To be continued... Stay tuned for what 2025 brings!
Winter 2024/2025: We're Launching! Winter 2024 is a season of significant accomplishments and strategic advancements for We Strive for Literacy. In November, Nora’s attorneys finalized the contract for our partnership with EBLI®. The month continued with active community engagement, including the Nonprofit Netwalk and the Barnabas Group Summit, and an invitation to speak at UCSD for TalTalks, an event that brought together nonprofits and changemakers to share our stories and discuss how we align with the Sustainable Development Goals. Notably, We Strive for Literacy was accepted into the USD Avila Fund Board Chair Learning Group and recognized as an Official Supporting Champion by the National Partnership for Student Success. We were also featured in SDVoyager Magazine. The season's top highlight is our acceptance into the Boys and Girls Club of Vista, set for a January rollout, highlighting the organization's growing influence. The year is closing with a business plan revision, underscoring a focus on sustainable growth and strategic planning. These developments promise more progress as the journey continues. Fall 2024: Major Milestones and Partnerships This season, we've hit major milestones that bring us closer to our mission of bridging the literacy gap. First, our partnership with EBLI® (Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction™) marks a crucial step. We Strive for Literacy (WSFL) is powered by EBLI’s methodology, equipping literacy coaches to deliver structured linguistic literacy. We spoke with Jill Bowden from the American Institute of Research about future collaboration and research opportunities. We had an introduction to further potential collaborations with The Classical Academies, a network of charter schools in North County, San Diego. Additionally, our 1023 application is now with the IRS, and we've gained valuable insights from the Ethical Nonprofit Summit and the 'Fund Your Business with Sponsors' webinar. New Pathway: Community Workshops! After exploring charter schools, we’ve shifted our focus to community workshops. Thanks to the flexibility in our five customer segments submitted with our 1023, we’re excited to activate this option. Community workshops give us the opportunity to bring literacy instruction directly into neighborhoods, creating accessible and supportive spaces for students to thrive. EBLI for Big Impact! With EBLI as our partner providing their powerhouse instuctional method, we’re committed to delivering impactful literacy support. This evidence-based approach positions us to make a real difference in students’ literacy journeys. We’re also in talks with a major community center that has multiple locations—so keep an eye out for updates in our upcoming newsletters! Spotlight on Our Community Workshop Program! We’re thrilled to introduce our new one-pager, a quick, shareable snapshot of our Community Workshop Program at We Strive for Literacy. It outlines the literacy challenges we’re addressing, the unique benefits we provide, and how our program supports community growth. Feel free to save, share, and spread the word about the importance of literacy! Summer 2024: Laying the groudwork: Research Preparation, & Interviews We Strive for Literacy began by laying the groundwork through research, preparation, and interviews, ensuring the initiatives were deeply rooted in the needs of San Diego. The season began with the completion of our logo in April. It progressed with significant meetings, including discussions with the director of Seeds of Hope and a literacy expert from the University of Hawai’i. By May, legal frameworks were established, including hiring an attorney, securing our EIN, and opening a business bank account. Our first social media post was in June, signaling a broader outreach effort bolstered by our attendance at key educational events such as the Benchmark Education event and the USD Nonprofit Academy (SDNPA). These gatherings underscored the necessity of professional development and strategic local government collaborations. Throughout July, we conducted pivotal interviews with experienced educators. We attended the "Truth About Reading" documentary screening, which introduced us to the transformative potential of EBLI® (Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction™) by Nora Chahbazi. By August, our interactions had led to potential partnerships, including discussions with Jose Cruz, the CEO of the San Diego Council on Literacy, and a key meeting with literacy advocate John Corcoran, setting the stage for impactful community literacy initiatives. The summer concluded with forward momentum. Founding Moment: Cortney Wallace’s journey to founding We Strive for Literacy began with a desire to pursue a deep sense of purpose and a commitment to following a path beyond her own self-determined plans. In 2023, a faith-centered study transformed her daily perspective, leading her to seek how she could help serve people in a more profound way. A pivotal volunteer experience stirred a conviction in her heart, prompting soul-searching conversations with mentors and an openness to where she was being led. At the time, Cortney was working in the corporate tech sector, but after an eye-opening discussion with the CEO of Dreams for Change and listening to Emily Hanford’s investigative series Sold a Story, she couldn’t ignore the urgency of the literacy crisis in the U.S. The weight of this issue—and the opportunity to be part of the solution—compelled her to step away from her corporate career in early 2024 and fully dedicate herself to launching We Strive for Literacy. Rooted in a mission to ensure all children receive effective, evidence-based literacy instruction, Cortney sees this work as more than just a professional endeavor—it’s a calling to serve. Guided by faith and a commitment to living a purpose-driven life, she is dedicated to transforming literacy outcomes for students who need it most.
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