Meriwether Reading Cubs Program is supporting family literacy
Get Meriwether Reading’s new Reading Cubs Program is offering literacy enrichment to community centers after receiving the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy’s Community Coalition Grant.
“Equipping parents and caregivers with literacy tools is essential because they play a critical role in a child’s early development,” said Early Literacy Coordinator and spokesperson for the program Angie Shirah. “Learning begins at home, and by providing parents with resources, activities and support, we ensure literacy development extends beyond our program.”
The Reading Cubs Program models activities for children from birth to age four at early learning centers, community spaces and public Pre-K classrooms to bolster pre-kindergarten and kindergarten readiness in Meriwether County, Georgia. Mobile programming and outreach to underserved areas are available county-wide.
“The Reading Cubs Program is making a lasting impact on early literacy in our community,” Shirah said. “We’ve engaged hundreds of children and their families in interactive literacy activities and are helping build their strong foundational literacy skills.”
Their program is designed to develop vocabulary, improve language comprehension, equip parents and caregivers with literacy tools, support development milestones and transition children into kindergarten.
They host activities and events like family cooking classes and Digging with Dad Gardening, a gardening program for children and their male caregivers that integrates literacy and vocabulary through themed books.
“One of the things I love most about our program is seeing caregivers engage with their children in hands-on activities,” Shirah said. “Watching families bond over storytelling, shared reading and skill-building exercises reaffirms our belief that family engagement plays a key role in children’s academic success.”
The Reading Cubs Program in Meriwether County is funded by the Deal Center at Georgia College & State University’s Community Coalition Grant Initiative. Through this investment, the Deal Center propels projects that foster cross-sector collaboration to advance developmental-focused practices in a community, town, city or county.
The grant initiative is currently accepting applications for projects like the Reading Cubs Program and will close March 21. Up to $150,000 in grants will be awarded with individual amounts ranging from $10,000 to $24,000.
“The Deal Center is proud to back community initiatives like the Reading Cubs Program,” said Dr. Lindee Morgan, executive director of the Deal Center. “This is a perfect example of our purpose for the Community Coalition Grant, and we’re happy to see literacy supported in the Meriwether community.”
