Streets Ministries provides literary resources for its Hispanic community
The challenge
Streets Ministries faced a tough reality: 61% of Memphis third grade students are not reading at grade reading level. The proportionality is even higher for children of immigrants or for children for whom English is a second language.
The largest population of Hispanic and Latinx citizens in Memphis live in zip code 38122 – one of two major communities served by Streets Ministries. Studies show that Hispanic elementary school-aged children in this zip code are more likely to have immigrant parents, meaning a decreased likelihood of English being read or spoken at home. Additionally, every child Streets Ministries serves is economically disadvantaged, compounding language challenges.
The solution
Image provided by Ready for School, Ready for Life
Helping students improve their reading competency takes year-round work, and for children living in poverty, wraparound support is essential. That’s why Streets Ministries created specialized programming to take place after school and during the summer, times when many children aren’t engaging with educational activities. With funding from International Paper and Coaching for Literacy’s #Fight4Literacy Games with the University of Memphis and LeMoyne-Owen College, Streets Ministries was able to continue it's after-school reading program called “STREETS Smart'' and developed a five-week long summer reading course called “CAMP STREETS.” Both were designed to help students in second and third grade improve their reading skills.
CAMP STREETS used the Book Nook program to help students become more efficient readers through vocabulary and comprehension exercises. Last summer, 21 students enrolled in Streets Ministries first CAMP STREETS. After the five-week program, CAMP STREETS students read more on average than any other students in Shelby County, Tennessee. The personal gains were impressive – some students improved as many as two reading levels during the course of the program.
The testimony
Streets Ministries aims to equip its students to reach their life’s fullest potential. Streets Ministries Development Manager, Stephen Green, says that the support of organizations like Coaching for Literacy has helped them do just that.
“Coaching for Literacy has allowed us to give our students the gift of reading – a priceless tool that will help them to succeed in all walks of life.”
You can #Fight4Literacy.
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