Goodwill Industries of Arkansas is partnering with AR Kids Read to support early childhood literacy through a family-focused workshop at The Excel Center® in Little Rock. The literacy workshop will be held on Thursday, Feb. 19, and is designed to equip parents with practical tools to help foster reading and literacy skills at home.
The workshop will empower parents of readers with strategies, resources and confidence to support literacy development beyond the classroom. According to a press release, the event aligns with Arkansas’ LEARNS literacy focus, which recognizes that too many children are not on grade-level reading and that empowering families to support early literacy at home is essential to improving reading outcomes statewide.
The workshop will include:
- Practical, easy-to-use strategies to support literacy at home for kids in grades 1-3;
- Connections to local literacy resources, including libraries and community partners;
- Guidance on understanding school literacy assessments and standardized scores and how to confidently advocate for their readers.
“Strong partnerships like this one with AR Kids Read allow us to support families in meaningful, lasting ways,” said Brian Marsh, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Arkansas. “Nearly 70% of our Excel Center students are parents. We know education doesn’t stop at the classroom door—it continues at home, and we’re proud to help parents feel prepared to guide that journey.”
The collaboration marks AR Kids Read’s first literacy workshop partnership and aligns with Goodwill’s mission to break down barriers and strengthen families through education and training.
“Arkansas may face literacy challenges, but together we are building solutions,” said Michael Barger, program director at AR Kids Read. “Through our first literacy workshop partnership with Goodwill, we are able to serve families enrolled in Goodwill’s education programs, providing them with resources and support to nurture early literacy at home for their little ones.”
READ ALSO: UA Little Rock Bringing Back Planetarium, Thanks to $1.2M Gift
