Right2ReadPhilly

Right2ReadPhilly—an early-literacy campaign designed by and for Philly families, guided by an advisory council of community leaders and funded by the William Penn Foundation—reached over 100,000 families during its summer 2024 pilot.  

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Mighty Engine, seen as a go-to agency for early-literacy priorities for the past ten years, served as the lead organizer, securing partnerships with two brilliant education activists to leverage under-recognized, undertapped, under-studied and under-shared strategies of marginalized communities of which many Philly families are a part.  

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With Sara Novic, a best-selling novelist and an instructor in deaf studies, we developed Simple Signs, First Words in American Sign Language. Confirming our hunches of the benefits of Simple Signs, the American Academy of Pediatrics now promotes early exposure to sign language as a means to improve development for all children.

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With Sharif El-Mekki, the CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development, we brought back the Freedom Schools Alphabet Song based in Black pedagogy. Just in time as the Philly schools make a historic shift back to the science-of-reading, phonics-based teaching approach.

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We are seeking support to expand our reach with the Right2ReadPhilly FAMILY WONDER SERIES, delivering playing-and-learning-together experiences to more than 1,000 families, in partnership with organizations committed to our children’s right to read and life success.

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