Lead to Read KC

Lead to Read KC Lead to Read KC is dedicated to supporting children's social, emotional and reading skills. Learn more: leadtoreadkc.org.

Launched in 2011, Lead to Read KC connects hundreds of elementary students attending high-need schools with caring adult Reading Mentors each week through our traditional in-classroom and digital reading and mentoring programs. And, we have launched Reading Is Everywhere(SM), a community book distribution initiative, and Reading For Life Author Partnerships to promote self-esteem, coping skills and wellness among the students we serve.

Happy Pride Month! 🌈 Whether you're looking for a great read, a welcoming event, or resources for your community, your l...
06/05/2026

Happy Pride Month! 🌈 Whether you're looking for a great read, a welcoming event, or resources for your community, your local library has something for everyone this June:

Kansas City Public Library: kclibrary.org/news/2026-05/celebrate-pride-month-library-movies-book-lists-inspired-pride-flag-and-more
Kansas City, Kansas Public Library: kckpl.org/events/month?keywords=Pride
Mid-Continent Public Library: mymcpl.org/features/pride
Johnson County Library - KS: jocolibrary.org/blogs/post/june-is-pride-month/

📚 56,625. That's how many books Lead to Read KC distributed during the 2025-26 school year — that’s more than 4,500 each...
06/04/2026

📚 56,625. That's how many books Lead to Read KC distributed during the 2025-26 school year — that’s more than 4,500 each month! — but it’s about more than just the numbers. We curate our offerings to ensure the best possible selection is available for each child, no matter where they connect with us.

Read a recent program evaluation in our June newsletter at conta.cc/4vcK4fL and subscribe at bit.ly/LTRKC_Newsletter to ensure you never miss an update!

Through a partnership with Hoot Reading, Lead to Read KC is continuing to move the needle on literacy rates in the metro...
06/03/2026

Through a partnership with Hoot Reading, Lead to Read KC is continuing to move the needle on literacy rates in the metro area during the summer. Our research-backed tutoring program provides one-to-one instruction for local students with experienced, highly qualified teachers three times a week to help master foundational reading skills.

Studies show that 90% of participating students improve their reading skills in just 10 weeks!

Learn more about this effort to help elementary students catch up and keep up at leadtoreadkc.org/tutoring.

Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, history, and the stories that connect us across generations. This year, Lead to ...
06/01/2026

Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, history, and the stories that connect us across generations. This year, Lead to Read KC will be at two local celebrations, the KCK Juneteenth Kaw Point Celebration on Saturday, June 13 and the JuneteenthKC Heritage Festival on Saturday, June 20, and we'd love your help putting culturally rich books into the hands of the kids who attend.

Shop our wish lists at Rainy Day Books (rainydaybooks.com/list/heritage-months) and Amazon (amzn.to/3SDLo8y).

Summer break? Not for us. ☀️At Lead to Read KC, the work of connecting kids with books and the support they need never s...
05/28/2026

Summer break? Not for us. ☀️

At Lead to Read KC, the work of connecting kids with books and the support they need never stops. Reading Is Everywhere keeps books within reach all summer long. Our one-on-one Tutoring program continues serving students. And behind the scenes, we're already busy planning next year's Reading Mentoring program.

Because literacy doesn't take a season off.

05/27/2026

And with Episode 7 featuring Académie Lafayette and Truman Elementary School, that's a wrap on our Kona Ice celebration series! 🍧

Lead to Read KC wants to close out with a heartfelt thank you to all of our 2025-26 Reading Mentors. Every session you showed up for, every book you read aloud, every high-five you gave, it all added up to something real for the students you served.

We look forward to seeing you back in the fall!

05/26/2026

It's the moments between the pages that stick with you. 📖

Watching Reading Mentors and students celebrate together at Faxon Elementary, Frontier School of Innovation, Garfield Elementary, West Park Elementary and Phillis Wheatley Elementary is a good reminder of why this work matters. These aren't just reading partners. They're role models, encouragers, and in many cases, a highlight of a child's week.

To every mentor this year: you made a difference. Full stop.

05/22/2026

This says it better than we ever could. 💙

"My daughter’s interest and enjoyment in reading increased noticeably once she started with Lead to Read KC. She looked forward to it every week, and her reading scores improved a lot!"

Reading sessions at Gordon Parks Elementary School, Indian Creek Elementary School, and Pitcher Elementary have wrapped for the year, but the confidence, love of reading, and real relationships built along the way? Those don't clock out for summer.

Reading Mentors, your feedback matters. If you haven't completed your end-of-year survey yet, now is a great time. Check...
05/21/2026

Reading Mentors, your feedback matters. If you haven't completed your end-of-year survey yet, now is a great time. Check your inbox for a message from [email protected] via SurveyMonkey, and if you don't see it, check your spam folder. Still nothing? Email Allison directly.

Thank you for another incredible year. See you in the fall!

A big thank you to our Spring 2026 service interns from St. Teresa's Academy: Charlotte Becker, Clarabel Benben, Tessa B...
05/20/2026

A big thank you to our Spring 2026 service interns from St. Teresa's Academy: Charlotte Becker, Clarabel Benben, Tessa Brasel, Johanna Carney, and Taryn Carney.

Over 11 weeks, these five juniors volunteered in our book room sorting, processing, shelving, and packing books for Reading Is Everywhere, as well as preparing materials for the Reading Rally and Reading Mentoring. The work they did keeps books moving to the kids who need them.

Thank you for all your help!

Address

P. O. BOX 411006
Kansas City, MO
64141

Telephone

+18165437759

Website

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