE RISE?

We Read – We Rise exists to remind us that reading starts early and grows with proper support of the entire community. It is designed to inform and empower families, educators, and communities to come together to build readers from the very beginning. When we share the collective responsibility of literacy, we create access, inspire confidence, and ensure that no child, and no family, is left behind.

We Read – We Rise!

Our Mission

Empower families, educators, and communities to build strong readers from the very beginning.

Our Purpose

Provide accessible tools, information, and support that help every child succeed.

Our Vision

A world where every child is a confident reader and every community is a partner in their success.

The Foundation of the Movement

Literacy is a shared community responsibility, where families, educators, and neighbors unite to actively talk, sing, play, and read with children to wire their brains for success from the very beginning.

It Takes a Village to Raise a Reader

This book explains WHO helps build readers.

Raising Readers in the Village

This book explains HOW to build readers.

  • "Fourth graders are losing ground in their ability to read proficiently. According to The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only 31% of the fourth graders were proficient in reading in 2024, and in 2022 only 33% (NAEP, 2024). Unfortunately, the low percentage rate of proficient readers has been the trend for more than 20 years."

    Dr. Jackie Blanton