Empowering Youth & Communities Through Literacy
Let’s Address the Issue
Towards the end of 2023, our team sat down and conducted some research on the literacy rate both in the country as well as locally here in Portland, Oregon. From our research, and observing society given the growing digital world that we live in now, we found that reading in general, and literacy overall, has been in constant decline. Sadly, this issue is present across all age groups. According to Our Children Oregon and Decoding Dyslexia, two nonprofit organizations at the forefront of children and youth literacy improvement — “less than half of Oregonian 3rd graders were proficient at reading, with notable disparities in the state’s BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and rural communities.” This gap is even greater at the national level with students of color falling behind their white counterparts, and despite being politically and socially progressive, Portland is no exception. Along with many other sectors in society (economic, health, and social issues), the Covid-19 pandemic has also worsened existing disparities in literacy. Before 2020, the state’s lowest-performing schools in both urban and rural areas had the highest percentages of BIPOC students and students facing economic hardship. Oregon Kids Read has graciously provided a list of Oregon’s Most Struggling K-5 Schools, with school name and their respective district — don’t be shocked if you see your child’s school in this list. With the entire world going virtual during the pandemic, schools were forced to adapt and switch to online classes. This only further exacerbated issues caused by chronic underinvestment, negligence, and lack of resources. Even with society coming out of the “Covid hibernation” and things seemingly going back to normal, these issues continue to persist. The reality that Oregon’s 3rd graders are not proficient at reading, with only a slight improvement among high schoolers, should be a pressing matter. However, it seems that teachers, advocates, and alarmingly even parents, are not concerned.
Why Does This Mater?
The cost of not teaching or encouraging children to read and turning a blind eye when reading levels are disproportionately low is very high. A lot is at stake here. Per the same article published by Our Children Oregon, “Research shows that 95% of all children are capable of learning to read when given explicit and systematic instruction. This type of instruction is grounded in what is commonly called the “Science of Reading,” or SoR.” Unfortunately, most students in Oregon, as well as many others across the country, are not being taught to read in this way because majority of K-12 educators do not receive SoR training in their teacher preparation programs or later professional development. Further research indicates the following unsettling issues:
Two-thirds of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of 4th grade will end up in the criminal justice system.
90% of students who do not earn a high school diploma, 85% will have contact with the juvenile justice system.
Over 70% of American inmates have low-literacy skills.
Adults who do not earn a high school diploma face the highest unemployment rates and lowest median earnings.
To emphasize our concern here, we went to the National Literacy Institute and retrieved even more disturbing stats. This is data collected from the 2022-23 year:
Literacy Data and its impact on the Nation
Illiteracy has become such a serious problem in our country that 130 million adults are now unable to read a simple story to their children
21% of adults in the US are illiterate in 2022
54% of adults have a literacy below 6th grade level
45 million are functionally illiterate and read below a 5th grade level
44% of the American adults do not read a book in a year
Here are other startling statistics directly impacting society:
Literacy Data and its impact on Society
3 out of 5 people in American prisons can’t read
To determine how many prison beds will be needed in future years, some states actually base part of their projection on how well current elementary students are performing on reading tests
85% of juvenile offenders have problems reading
Approximately 50% of Americans read so poorly that they are unable to perform simple tasks such as reading prescription drug labels
As we can see, literacy is a key ingredient for success both academically and professionally. While the wealth gap continues to grow, and capitalism sucks the blood of the working class and further exploit those who are already behind, it falls on the collective action of community members to equip our children and underserved populations with the skills to not only read but become consistent readers. This is a win-win. Failure to realize this only results in the data we have shared thus far doubling and further crippling society on all fronts.
Playing Our Role - DMCM Book Clubs
Reading is fundamental, especially at an early age. And if reading is prioritized both in the school setting as well as home and, in the community, it becomes “fun to mental.” When these issues are ignored, it affects society in various ways — after all, children are our future, and the future is built now. We cannot afford to point fingers when trouble comes knocking at our doors. To do our part, we’ve made it our mission to improve literacy by creating inclusive, engaging, and empowering spaces for learners of all ages. One of our core initiatives is the monthly Youth Book Club, which we organize in partnership with ARIO. This collaboration has allowed us to offer tailored book club sessions for elementary, middle, and high school students, providing age-appropriate and culturally relevant literature that sparks curiosity and builds confidence in young readers. Together with ARIO, we’ve created an environment where youth can explore complex themes, connect with their peers, and develop a lifelong love for reading. Each session encourages open dialogue, critical thinking, and creative expression—helping participants grow not only as readers but as thoughtful leaders in their communities. In addition to our youth programming, we’ve hosted intergenerational storytelling events, author talks, and writing workshops that uplift diverse voices and make literacy more accessible and meaningful across generations. Through our partnership with the Pan-African Revolutionary Study Group, we’ve supported community reading circles focused on liberation literature, Pan-African history, and social justice. These gatherings offer a space for collective learning, reflection, and empowerment. By bridging formal and informal education, we continue to center literacy as a transformative tool for identity, resilience, and social change.
Looking ahead, we are excited to deepen our impact through partnerships with local schools, grassroots organizations, and cultural institutions. We believe that building literacy in our community requires collective vision and action, and we are committed to working alongside those who share our values. Together, we aim to expand access to books, develop more culturally grounded programming, and create spaces where every reader feels seen, heard, and valued. As we continue our mission, we remain grounded in the belief that reading is not just a skill—it’s a path to liberation, knowledge, and lifelong learning.
Join us at our next reading session or stay tuned for future events. We look forward to seeing you!
Sources: Our Children Oregon — Oregon Kids Read — Decoding Dyslexia — The National Literacy Institute
