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United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA) to launch Literacy Fairs

by Community Contributor • October 3, 2024 • Comments Off

UWNA to Launch Literacy Fairs

to Boost Reading Skills

United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA) is in the planning stages of a new effort to increase the reading skills of young children through Literacy Fairs that target children who are below proficient reading levels.

The two fairs, the first of which will be held prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, are being made possible by a grant from Read On Arizona, the state’s early literacy initiative. One fair will be for second graders, while the other will focus on preschoolers.

UWNA is partnering with key local organizations to identify and reach out to students who may benefit from these fairs. The events will not only provide access to community resources, but also offer interactive workshops aimed at equipping families with practical literacy strategies.

“The workshops will focus on making literacy development fun and accessible, showcasing activities that can easily be integrated into everyday life—whether at home, in the park, or even in the car,” said UWNA President & CEO Liz Archuleta.

A highlight of the Literacy Fairs will be the distribution of customized literacy kits. These kits will be carefully crafted to meet the needs of participants.

For second-grade students, the kits will include materials aimed at improving reading skills at their current level, developed with input from reading specialists. Similarly, the Pre-K kits will be developed in collaboration with early childhood education experts and feature engaging early literacy activities.

The expertise of educators, professors, and specialists from local institutions will be invaluable in shaping the literacy activities and coaching provided at the fairs.

Through these Literacy Fairs, United Way of Northern Arizona is not just leading the way in promoting reading; it is nurturing a culture of literacy that can transform lives and uplift the entire community. By connecting families with the resources they need in a fun and supportive environment, United Way is helping to ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed!

Read On Arizona Addressing Chronic Absence in Schools

In addition to promoting early childhood literacy, Read On Arizona, a sponsor of UWNA’s upcoming Literacy Fairs, is also helping school systems statewide with a strategy to address chronic school absenteeism.

In Arizona, students are considered chronically absent when they miss 10% or more of a school’s calendar year for any reason, excused or unexcused. Data from the Arizona Department of Education revealed a dramatic, post-pandemic spike in the rate of chronic absence in our state’s public and charter schools. National data shows that Arizona’s statewide chronic absence rate is among the highest in the nation.

Read On Arizona convened the Arizona Chronic Absence Task Force in 2023. Leaders from school districts, community partners, state agencies, the Governor’s office, legislative staff, and education stakeholders met with national experts from Attendance Works to develop recommendations under three broad categories.

Build awareness and urgency about the issue with clear, compelling calls to action;
Collect actionable data to identify challenges and drive solutions; and
Promote systematic, evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies.

Read On Arizona kicked off this initiative last week with a proclamation by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs recognizing September 25th as “Chronic Absence Awareness Day” in Arizona.

You can download Read On Arizona’s Arizona Chronic Absence Resource Guide HERE.