Masons of California, Raising a Reader and WUSD Expand Programs to Improve Afghan Refugee Student Literacy

10.06.2024

With the generous support of the Masons of California, we’ve developed our first-ever collection of bilingual books in both English and Farsi to serve families in Washington Unified School District in
West Sacramento. This expansion reaffirms our commitment to ensuring every child feels seen and valued. Over the past 13 years, with the Masons’ continued support, we’ve reached more than 920 classrooms statewide, and Washington Unified is the latest addition to our growing impact.

Raising a Reader CEO, Michelle Torgerson, shares more in this interview with CapRadio. You can also watch this clip from ABC News and, click the image below to read the full article from the West Sacramento – News Ledger.

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By Michelle Torgerson, President and CEO, Raising a Reader Through the Smart Start Network and Raising a Reader’s 33 North Carolina Affiliates, communities across the state are helping families build joyful shared reading routines. Together, they are strengthening caregiver-child relationships, expanding access to books, and laying the early literacy foundation every child needs to thrive. At a time when communities (and states) across the country are looking ...

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By Michelle Torgerson, President and CEO, Raising a Reader Over the past three years, we asked a bold question: What does it take to build a sustainable, data-driven, equity-centered national organization—while expanding impact for children and families? In 2023, we launched our first strategic plan as a fully independent nonprofit. As we closed that chapter and reflect, I’m proud of what we built, and ...