In Memphis, the statistics surrounding childhood literacy are sobering. Thirty-nine percent of children live in poverty, and 67 percent are not reading at grade level. Research shows that children who are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. Behind each of those numbers is a child full of curiosity, imagination and potential whose future can shift dramatically with one essential skill: the ability to read.
Since its founding in 2013, Arise2Read has been working to change that story, one student at a time.
The Memphis-based nonprofit partners with public schools to support early literacy through the power of volunteer reading coaches. Its mission is simple but transformative: through one-to-one connections with students, Arise2Read improves literacy skills, provides encouragement and support and works alongside schools and community partners to help children thrive.
The organization focuses on second grade (Arise"2"Read) a pivotal moment in a child’s academic journey. Educators often say that children learn to read from birth through third grade. After that, they begin reading to learn. Once students enter fourth grade, reading becomes the foundation for every subject. “Our focus is early intervention,” says Dr. La Tonya Mouzon, executive director of Arise2Read. “When we strengthen foundational skills early, we help ensure students are prepared not just for the next grade level, but for long-term academic success.”
Arise2Read’s approach is both personal and practical. Trained volunteers serve as literacy coaches, meeting one-on-one with students for one hour each week during the school year. Using a simple, research-based sight-word approach, volunteers help children build the fluency and confidence needed to become strong readers. “You don’t have to be a professional educator to make a meaningful difference,” Dr. Mouzon says. “Consistency, encouragement and a willingness to show up week after week can have a profound impact on a child’s learning journey.”
That commitment is producing remarkable results. During the 2024–2025 school year, students in the program gained an average of 301 sight words — equivalent to roughly three grade levels of growth. At the beginning of the year, only 9 percent of participating students tested on grade level. By the end of the year, 66 percent were reading on grade level, representing a 614 percent increase! Thanks to the 683 literacy coaches and volunteers who served in 43 schools across the city, contributing more than 15,000 hours of support to nearly 800 students.
Beyond tutoring, Arise2Read also works to place books directly into the hands of young readers. Each year, every second grader in an Arise2Read partner school receives eight to ten brand-new books to take home and keep. In the past year alone, the organization distributed more than 37,000 books to 3,700 students across Memphis.
But for Dr. Mouzon, the most meaningful outcomes can’t always be captured in numbers. “Sight-word fluency is one of the building blocks of confident reading,” she says. “When students begin to recognize words automatically, you can actually see their confidence grow. That confidence carries into other subjects as well.”
In classrooms across Memphis, that growth is happening every week, one hour at a time. And each session represents more than a lesson in reading. It is an investment in a child’s confidence, education and future which impacts their families and our shared community by opening the door to everything that comes next. The organization says it best: Save a child. Save a family. Save a city. For more information, visit arise2read.org.