Meet Nikia Brown, RAR’s Development and Communications Operations Associate

08.26.2024 Team

Where are you from originally? Where are you currently located?

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. I currently live in Buffalo, New York.

Let us know a fun fact about you?

As a true New Yorker, I finally learned how to drive and got my driver’s license at the age of 29.

What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies?

I enjoy traveling, listening to music, and DIY projects.

Best part about working for RAR?

Seeing the impact RAR programs has nationally, the RAR Team, and our Book Collection.

What is something you are most proud of?

Being a first-generation college graduate and my commitment to always show up for my friends and family.

07.25.2026 Featured

Reading Together Can Change the Story for Boys

Recent headlines have renewed attention to a troubling trend. Boys continue to lag behind girls in reading achievement throughout their school years. From governors highlighting literacy gaps to national research examining long-term educational outcomes, the message is clear. If we want to improve literacy for all children, we must better meet the needs of boys. At Raising a Reader, we believe the path to reading success ...

07.07.2026 From the CEO

North Carolina is showing what is possible when statewide systems, local partnership, and families work together to strengthen early literacy

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 ...