Be a RIF Advocate

 

Who: We are excited to team up with YOU to showcase the need for continued awareness related to the national literacy crisis and use your social media channels to join our call to action.
 

What: By reinforcing the importance of reading and the impact that books and literacy resources can have on a child’s life, you will help to support RIF‘s mission to inspire a passion for reading among all children. You will help us celebrate the lifechanging power of literacy while also helping your network understand its critical importance to opportunity and educational success.
 

Where: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and blogs!

 

There’s even more you can do to spread awareness by conducting targeted outreach to key decisionmakers and education policy professionals. Below are some strategies you can use to reach out to elected officials and advocate for increased attention and funding for the children’s literacy cause.
 

Submit a letter to the editor of your local newspaper describing your personal experience with the literacy crisis we face today and call on local leaders to invest in children’s literacy. Sharing your story as an educator, parent, or local literacy advocate can have real, meaningful impact and help key officials understand the effects when students aren’t reading on grade level, lack books at home or at school, or lack reading support at home or at school. It’s helpful to anchor your message around a key timeframe like March for National Reading Month or summer reading to provide context and urgency for your message.
 

Write to your Member of Congress and tell them children’s literacy matters. Enter your zip code and with one click, you can look up your federal elected officials and craft a message to them to let them know that it’s vital to invest in children’s literacy programming like the U.S. Department of Education’s Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) grant program, a key funding stream for library and literacy non-profit organizations. Visit https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials to find your elected officials.

 

You can also use social media to amplify your advocacy messaging. By reaching out via Twitter or Facebook or direct messaging elected officials, you can ensure your voice will be heard. Share national or state literacy statistics or news articles that call attention to the matter. Visit https://www.rif.org/literacy-network/the-issue to access RIF’s Literacy Facts Map as well as the most recent articles and data on the topic.
 

• RIF is the leading champion for children’s literacy, empowering millions of children to read, learn, and grow.
• Since 1966, RIF has provided more than 415 million books to 50 million RIF kids.
• RIF creates innovative literacy solutions to ensure all children have the opportunity to read and succeed.
• There is a significant literacy crisis in America today. Many recognize there are issues around literacy, but do not see it as the massive, systemic and generational problem that plagues our society.
• 93 million adults in the U.S. read at or below the basic level needed to contribute successfully in society.
• 65% of 4th graders read below grade level, contributing to 8,000 students dropping out of high school every day.
• 43% percent of American adults are functionally illiterate.
• Every child deserves an opportunity to own books, learn how to read, and obtain the
• fundamental building blocks to achieve their highest potential. Reading is critical to all of life’s essential skills.
• Tell your personal story as a parent, educator, or community volunteer and the hurdles you’ve seen children face due to obstacles around their literacy skills.
• Highlight local impact and/or local solutions.