Family Literacy Labs

Adult literacy

West LA South LA Central LA East LA San Fernando Valley

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

Los Angeles is one of the most linguistically diverse regions in the world—yet too many families lack access to culturally responsive early literacy resources. Children’s early language and reading development are strongly linked to family engagement, but barriers like limited access to books in home languages, unfamiliarity with school expectations, and economic stressors often hinder this connection.
Research from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and others underscores that when families are actively involved in their child’s literacy journey—especially in the early years—children demonstrate stronger vocabulary, reading comprehension, and school readiness. These benefits are even more significant in communities facing structural inequities. Additionally, global studies affirm that early shared reading—starting at birth—builds essential literacy foundations. However, multilingual families are too often overlooked in the design of family literacy programs.

Our Family Literacy Labs respond to this need with an inclusive, community-rooted model: quarterly, multilingual workshops where families learn practical literacy strategies, receive bilingual take-home kits, and build confidence as their child’s first teacher. By centering language equity and cultural relevance, we aim to close early learning gaps and build lasting family-school partnerships—helping Los Angeles become the best place to learn for every child.
​​Rooted in principles of language equity and cultural relevance, these workshops honor and build upon the diverse linguistic and cultural assets that families bring to the learning process. By fostering trust, shared knowledge, and collaboration between families and educators, our model helps bridge early learning gaps and strengthens the foundation for academic success.
Ultimately, Family Literacy Labs support our broader vision of making Los Angeles a place where every child—regardless of background or language spoken at home—has the opportunity to thrive as a reader, a learner, and a valued member of their school community. Wise Readers to Leaders is uniquely suited to launch Family Literacy Labs, building on over a decade of experience in literacy education, strong community trust, and a track record of high-impact programming for underserved youth.

If our work is successful, Los Angeles County will be home to a stronger culture of literacy rooted in families, languages, and communities. Parents—especially those in multilingual, under-resourced neighborhoods—will feel confident as their child’s first teacher, equipped with strategies, books, and ongoing support. Children will enter school not only ready to read, but eager to learn, with literacy woven into daily life at home.
Over time, this shift will lead to higher reading proficiency, increased educational equity, and stronger connections between families and schools. A more literate, engaged, and empowered generation of young Angelenos will grow up with the tools to thrive—academically, socially, and civically—helping make Los Angeles the best place to learn for all.