Meeting Families Where They Are: Unique Strategies for Accessible Resources

“We are getting books into the hands of children and families in Detroit. This isn’t something that we’re doing without community and without other organizations. It’s a partnership and it’s all of us working together to improve some of the outcomes here in our city that we love so very much.” – Alyce Hartman, Birdie’s Bookmobile

The April Crucible of Practice Salon featured leaders from Birdie’s Bookmobile and 313Reads in Detroit, Michigan, and the Office of Early Childhood Initiatives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, sharing ways in which they ensure children and families in their communities have high-quality books, early learning materials and supportive environments.

The webinar began with Alyce Hartman of Birdie’s Bookmobile telling the origin story of her nonprofit organization and the ways in which she works to ensure children and families in Detroit have high-quality, diverse books. Sources for where she gathers the books and methods of dissemination were also covered. In addition to working with partner organizations to distribute the books, Hartman offers support for families to engage with their children using the books delivered.

“We participate in hosting literacy nights. We talk about the importance of diverse books, and books as mirrors, windows and sliding doors. We instruct them on how to best integrate books into their homes and reading with their children.”
– Alyce Hartman, Birdie’s Bookmobile

Following Hartman, Leah van Belle with 313Reads discussed how their coalition is contributing to changing the community-wide system of children’s literacy. In partnership with Birdie’s Bookmobile and other organizations, 313Reads uses a collective impact model with a vision to ensure all children, families and adults in Detroit have equitable access to opportunities, instruction and resources. Goals and strategies shared from their 2023–2025 strategic plan include:

• Centering literacy access, equity and justice for literacy as liberation through policy advocacy and ensuring youth voice is embedded in practices;
• Building collective capacity for high-quality literacy programs and champions by evidence-based, culturally-informed professional development and common assessments;  
• Growing book access and literacy joy through special events and specific community projects; and  
• Creating a connected and impactful literacy ecosystem which includes collective funding and sustainability.   

“This isn’t about deficit. It’s about addressing the barriers and really centering equity in that work. For us, in getting resources to children and families, it’s making sure that the program partners have what they need.”
– Leah van Belle, 313Reads  

Dea Wright with the Office of Early Childhood Initiatives in the City of Milwaukee concluded the session by sharing the large-scale work of cultivating learning opportunities and resources across the city. Wright described the foundation for Milwaukee’s awareness movement around early childhood initiatives, which began with gathering stakeholder input about literacy habits. From there, they launched proactive and preventive work targeting early childhood. Strategies include robust efforts to transform everyday places into learning-rich opportunities. Several specific projects were identified as examples.    

“We call our awareness campaign ‘Mighty Small Moments.’ It essentially means that in small moments we help parents prepare their little ones for school from birth by making sure they have opportunities to engage in experiences that are going to promote talking and reading and just learning together.”
– Dea Wright,  Office of Early Childhood Initiatives, City of Milwaukee