Green Bay, WI – November 7, 2024
About Us
We are Achieve Brown County, a volunteer movement of individuals and organizations committed to improving systems that affect our young people’s learning and early career achievements. We are parents, school representatives, nonprofit staff, business leaders, healthcare, government officials and a dedicated team of support who want to create a Brown County where all young people can thrive.
We track seven of the most important milestones on a young person’s journey to a thriving future. Our goal is to improve all of them, but we are currently working to improve one, Brown County’s early grade reading successes. We call our literacy initiative Reading for the Future.
Highlights of the Convening
The Convening
The Achieve Brown County Collective Impact Partnership hosted its first-ever “Reading for the Future” All Teams Convening, marking a significant milestone for Achieve Brown County Partners. This is the first time in the history of the movement that the Partnership has had multiple action teams working towards one BIG GOAL, to improve third grade reading outcomes for children. The event fostered collaboration, provided valuable updates, and set the stage for impactful action planning over the next six months.
Team Updates
Each participating team—Reading for the Future Strategy Team, READy for Life Team, and Every Child is Ready to Read Team—shared updates on their ongoing work, progress, and challenges.
- Reading for the Future Strategy Team discussed the need for more structure and emphasized the importance of incorporating family voices in their work. With a focus on data, the team seeks greater clarity on the quality and accessibility of 4K programs, as recent updates require districts to measure 4K outcomes under Act 20.
- READy for Life Team shared their dual focus on creating resources and messaging, noting ongoing efforts to engage local businesses and new initiatives like the “Grocery Games” pilot at Save-A-Lot, designed to promote literacy through everyday activities.
- Every Child is Ready to Read Team emphasized a family-centered approach, working to meet families where they are and focusing on children from birth to age 4. Their efforts align with broader goals in kindergarten readiness and third-grade literacy.
Learning from Partners
Amanda Johnson from Howe Community Resource Center introduced the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a program providing free books to children in select Green Bay zip codes. Since its launch, the program has enrolled 850 children but has the potential to reach up to 2,500. Leadership Green Bay is exploring ways to expand funding to serve the entire county. Dr. Samantha Meister from UW-Green Bay presented on Act 20, which requires new district-level measures for literacy readiness in early education and significant changes in curriculum, assessment, and professional development. Her insights prompted rich discussions on data and alignment across teams.
Action Planning and Prototype Prioritization
Teams participated in breakout sessions addressing essential questions to shape a strategic six-month plan. This was followed by a prototype review, where teams prioritized the next literacy initiative to launch and considered how to incorporate parent and youth perspectives. The emphasis on community engagement resonated strongly, reflecting a broader commitment to co-designing literacy solutions with those most affected.
Reflecting on the Day
The convening concluded with reflections on the day’s progress, with attendees noting the strong alignment and rich data-driven discussions. Teams shared valuable feedback on improving future gatherings, including making resources more accessible and increasing opportunities for two-way communication, perhaps through a shared website rather than a Google Drive.