313Reads is a coalition committed to working side by side in collective impact with citywide, statewide, and national partners toward literacy access, equity, and justice to support grade level reading.
313Reads is dedicated to mobilizing alongside our community to ensure literacy equity so that all students are reading at grade level by the end of third grade.
Based on our collectively developed strategic plan and mission, 313Reads offers our core values. These are the promises we make to the collective.
Equity & Justice
Equity cannot only be a talking point. We are committed to developing a shared vision of equity among partners and turning that into clearly defined actions that are reflected upon regularly by the team and partners. We are committed to continually growing in our work toward equity and justice.
Professional Learning & Resources
Professional learning and resources that are aligned with evidence-based practices are essential. We understand that research and best practices in early language and literacy instruction should inform all we do in the name of providing our children with equitable access to grade level reading. We commit to offering professional learning resources in the form of research briefs, professional learning communities, and evidence-based practices.
Books & Digital Texts
Access to books in the home is strongly correlated with children’s emergent literacy skills and reading; culturally affirming books are evidenced to support children’s positive identity development. Books and digital texts are also needed in programs for literacy supports and interventions. We commit to supporting partners with access to diverse texts through larger network partners. We commit to access to books that: are culturally relevant and affirming; support evidence-based reading instruction; and increase children’s access to engaging books to support book joy and literacy learning at home.
Data Sharing
Data Sharing to Support Funding, Reporting, and Continuous Improvement. We share aggregated data from the coalition’s common standardized assessment to inform population level impact and build the network’s Community Impact Scorecard. We also provide program partner level data dashboards through our program evaluators. This supports the capacity of all organizations to continuously improve programming and impact, as well as secure funding and report on funding. We are establishing data sharing agreements with K-12 public schools in Detroit so that we can follow program participants across multiple years and document the impact that summer and out-of-school time literacy supports and interventions have on school-based literacy. We commit to the continuous improvement of our data collection and sharing in order to support the continuous alignment and improvement of city-wide programming to reach population impact for grade level reading and literacy equity.
Collective Funding Opportunities
Collective funding for summer and out-of-school time literacy supports and interventions allows us to work smarter together with shared knowledge, skills, and tools for successful grant writing. We commit to actively collaborating with partners to seek collective, equitably distributed funding. We commit to transparency of scoring rubrics and decisions when mini-grants or other funding is made available through 313Reads and our fiduciary.
Creating Space to Share Our Expertise
Collective Impact means we value and make space for all experiences and expertise. We are grateful for the perspectives, ideas, and lessons our members have to share, and we commit to being lifelong learners who are all growing our knowledge and skills in supporting early literacy and literacy equity. 313Reads commits to holding and creating spaces that foster open dialogue among partners.
Democratic Decision Making
Collective impact is built with shared structures and norms that prioritize equity of voice and democratic decision making. This happens at our Coordinating Council, Early Language and Literacy Table, and Summer and Out of School Time Learning Table. Action Teams. We commit to holding space and creating systems that support partners to democratically make shared decisions, as well as advocating for those decisions in all spaces. We commit to transparency of decision making.
Amplifying Work of Partners
Amplifying Work of Partners and Co-branded Materials for Social Media. Lifting each other up is important as we collaborate toward impact. We commit to sharing partners’ work and opportunities with our networks and providing co-branded materials when applicable. We commit to creating and sharing social media content to support program partners in their work of serving children, families, and communities with evidence-based, culturally sustaining programs and practices.
Community Engagement Support
Internal capacity is an issue of equity. We commit to sharing partners’ community and volunteer opportunities within our networks and to support with specific asks around these topics.
Our backbone organizations include United Way for Southeastern Michigan and Brilliant Detroit.
Juanita is a Mother of 7 wonderful children. She enjoys working with her community and helping in the lives of our children here in the city of Detroit. Currently enrolled in college for Associates in Criminal Justice, she is also a tutor for DSPCD with Beyond Basics Read to rise with high school students. Juanita serves the 313Reads Coalition as a Virtual Literacy Assessor.
Cindy Eggleton, Co-Founder and CEO of Brilliant Detroit, has a long history of working “with, for, and by” families to build a Detroit where children are successful. At the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, she oversaw a $60 million education portfolio and brought the Federal Social Innovation Fund to Detroit, supported efforts to improve high school graduation rates and train over 15,000 early childhood caregivers, and more.
Today, she leads Brilliant Detroit, which coordinates existing evidence-based programming through houses in the middle of neighborhoods to ensure that families with young children have what they need to be school-ready, healthy, and stable. During the first four years of her time as CEO, Cindy grew Brilliant Detroit to serve 7,500 children and caregivers with more than 80 organizational partners operating out of 12 home-based hubs. Her work has earned her numerous recognitions, including Crain’s 2018 Notable Women in Nonprofits and AARP’s 2020 Purpose Prize. She sees this as the work of her life and is committed to growing this impact to affect population-level change in Detroit. Cindy serves the 313Reads Coalition as a Backbone, Fiduciary, Coordinating Council Co-Chair, and a Co-Chair of the Early, Family, and Community Literacy.
Supports partners by leading strategy and coordinating capacity for shared literacy evaluation across the coalition. Experience in project management, human-centered design, and partnerships as well as her passion for leveraging innovation and collaboration to advance equitable systems.
Brandon is dedicated to framing communities by their aspirations, not their current circumstances. Outside of work he commits time to support organizations that are at the intersections of my identity and passion, all of which are devoted to building a more beloved community. Brandon serves the 313Reads Coalition as a Virtual Literacy Assessor.
Fifteen-year history of work in nonprofits in Detroit and throughout the Midwest to this work. A constant thread has been a focus on othering and belonging (otherwise known as diversity, equity, and inclusion) Experience with urban safety, basic needs, and currently focuses on attendance and chronic absence. Matt serves the 313Reads Coalition on the Steering Committee.
Paige Hughart is the 313Reads team as Community Engagement and Communications Manager. She ensures that there is a cohesive, interactive, and inclusive narrative flowing both within 313Reads and between 313Reads and partners.
She is a Michigan native and first generation college graduate. Her work with 313Reads began in 2019 as an AmeriCorps VISTA and she transitioned to a permanent role. Paige is passionate about gardening and food system equity. She grows most of her own food and shares with community members alongside her partner in their Detroit home.
Program manager, Leads the Ginsberg Centers Literacy focused work.
Originally from Toledo, Ohio, Raven is a recent graduate of the Master of Social Work program here at the University of Michigan. She began working with America Reads as a graduate assistant before becoming a full time staff member in September 2016. Raven began her career in education by working as an elementary school teacher for four years. During that time, she had the opportunity to serve as a literacy specialist, developing a deep understanding of a subject that she believes is critical to students’ success. As a former elementary school educator, Raven is passionate about educational equity for children and youth from underrepresented backgrounds and about training work-study students to serve as literacy tutors in grades k-5, to help address those inequities.
Some of Raven’s favorite hobbies and activities include cooking new recipes, reading, and watching comedy. She currently serves as a Teacher’s Aid with Wolverine Pathways and is a member of the Teach for America Detroit Alumni Board.
Raven serves the 313Reads Coalition as a member of the Summer and Out of School Time Table
Kim Johnson is a native Detroiter, Detroit Public School graduate and first-generation college graduate. Mrs. Johnson is the Founder, President and CEO of Developing Kingdoms in Different Stages, also known as Developing K.I.D.S. It is a nonprofit organization in Detroit that serves over 600 youth annually through afterschool and summer programs.
Professionally, she mentors executive directors of grassroots organizations in Detroit. She has served and serves in leadership roles, such as a founding member of the Black Executive Director’s Alliance of Detroit (BEDAD) and on a subcommittee of the Governor’s Student Recovery Advisors Council. Within her church and community, Kim serves as the Youth Department Director, member and Secretary of the Clergy Guild, and member of the Tech Team. She is also an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Kim serves the 313Reads Coalition as a Co-Chair of the Summer and Out of School Time Learning Table, a member of the Coordinating Council, and a member of the Collective Action Team for Healthy Readers.
“Children DESERVE to receive every opportunity to be leaders of their learning and advocates of their lives. Along with many others, I assign myself to make meaningful contributions to dismantling the inequities to liberate education for Detroit children. I unapologetically and boldly stand for children in gratitude to all the individuals who stood for me during my childhood and educational journey.”
Dr. Carmen Kennedy-Rogers serves as the senior program officer of K-12 Education for The Skillman Foundation. She leads the Foundation’s efforts to improve educational opportunities in Detroit.
Carmen most recently served as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction at Avondale Schools in Auburn Hills, where she was responsible for providing leadership and vision to the District by supporting its efforts in planning, implementation, development, direction, review and evaluation of curriculum and instructional services. She oversaw the District’s federal programs, career and technical education services, assessments, research and educator evaluation services. Prior to that role, she served in five different Michigan school districts as a high school basketball coach, physical education teacher, athletic director, and high school principal at a turnaround school. Carmen currently serves as a board member for Wayne State University College of Education Board of Visitors and the Michigan Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Board of Directors. Previously, she served on the Michigan High School Athletic Association Representative Council.
Carmen holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and three degrees from Wayne State University, including a Master of Arts in Sports Administration, School Counseling and an Education Specialist Degree. She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Michigan-Flint in 2020.
Carmen is married to Alex Rogers, Jr. and together they gratefully raise their son, Alexander Rogers, III. They reside in the Detroit Metro area with their rescue dog, Molly. Outside of work, she focuses on self-care by meditating, reflective journaling, living a healthy lifestyle, and spending quality meaningful time with family and friends. Carmen serves the 313Reads Coalition as a member of the Coordinating Council.
Andrea has been engaged in the field of education since 2005, and has worked to develop the Center for Success after school program since January of 2015. Prior to that, Andrea gained experience as a classroom teacher for 10 years. Andrea holds certifications in Evidence Based Literacy Instruction (EBLI) and English Language Development (ELD) which support her role in creating meaningful, individualized lessons for struggling readers at the Center. Andrea sits on the Board of Directors for both the Center for Success Network and the Grosse Pointe Old Devils. As the Executive Director of the Network, Andrea oversees the implementation of the strategic plan of the organization, leads staff and defines culture and oversees donor cultivation, grant writing and financial stewardship. Andrea holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Western Michigan University, gaining her degree through their Urban Education program. In addition to her role at CFSN, Andrea is a co-chair for the Summer and Out of School Time Table for 313 Reads, and is a member of the Improvement and Impact Committee for the Youth Development Resource Center. She also serves the 313Reads Coalition as a member of the Coordinating Council, the Collective Action Team for Healthy Readers, and the Early, Family, and Community Literacy Table.
As Director of learning with Center for Success, Heidi oversee programming across all sites. Prior to working with Center for Success, she taught for ten years in Michigan and internationally as an elementary teacher. She is now a mom of two wonderful children. In her spare time, she loves reading books and running! Heidi serves the 313Reads Coalition as a member of the Summer and Out of School Time Table. She has also co-presented with the Coalition in many spaces.
Prior to moving to Michigan, Maria worked for the Recovery School District (RSD) in New Orleans as the Director of Enrollment and Student & Family Services. She helped lead the creation of the district’s unified enrollment process. Maria was additionally a member of the RSD team responsible for launching the city’s first citywide truancy center, and early childhood care and education enrollment processes.
She is a former journalist who received her Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Florida. This spring, Maria will earn a M.Ed from GVSU’s College of Education.
When not in school or helping improve the quality of Michigan schools, Maria can be found at the cooperative bookstore (Book Suey) that she, and several book loving friends, opened in 2017. Maria serves the 313Reads Coalition as a member of the Coordinating Council.
Passionate about education equity and justice. Maggi serves the 313Reads Coalition as a member of the Steering Committee, a member of the Early Family, and Community Literacy Table, and a Backbone Organization member.
A former kindergarten teacher, Kathryn L. Roberts earned her doctoral degree in Curriculum, Teaching, and Educational Policy, with a specialization in Literacy, from Michigan State University. Currently, Dr. Roberts is the Interim Assistant Dean of the Division of Teacher Education and an Associate Professor of Reading, Language, and Literature in the College of Education at Wayne State University. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses focused on emergent and content-area literacy, as well as theoretical foundations of literacy in the departments of Reading, Language and Literature; Early Childhood Education; and Bilingual-Bicultural Education. Dr. Kate Roberts serves the 313Reads Coalition as a member of the Early, Family, and Community Literacy Table as well as the Collective Action Team for the Community of Practice around the Science of Reading.
Dr. Rosalyn Shahid supports the 313Reads Coalition through her seat at the Steering Committee. She has also co-facilitated 313Reads Community Conversations and is a member of the 313Reads Collective Action Team for the Family Literacy Community of Practice.
Kenyatta Stephens has 27 years of experience in the Human Service industry. She serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Black Family Development, Inc., a family-centered, behavioral health organization headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. She holds a Master’s Degree in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing – Child and Family from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.
Kenyatta believes education is the gateway to each person’s success. She has a passion for implementing excellence in the human service industry that empowers children, individuals, families, staff, and organizations to be their best.
For this reason, the LENA models (i.e., LENA Start, LENA Home) promoting family-centered at-home, early childhood literacy have held a special place in her heart since her organization, Black Family Development, Inc, began partnering to bring LENA Start to Detroit in 2017.
Kenyatta believes that everyday she is surrounded by agency colleagues, and partnering families in Michigan’s Wayne and Washtenaw Counties who want the best for their families and those they serve. Kenyatta also believes LENA Start is one way of creating equity, by giving parents some of the best early childhood literacy tools available to their children. Kenyatta serves the 313Reads Coalition as Co-Chair of the Early, Family, and Community Literacy Table, a member of the Coordinating Council, and a member of the Collective Action Team for Family Literacy.
Dr. Leah van Belle serves as the Executive Director of 313Reads and brings a deep commitment to supporting literacy access, equity, and justice for our children, and building inclusive partnerships as key levers in the work. A proud Detroiter and first-generation high school and college graduate, Leah holds a Ph.D. in Educational Studies—Literacy, Language, and Culture from the University of Michigan.
She is a member of the Early Literacy Task Force of Michigan and serves as the President-Elect of the Michigan Reading Association. Passionate about the need for diverse educators, beginning in early childhood education, she serves as the Vice-Chair of the Board of the Black Male Educators Alliance of Michigan and on the Diversity and Equity in the Educator Workforce Advisory Group for the Michigan Dept. of Education.
As the mother of a neurodiverse child, she is an advocate and co-conspirator for educational equity for exceptional learners. Her son is a first grader in a Detroit public school and is teaching her how to build with LEGOs. In turn, she is teaching him about the power of old school jazz and 90s hip-hop.
Mary Jo works with 313Reads to help support our young people in their quest to improve their literacy skills and love of reading, loves sharing her love of stories, from doing story times to finding the most interesting books for her customers! She serves the Coalition as a member of the Summer and Out of School Time Table
Prior to his role with The Skillman Foundation, he served as a youth development worker and community organizer for 10 years for organizations such as Southwest Counseling Solutions and Alternatives for Girls. He is a board member of the Michigan Afterschool Association, a statewide organization dedicated to building a field of professionals that develop, support, and promote quality out-of-school-time programs for children and youth, and a member of 100 Black Men of Greater Detroit, a group working to improve the quality of life in the African American community through their collective resources, abilities and experiences.
Terry was born and raised in Detroit, MI. He earned a master’s degree in youth development from Michigan State University. He enjoys cooking, golfing with his father, going to the movies with his wife, and volunteering with his parents to feed the homeless population in Detroit. Terry serves the 313Reads Coalition as a member of the Coordinating Council and the Summer and Out of School Time Table.
Shawness supports the 313Reads Coalition by training our Virtual Literacy Assessors to ensure the integrity of our data! She is also a tenured ECE educator who has taught in a variety of settings, and is passionate about continuing to make an impact in the best way possible for kids. She serves as an ambassador for the Teach 313 initiative.