On November 4, educators, libraries, early childhood providers, community organizations, and literacy advocates gathered virtually for the second meeting of the Read901 Priority Team Sprint. Building on the three-year visions developed at the kickoff, partners turned their attention to understanding the early literacy system across Shelby County.
The Early Literacy Consortium’s guiding question was:
What is already helping children and families, and where do resources, connections, or access fall short?
Through small-group discussions, participants identified existing programs and partnerships, explored barriers, and named questions to investigate before recommending strategies.
Understanding what we have to build on
The discussions revealed a wide range of community strengths, from trusted neighborhood spaces and family-serving organizations to specialized learning supports and policy networks.
Birth–5 early literacy: Connecting early language and literacy support with the places families already turn to, including childcare providers, pediatricians, home visitors, and doulas. Participants emphasized helping providers and caregivers understand developmental milestones and find available support.
Place-based literacy: Building on libraries, community centers, afterschool programs, and other everyday gathering places. Partners explored how free books, neighborhood resource information, and shared spaces could make literacy opportunities easier to reach.
Volunteer and tutoring systems: Helping learners find appropriate tutoring and helping tutors connect with opportunities that fit their skills and availability. The team identified a need to better understand how families learn about programs and what prevents them from participating.
Learning differences: Connecting community expertise in tutoring, disability support, family advocacy, and structured literacy. Participants emphasized consistent school-district engagement and investment in the support learners need.
English language learners: Expanding access to books and information in families’ home languages, supporting educators, and making meaningful participation easier. The discussion emphasized that families’ languages are strengths to build upon.
Shared systems, advocacy, and policy: Connecting Read901’s priorities with existing early childhood advocacy, research, and funding efforts. Partners explored a coordinated approach to identifying policy needs across the teams.
These discussions provide an initial picture of the system. Teams will continue checking information, gathering perspectives, and refining their ideas as the sprint moves forward.
Making connections work for families
Across the groups, a recurring theme emerged: having a resource available is only part of the picture. Families also need to know about it, reach it, feel welcome, and find support that fits their needs.
Participants raised concerns about transportation, service hours, language access, funding, and the connections between organizations. They also described strong relationships, trusted community spaces, and opportunities to share resources more effectively.
Understanding those experiences will help teams determine where additional investment or coordination could make a meaningful difference.
Turning questions into next steps
The meeting also surfaced questions to carry into the next stage. The English Language Learners team identified a follow-up to compile multilingual literacy resources. The Volunteer and Tutoring Systems team outlined an inquiry into how families find tutoring and what gets in the way.
Other groups identified a need for more input from families, school-district leaders, healthcare partners, neighborhood organizations, and existing policy networks.
There is still room to help shape this work. Partners who understand a community resource, encounter an access barrier, or bring a perspective that has not yet been represented can help teams build a fuller picture.
The next convening is November 18: Determine What It Takes, when teams will use what they are learning to develop strategies for advancing their priorities.
Read the Meeting Two brief for more detail about the discussions and questions moving forward.
Interested in joining a Priority Team or exploring a Read901 partnership? Contact Johnny Blount at jblount@literacymidsouth.org to learn how you can participate.
