Michigan’s literacy crisis: low literacy = barriers to education, economic mobility, health, civic participation
More than half of third graders in our region aren’t reading at grade level.
Many adults will continue to encounter the consequences of low literacy long after leaving school.
Low literacy shows up when a patient misreads discharge instructions, a resident ignores a ballot proposal, or a family falls for a financial scam.
A year of REAL TALK about Literacy. EVERY sector is impacted by low literacy, so lets address it TOGETHER!
Welcome to Year for the Books!
Why this matters:
Join us February 17th, 2026 for our kick-off event highlighting Media Literacy featuring an intimate conversation with Lynette Clemetson, Director of the Wallace House Center for Journalists at the University of Michigan! More information here:
Event Kick-off:
Four 2-day forums will pair our expertise in learning and families with relevant sector partners who see the consequences of misunderstanding information every day.
Each forum week will be structured as a two-night experience. The first evening, The Forum, is a 60 to 75 minute moderated panel featuring one moderator and two to four panelists, followed by approximately 15 minutes of audience questions and a casual reception afterward, which provides an important opportunity for partners and attendees to connect. This is the conversation most oriented toward big ideas and systems concepts.
The second evening, The Community Session, is a 60 minute practical program, typically a focused talk or case study with audience participation and clear “what you can do tomorrow” takeaways. This session is designed to be especially useful for parents, educators, and community practitioners.
SAVE THE DATES FOR:
Spring Forum: Civic Literacy & Navigating Systems (April 21, 22)
Summer Forum: Food, Health, & Environmental Literacy (June 9, 10)
Fall Forum: Tech Literacy & AI (September 15, 16)
Winter Forum: Financial Literacy (December 1, 2)
