We have a new cause that we are supporting at Union and it is... READERS 2 LEADERS! Their mission is to develop and grow the reading skills of underserved Dallas children ages 3-12 so that they succeed in school and graduate prepared to live productive lives.
Readers 2 Leaders is a literacy program that serves West Dallas kindergarten and elementary students. We recognize that students who don't read on grade level by third grade are four times less likely to graduate high school, and we work to help all our students beat the odds. Readers 2 Leaders operates Booktown, home of our After-School Program, our lending library, special events, and parent education programs. We also provide reading tutoring in two DISD schools and a second After-School Program at a West Dallas charter school.
Readers 2 Leaders provides high-quality, high-dosage reading instruction to more than 400 West Dallas children per year. What does that mean, exactly?
- Their staff includes 5 trained education professionals who provide the bulk of reading instruction to students, with the support of more than 200 volunteer reading buddies.
- Their after-school students receive 8 hours of additional reading tutoring per week, and in-school students receive at least 2 hours of tutoring per week. This seriously improves both their reading and their overall success in school.
- Their summer camp students benefit from six weeks of reading and enrichment. In 2016, 90 percent of R2L campers did not experience the summer slide, more than any other program studied by Dallas education partnership organization Commit!
From May - August of 2017, 10% of all coffee sales at Union will benefit this great organization and the work that they are doing in our community. Make sure you come by and have a cup of the most generous coffee in Dallas.