Every day, the second floor of the Redwood City Public Library is filled with the turning of pages and quiet buzz of conversation as tutors and learners sit side by side.
Project Read is dedicated to combating intergenerational cycles of low literacy. Since its founding in 1987, the organization has grown to serve hundreds of community members, ranging from young children to senior citizens. The project was initiated by then-Redwood City Public Library Director Jane Light as part of California’s statewide literacy campaign, including a five-year grant through the California Library Literacy Services Act.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, almost 1 in 4 Californians lack basic literacy skills. As the basis of all learning, literacy is a crucial skill, whether searching for a job, helping one’s child with homework, or simply navigating daily life.
The organization pairs volunteer tutors with community members, creating individualized plans to help reach personal learning goals and achieve successful literacy. They offer four specialized learning options to address the community’s diverse needs: adult literacy, youth programs, family literacy programs and adult small groups.
The adult literacy program offers one-on-one tutoring to Redwood City residents who read and/or write below a seventh grade reading level, honing literacy skills to help with job-searching or obtaining a GED.
Youth programs pair children in kindergarten through 12th grade with tutors. One standout program, Kids in Partnership, matches high school volunteers with academically-at-risk elementary school students to create a personalized experience founded on growth and encouragement. Literacy is an especially important skill for youth, serving as the basis of all academics.
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The family literacy program allows parents and children to learn together through reading, technology and projects. Finally, the adult small groups help adult learners to collaborate to improve their technology, reading, writing and overall literacy skills.
Through years of service and the teamwork of staff, tutors and learners, the program has helped hundreds of people develop crucial literacy skills and a lifelong love of learning with many learners now working as tutors at the center. This year alone, 700 learners have enrolled and 99% of youth learners have graduated high school.
Project Read also partners with Second Harvest Food Bank to deliver food to many Project Read families, distributing around 40,000 pounds of food per year.
The organization’s impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. Since its inception, the program has incurred much praise, including being awarded a Certificate of Special Recognition by Congress and being designated one of five exemplary literacy programs in the nation by the U.S. Senate.
Project Read’s success depends on its volunteers. No experience or background is required for tutors, just a desire to help others. Learners and tutors are given much flexibility, simply contributing an hour of their time each week. Visit https://projectreadredwoodcity.org/volunteer to learn more and read about volunteer opportunities.
Becca Koenig is a senior at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton. Student News appears in the weekend edition. You can email Student News at news@smdailyjournal.com.
Thanks for your Student News column today, Ms. Koenig, and for highlighting the work that Project Read is doing. It sounds like the Project Read impact is greater than that of public education where I had assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that one of their goals is to teach literacy to the masses. Perhaps Project Read can apply and receive state and federal aid that was destined for public education in the hopes of expanding Project Read programs.
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Thanks for your Student News column today, Ms. Koenig, and for highlighting the work that Project Read is doing. It sounds like the Project Read impact is greater than that of public education where I had assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that one of their goals is to teach literacy to the masses. Perhaps Project Read can apply and receive state and federal aid that was destined for public education in the hopes of expanding Project Read programs.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.