Ciao. ¿Qué tal? Olá. Nǐ hǎo. Hallo.
And greetings in the language that feels like home to YOU. You are receiving this letter because somewhere along your journey, you made it clear that you are passionate about CELEBRATING AND AMPLIFYING YOUTH VOICES through your support of Read and Write Kalamazoo. It is my deepest hope that you still hold this passion for youth in Kalamazoo as they are in great need of YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
Let’s look at some data…according to a recent report on literacy statistics from the National Literacy Institute (2024):
- 45 million in the US are functionally illiterate and read below a 5th grade level
- 3 out of 4 people on welfare struggle to read
- Almost 70% of low-income 4th grade students cannot read at grade level
- Struggling readers suffer socially, emotionally, and academically
My name is JaMeelah Williams, and I have been working at RAWK for 3 years. I have carried many different titles during my time, and I am so grateful to be walking into a new role as Assistant Executive Director!! I am so excited to be bringing my gifts and unique set of skills to support the direction that our current ED, Dr. Kandace Lavender, has been guiding our team. Throughout my 3-year journey at RAWK, I’ve witnessed firsthand how a dedicated team in collaboration with community supporters like YOU can truly transform young lives and make a positive impact on some of the aforementioned data concerning parents, families, educators, and community members across the country.
The data is alarming, but TOGETHER we are making a positive impact. At RAWK we use literacy as a tool to engage more deeply with youth by prioritizing and integrating social emotional learning at the foundation of everything we do. Evidence shows that high-quality programming rooted in social-emotional learning (SEL) makes a meaningful, positive difference for children’s academic achievement and behavior (CASEL, 2017). The data paints a clear picture, when students build supportive relationships and develop social-emotional skills alongside their literacy learning, they don’t just improve; they thrive. This data affirms what we already believe to be true at the core of our mission: equipping all young people with the skills to navigate life with resilience and empathy is the path towards developing the next generation of empowered readers, writers, and change makers.
