The Southeast MS Campaign for GLR serves Forrest, Lamar, Marion, and Perry counties, with a beginning emphasis in Forrest and Lamar. This Campaign is driven by the volunteer efforts of an Education Advisory Council consisting of 30 educators representing each county working in partnership with United Way of Southeast Mississippi.
The goal of the Southeast MS Campaign is to increase the number of children in our communities reading at or above grade level by the end of the third grade. The Education Advisory Council has been instrumental in establishing an Imagination Library to make sure that children have access to books. Since Imagination Library’s beginning just five months ago, over 180 children now receive age-appropriate books mailed to their homes. The Education Advisory Council also developed an attendance awareness campaign to educate parents, as well as the public, about the negative impact chronic absenteeism has on academic achievement. The Attendance Awareness campaign included television appearances and articles in the local newspaper. Another tactic of the Campaign for GLR was participation in a Community Baby Shower event where educators provide information to over 236 new or expectant mothers about the benefits of reading to babies from birth.
“We are excited to be a CGLR community and can’t wait to report on the positive impact that such a deliberate focus on making sure our children are reading on grade level will have on future graduation rates,” says Tracie Fowler, CEO, United Way of Southeast Mississippi.