Yesterday, Achieve Brown County hosted a Right to Read Film Showing and Discussion at the Brown County Library. The event brought together educators, community leaders, and advocates to confront the literacy crisis in Brown County, where over 60% of third graders are not reading at grade level.
The evening was thoughtfully organized to provide a mix of information, inspiration, and dialogue, following this agenda:
Event Agenda
- Arrive and Get Settled
- Guests arrived, enjoyed refreshments, and participated in a self-guided Data Walk showcasing local literacy statistics.
- Welcome and Film Introduction
- A brief overview of The Right to Read film set the stage, highlighting the evening’s focus on literacy advocacy and the logistics for the event.
- Film Viewing
- Attendees watched the powerful documentary, which brought national stories of literacy advocacy to life, sparking a sense of urgency and hope. Participants were encouraged to note:
- One Thing I Learned
- One Quote That Stood Out
- Attendees watched the powerful documentary, which brought national stories of literacy advocacy to life, sparking a sense of urgency and hope. Participants were encouraged to note:
- Local Efforts to Improve Literacy
- Following the film, a presentation shared insights into the state of literacy in Brown County and introduced Achieve Brown County’s Reading for the Future Initiative, an effort to drive tangible change for children and families.
- Panel Discussion
- A panel of local experts provided diverse perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for improving literacy:
- Stephanie Springer, Director of Curriculum, Encompass Early Education and Care (Early Childhood Education Sector)
- David Johns, Associate Superintendent of Continuous School Improvement, Green Bay Area Public Schools (K-12 Education Sector)
- Dr. Samantha Meister, Associate Professor, Literacy Education and Methods, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (Higher Education Sector)
- Panelists explored how their sectors are addressing literacy gaps and responded to themes raised in the film, including barriers to literacy equity and the role of community support.
- A panel of local experts provided diverse perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for improving literacy:
- Wrap-Up and Closing
The event concluded with a call to action: attendees were encouraged to commit to improving third-grade reading proficiency through volunteering, advocacy, and community initiatives. Feedback was also gathered via surveys to help improve future events.
Community Impact
This event highlighted the collective responsibility of individuals and organizations to ensure every child in Brown County has the opportunity to thrive. By connecting attendees to the Reading for the Future Initiative and facilitating conversations with local experts, the evening inspired actionable steps toward advancing literacy in our community.
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on this successful event, Achieve Brown County remains committed to fostering partnerships and solutions to close the literacy gap. Thank you to everyone who joined us in this effort. Stay tuned for future opportunities to get involved—because together, we can ensure that every child has the right to read.