Your donation will help us produce journalism like this. Please give today.

In south Los Angeles — where Black children grow up at the intersection of systemic inequities and untapped potential — reading is nothing short of a revolutionary act. Literacy here is more than a classroom skill; it’s a tool of self-discovery, resilience and civic power. As school administrators and educators, we’ve witnessed how access to culturally responsive books and environments can inspire Black youth and position them as community leaders.

One of the first students to complete Read Lead Freedom Schools — Partnership for Growth LA’s free, after-school and summer literacy enrichment program — is a testament to that power. Though already a strong student, Anastacia Nwosu’s teachers didn’t look like her, and her school’s curriculum lacked books that reflected her life. Everything changed that summer when she encountered role models and stories that reflected her experience.

That affirmation propelled her to become her hometown’s “Kid Mayor,” mentor children in the program, and graduate from college in just three years. Today, Anastacia serves as field deputy to a California Assemblymember. Her journey is evidence that literacy opens doors far beyond the classroom.

National Literacy Month, observed each September, offers an opportunity to celebrate programs that work and to confront inequities that persist. Though solvable, the literacy gap remains an urgent and unaddressed crisis in education.

Research is clear that the trajectory is set early. Homes with more than 100 books see a 90% ninth-grade completion rate, compared to 30% in homes without books. Children not reading on grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. Today, this reflects nearly 70% of U.S. students. These aren’t just statistics — they represent futures at risk.

But solutions exist, and we’ve seen them work. Programs like Read Lead Freedom Schools pair instruction with civic empowerment so children don’t just learn to read —they learn to lead. Each site keeps class sizes small, fills shelves with culturally relevant books, and offers enrichment from art to mindfulness. Students also participate in civic action projects, from voter registration drives to food justice rallies, connecting the joy of reading with the power of community engagement.

The results speak volumes. In a 2023–24 pilot of the after-school program with the California Department of Education, students saw a 14.5-point increase in English Language Arts proficiency. Chronic absenteeism dropped from 47% to 5% over the school year. A full 88% of families reported striking gains in confidence, motivation and social-emotional growth. Every student in the after-school program takes home up to 25 books, and alumni often return as volunteers, interns, and site coordinators, sustaining a leadership pipeline that strengthens neighborhoods across Los Angeles.

Yet, even as programs prove their worth, the support that makes them possible is under threat. Expiring COVID-relief funds have forced schools to cut tutors, summer programs, and advisers. While $900 million in funding was recently reinstated for California, doubt remains over whether the federal government will prioritize evidence-based literacy policy. Leaving these investments in limbo risks stalling or even undoing hard-won progress.

Literacy is the foundation for thriving communities. When communities invest in programs that unite learning and leadership, they’re laying the groundwork for stronger families and a more equitable future. That is why the Partnership for Growth LA invests in long-term literacy infrastructure, including a Black-owned bookstore in Leimert Park, ensuring access to spaces that celebrate literacy year-round.

National Literacy Month puts this issue in full focus. State lawmakers just approved AB 1454, which funds evidence-based literacy instruction. Local programs and initiatives need sustained support. Families should have access to tools that make reading a daily practice. Every book read, child encouraged, and parent equipped strengthens not just individual lives but our communities’ futures.

The lesson is simple: Literacy is leadership. Consider Anastacia, the young woman who once exposed to culturally affirming books and role models, is now shaping policy as a civic leader in California. Her story proves that when we plant the seeds of literacy, we cultivate leaders for life.