CAMPAIGN COMMUNITIES ACROSS MISSISSIPPI

The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (GLR) serves as the backbone of a powerful, nationwide movement—uniting local champions and state leaders alike to prioritize grade-level reading as a cornerstone of early academic success. In Mississippi, the Mississippi Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (MS GLR) proudly fosters collaboration through our official GLR chapters, known as Campaign Communities—where partnerships thrive, and lasting impact begins.

Current Campaign Communities in Mississippi include (from north to south): Oxford, Tupelo-Lee County, Indianola, Starkville-Oktibbeha, Deer Creek, Vicksburg, Jackson, Laurel, Hattiesburg, Gulfport, and Long Beach.

While each Campaign Community may be led by different local partners, they are united by a common purpose: to improve school readiness, school attendance, and summer learning. We invite you to explore these communities and connect with those whose work inspires you—there are many ways to support the cause and make a meaningful impact.

"Deer Creek READS"

Deer Creek

Deer Creek READS is located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta and is a Delta Health Alliance led campaign. Deer Creek READS joined the Grade Level Reading Campaign in December of 2023. It is led by the Deer Creek Promise Community (DCPC) project where two-thirds of the population (69%) live primarily in Leland and Hollandale.

Delta Health Alliance (DHA), a 501c3 organization headquartered in Stoneville, MS, serves rural counties of the “Mississippi Delta” in northwest Mississippi, which is historically one of the poorest, underserved regions of the United States. DHA’s mission is to expand access to quality health services and educational opportunities for families and children in the Mississippi Delta. Deer Creek neighborhoods are severely distressed with compounding factors of persistent poverty, unemployment, crime, and poor health outcomes. Over half (54.2%) of the black residents of Deer Creek live below the federal poverty line, one-third are unemployed, one-third obese, and nearly 10% have been diagnosed with diabetes. Over 50% of children in Deer Creek are living in poverty.

DHA’s Deer Creek Promise Community and its partners, developed the Deer Creek READS initiative to place an added focus on the work around grade-level reading proficiency. Areas of emphasis to increase impact are school attendance, kindergarten readiness, grade-level reading, summer learning opportunities, and increased graduation rates.

Contact
Rhonda Lewis
VP of Education
Delta Health Alliance
rlewis@deltahealthalliance.org

Gwendolyn West

AVP of Deer Creek Promise Community

Delta Health Alliance

gwest@deltahealthalliance.org

"GULFPORT CAMPAIGN FOR GRADE-LEVEL READING"

Gulfport

United Way strives to improve the quality of life in South Mississippi by focusing on creating measurable outcomes in the areas of education, health and financial stability. Our goal is to create long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening before they occur.

United Way of South Mississippi (UWSM) provided the leadership for the City of Gulfport to become not only the first city in the state to become a member of the Grade-Level Reading Network, but to become one of only 120 communities in the country to be a charter member of the national organization.

United Way of South Mississippi programs designed to increase early literacy include:

PreK4 Ward is a grant-funded initiative that makes high-quality, affordable preschool programs available in South Mississippi. The program began in 2010 as a pilot program at the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, collaborating with the City of Gulfport, LMDC, the Nourishing Place, and Gulfport School District. In 2015, the UWSM absorbed the program into their body of work. Today, United Way of South Mississippi administers 8 PreK4 classrooms of 20 students within the Harrison County School District and one classroom of 20 students in the Gulfport School District.

Dolly Parton Imagination Library- UWSM serves as the Dolly Parton Library Local Champion.

Excel By 5- UWSM is the fiscal agent for the Gulfport Excel by 5 and serves on the boards of the Gulfport, Biloxi and Picayune Excel by 5’s.

Vroom: Vroom offers a smartphone app that allows parents to receive daily reminders of teachable moments with their children.

Through the Community Impact Grant program, United Way of South Mississippi provides funding to Moore Community House’s Early Headstart program, Hancock Human Resources Preschool program, a specialized preschool program at The Gulf Coast Center for Non-Violence, and Nourishing Place and Manna Ministries for after-school tutoring programs, both focused on grade-level reading.

 Gulfport has been named a Bright Spot in the CGLR Network and has been named a CGLR Pacesetter Community two times. The Gulfport Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is supported through afterschool programs, volunteer readers and tutoring programs.

Contact
Kristine Greb
Director of Education and Community Impact
United Way of South Mississippi
kgreb@unitedwaysm.org

"INDIANAOLA CAMPAIGN FOR GRADE-LEVEL READING"

Indianola

"JACKSON CAMPAIGN FOR GRADE-LEVEL READING"

Jackson

COMING SOON

"GOLDEN PAGES: LAUREL'S LITERACY LEAP"

Laurel

The Laurel School District proudly introduces “Golden Pages: Laurel’s Literacy Leap” as its flagship campaign for grade-level reading in 2024. This initiative, orchestrated by a dedicated coalition, envisions a series of impactful programs and events designed to enhance school readiness, address attendance issues, tackle health-related challenges, and foster increased parental engagement. With an overarching goal of advancing student literacy, “Golden Pages” aspires to make a lasting positive impact on the Laurel community.

Since its establishment in 1891, the Laurel School District has cultivated a storied legacy in delivering top-tier education to the children of Laurel. Comprising six schools, all designated as Title 1 institutions, the district is dedicated to offering a comprehensive curriculum tailored to meet the diverse needs of every student. A commitment to innovation underscores the district’s continuous efforts to captivate and motivate students, ensuring a dynamic and enriching educational experience for all.

Contact

Courtney Agee

Project AWARE Director

Laurel School District

chollins@laurelschools.org

"L.O.U. READS"

Lafayette County-City of Oxford-University of Mississippi

The L.O.U. Reads Coalition joined the national Campaign for Grade-Level Reading in 2015.

L.O.U. Reads (Lafayette-Oxford-University) Coalition unites Lafayette County, which is home to two strong school districts and a thriving university, to ensure all students read proficiently by the end of third grade.

L.O.U. Reads addresses three underlying challenges that can keep young children in Lafayette County, especially those from low-income families, from learning to read well: school readiness, school attendance, and summer learning. The L.O.U. Reads Coalition supports initiatives such as Breakfast at the Bus Stop, Family Literacy Nights, Community Literacy Day in the Park (“Roll & Read”), Lafayette County Oxford Public Library Outreach programming, and Early Childhood Provider Training to provide opportunities that make a difference in a child’s life.

“Our public schools can’t do this on their own,” adds Ralph Smith, managing director of the national GLR Campaign and senior vice president of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. “If we’re going to increase our graduation rates and close achievement gaps, we need mobilized communities working with schools, city agencies, nonprofits, civic leaders, and parents to focus on third-grade reading. It’s great to have Oxford and Lafayette County on board.” L.O.U. Reads, the second community in Mississippi to join the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, is leveraging a vibrant community to grow great readers in Lafayette County.

“If we’re ever going to stop the cycle of poverty through education, then we’ve got to start early and get those young people on the right track,” says former Mississippi Senator Gray Tollison. Tollison is a strong proponent of grade-level reading and has been instrumental in the growth of L.O.U. Reads. Through strong local, state, and national support networks, L.O.U. Reads is earnestly working to create a prosperous and literate community.

Contact
Cara Buffington
Director of Early Childhood and Reading Development
LOU ELC Coordinator
Oxford School District
cbbuffington@oxfordsd.org

"LONG BEACH CAMPAIGN FOR GRADE-LEVEL READING"

Long Beach

Long Beach School District provides the leadership for the City of Long Beach in serving as a member of the Campaign for Grade-level Reading Network.

Coalition partners include Mississippi Action Progress HeadStart, Mississippi Department of Education Early Childhood Learning Collaborative, Mission Acceleration, Long Beach Rotary Club, Long Beach Public Library, Bull’s Restaurant, Harbor View Café, Harrison County Health Department, Attendance Works, and the Child Development Center.

Programs introduced to the community to increase early literacy include:

Pre-K4: an effort to provide preschool for 4-year-olds in the Long Beach community. Classes are conducted by a certified teacher and assistant for twenty (20) four-year-olds with the goal of achieving kindergarten readiness. The program operates in school facilities and is sustained through the Mississippi Department of Education Early Learning Collaborative Grant, private donations, and limited tuition.
Mission Acceleration: A program that provides academic guides to serve struggling readers in K-5 with the use of evidence-based academic intervention.
Vroom: Vroom offers a smartphone app that allows parents to receive daily reminders of teachable moments with their children.

The Long Beach Campaign is supported through afterschool programs, volunteer readers and mentors, and tutoring programs.

Contact
Kelleigh Broussard
Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction, Assistant Superintendent
Long Beach School District
kelleigh.broussard@lbsdk12.com

'SOUTHEAST MS CAMPAIGN FOR GRADE-LEVEL READING"

Hattiesburg

Hattiesburg joined the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading in 2017 and is driven by the volunteer efforts of the Education Advisory Council. This group consists of 40 educators, administrators, and educational nonprofits working in partnership with United Way of Southeast Mississippi.

The campaign started by focusing solely on Hattiesburg Public Schools in 2017, but broadened their focus in 2023 to all schools located within Hattiesburg due to HPS’s jump from a D to an A school district. This now includes 3 separate school districts: Hattiesburg Public Schools, Forrest County School District, and Lamar County School District. Hattiesburg CGLR uses a whole-child approach and focuses on involving families and parent engagement.

Contact
Amy Lyon
Director of Community Impact
United Way of Southeast Mississippi
amy@unitedwaysems.org

"STARKVILLE OKTIBBEHA GRADE-LEVEL READING NETWORK"

Starkville-Oktibbeha County

The Starkville Oktibbeha Grade Level Reading Network is located in the university community of Oktibbeha County in east central Mississippi. The presence of the university in a primarily rural county presents a community characterized by a wide range of income and educational levels. One public school district serves the entire county through six K-12 grade-level centers.

The Starkville Oktibbeha Grade Level Reading Network Coalition was formed to address the educational needs of area children and is comprised of a diverse representation of the community. After several meetings and a comprehensive needs assessment, the Coalition completed a community service plan and is currently working toward addressing the gaps in services in the areas of school readiness, school attendance, and summer learning.

Some of the exciting efforts since the beginning have included Little Free Libraries, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, increased summer learning opportunities, and expansion of Pre-K programming. Going forward we plan to increase awareness throughout the community of the importance of school attendance. We will also search for funding opportunities and additional partners to join our efforts.

Contact
Susan Barlow
Project Manager, Reading 2 Succeed
Starkville-Oktibbeha School District
sbarlow@starkvillesd.com

"EARLY CHILDHOOD COALITION OF TUPELO/LEE COUNTY"

Tupelo-Lee County

The Early Childhood Coalition-Tupelo/Lee County is a community-wide partnership to ensure all our children are ready for school and reading on grade-level by the end of 3rd grade. This initiative began with a partnership between the United Way of Northeast Mississippi, who is the lead partner, and the CREATE Foundation. The Early Childhood Coalition includes both the Tupelo and Lee County school districts, who serve approximately 14,000 students. It also includes 56 childcare centers. The community of Lee County/Tupelo has united and made a commitment to our children’s success.

Lee County has also been a certified Excel by 5 community since 2014. Through that work there was a huge effort placed on our children ages birth to 5. In 2018 our community joined the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. At that time, the focus was not only on school readiness but also children through 3rd grade.

The Early Childhood Coalition addresses barriers children face in the areas of school readiness, student attendance, out of school time learning, and health. Due to the large number of childcare centers, much emphasis is placed on assisting the centers with providing high quality care. There is a strong partnership between the childcare centers and both school districts. Professional development is provided by teachers from the school districts as well as the staff of the Early Childhood Coalition.

The community recognizes the importance of partnerships, which is evident in the many opportunities that are available to our children. Besides the school districts and childcare centers, we partner with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of North Mississippi, the Lee County Library, El Centro, and the Link Centre. These partnerships allow us to support initiatives such as high dosage tutoring after school and summer programs, Breakfast at the Bus Stop, book distributions, arts integration lessons in childcare centers, and health fairs for our youngest citizens.

The Tupelo/Lee County community is committed to making sure that ALL of our children have the opportunities to reach their full potential.

Contact
Shelly Brooks
Early Childhood Coalition
United Way of Northeast Mississippi
shelly@unitedwaynems.org

"VICKSBURG GRADE-LEVEL READING COALITION"

Vicksburg-Warren County

Vicksburg, Mississippi, is a city poised for greatness. Its unique Mississippi River location, deep historical and cultural roots, and diverse population position it to move forward. Its citizens are ready and willing to work together to overcome our shortfalls. However, all dimensions of the population need equitable access to resources in order for the children of this community to be equipped to break the cycle of poverty.

The United Way of West Central Mississippi serves as the lead partner in our efforts to help children and youth achieve their full potential. The overarching vision of Vicksburg’s Grade-Level Reading Coalition is to coordinate the various efforts in our community intended to address barriers in the areas of school readiness, attendance, and summer learning for our young children from economically disadvantaged homes.

Over thirty partners began discussing the barriers and decided to take action. The Vicksburg Leadership Class recognized the need for more parental support for new and expectant mothers; therefore, the annual Community Wide Baby Shower was born and continues to grow under the guidance of United Way of West Central MS, Excel by 5 and Merit Health River Region Medical Center. Due to our extremely high poverty rate, it became evident that we needed to increase the number of free educational activities for our youth – Day of Action: Get Fit and Active with Curious George, Community Wide Easter Egg Hunt, Trunk or Treat, Born Learning Trail, and many more. Due to a deficit of books in families’ homes, it became our goal to place as many age-appropriate books in the hands of our children through the L.E.A.R.N. initiative and other community wide events that lend to book distribution. The Coalition then made the conscious effort to form partnerships with the Vicksburg Warren School District, summer camps, and after-school programs to implement statistically proven curriculum directly aligned to the individual student’s need.

“This campaign is just what our children and our city need,” said Michele Connelly, Executive Director of West Central Mississippi. “It provides a framework to incorporate the entire community around reaching the goal of helping children and youth achieve their full potential. Collectively it is our responsibility to provide our children with a brighter today so that they can choose their own tomorrow.”

Contact
Michele Connelly
Executive Director
United Way of West Central Mississippi
michele@unitedwayvicksburg.org