Lauren, the founder of Word Rebel, needed a better way to connect with parents in impoverished neighborhoods in New York City. Find out how she made it happen in Word Rebel’s Listen, Act, Learn. Repeat. story.
Closing the achievement gap for students from low-income families in Brooklyn, Bronx, and Manhattan, hinged on Word Rebel’s ability to engage parents. The nonprofit’s founder, Lauren, was inspired by the Charting Impact Assessment to examine parents’ engagement levels, and what she discovered was alarming. Only half of her students’ parents could access her team’s weekly email with reading resources. Home computer and smartphones were luxuries for many families struggling to make ends meet. Lauren knew there had to be a better way to deliver reading resources.
Lauren did some additional research and learned that text messages have a nearly 100 percent open rate. Now, Word Rebel sends parents a weekly “Prep4PreK” literacy text with one actionable strategy to teach vocabulary and reading skills. The text messages put literacy resources straight into the hands of parents, many who wouldn’t otherwise have access.
Word Rebel’s weekly text now reaches nearly 1,000 parents. Lauren set a goal to triple the number of parents receiving the texts by the end of the 2017.
“GlobalGiving’s toolkits continue to hold me accountable and re-inspire me to research and create the best possible programming to always better serve our partners, families, and children.”
— Lauren, Word Rebel Founder
How can you increase your impact by thinking strategically? Start your Listen, Act, Learn. Repeat. journey today by using the Charting Impact Tool.
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GlobalGiving’s inaugural Top 10 list highlights 10 nonprofits (and five honorable mentions) that have demonstrated their commitment to impact through learning. Learn more.
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Featured Photo: A Word Rebel partner in New York City celebrates little graduates at the Drew Hamilton Stepping Up Ceremony. Photo by Children's Aid Society.
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