Indy Families Receive Assistance to Bring Home Books Children Enjoy

Jessica Davis is well-versed in cultivating a reading culture for her children. As a mother in Garfield Park, she faces the challenge of catering to the diverse reading levels of her three kids. While one daughter eagerly grabs three books at once, one son is less enthused about reading, and her other son, who has autism, requires additional stimulation to engage with books.

To address this, Davis has stocked her home with a wide range of reading materials, including chapter books, picture books, fantasy novels, and biographies of celebrated Black athletes like Jackie Robinson and Wilma Rudolph, tailored to each child’s interests.

Recognizing the financial strain of supporting three avid young readers, Davis turned to The Mind Trust, a local nonprofit that has provided small literacy grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to numerous Center Township families over the past four years. With over 200 books now enriching her home library, the grant has accelerated her family’s reading journey significantly beyond what she could have achieved independently.

Reflecting on the impact of the grant, Davis remarked, “I didn’t have the financial means to make such a substantial investment on my own. This grant has truly been a game-changer for us.”

In a state where efforts to enhance reading proficiency are paramount, Davis exemplifies a successful approach. She notes that all her children’s test scores have shown improvement, underscoring the effectiveness of her strategy.

Empowering Family Literacy

In an endeavor to bridge learning gaps worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, The Mind Trust introduced the Go Farther Literacy Fund four years ago. Amidst a decade-long decline in literacy rates in Indiana, the onset of the pandemic underscored the urgency to address these challenges.

With around one in five third graders failing the state’s standardized reading assessment, education stakeholders have intensified efforts to boost literacy levels. The Mind Trust plays a pivotal role in administering large-scale tutoring initiatives and advocating for legislative measures to achieve the state’s goal of 95% grade-level reading proficiency by 2027.

While overseeing significant tutoring grants through the Indiana Learns program, The Mind Trust deems the Go Farther Literacy Fund, supporting a select number of students per award, equally crucial in fostering literacy skills and community bonds.