DISMANTLING STRUCTURAL RACISM IN CHILDREN’S LITERACY
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Children’s Literacy Initiative seeks to dismantle structural racism by providing Black and Latinx children with the anti-racist early literacy instruction, support, and advocacy needed to create equity in education.
Advancing Literacy Equity Through Teacher Empowerment
CLI transforms education by empowering educators, bridging literacy gaps in high-need populations. We equip teachers, foster dynamic learning communities, and collaborate with districts for continuous improvement. Our goal is to ensure every child achieves reading proficiency, shaping a brighter future through innovative education.
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We’ve expanded to serve at-risk pre-k to 3rd-grade students, rooted in our founding principles. Intensive training transforms teachers into exemplary instructors, changing children’s lives. Partnering with 250 schools across 6 states, our work transforms practice at the instructional core.
In our relentless pursuit of equity, we adhere to the following guiding principles
We value the contributions, perspectives, and insights of others and treat every member of our community with dignity and respect.
Within our respective roles we consistently reflect and work to understand the impact of our actions within each situation, decision and their contributions to our outcomes.
Everything we do is in service of strong educational outcomes, access, and opportunities for Black and Latinx children, educators, and communities that we serve.
While we are all in different places on our journeys to antiracist and equity-centered leadership, we own our individual and collective growth and development. We are a learning organization that will require us to think differently and act differently in order to attain a different outcome for the children and communities we serve.
While we have our unique roles and responsibilities within our work, all of our work is interconnected and we have a responsibility to support one another to success.
Founded in 1988, we began as the hope of a single librarian in Philadelphia. What started as an annual celebration of literacy and quality literature is now a nationwide educational non-profit that impacts the lives and professions of over 70,000 students and more than 3,500 teachers per year.
As passionate dismantlers of racism through antiracist literacy, we promote educational equity with an interdisciplinary approach.
Dr. Diana L. Greene
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Reina Prowler
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Erica Holmes-Ware
CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER
Sonita Thompson
CHIEF OF STAFF
Caryn Henning
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CONTENT DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAM DESIGN
Kristen Brown
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Kate Rutledge
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS AND SUPPORT
Jordanne Owen
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, BRANDING, AND E-LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES
Michele LaCoursiere
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Mia Rose
DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING
Mary List
DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS AND SUPPORT
Danielle Muckley
NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY
Nicole Bethea
DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS AND SUPPORT
Sandra LaFleur
Director, Changemaker Education and Social Innovation, Miami Dade College
Jacqueline Woolley
Attorney & Counselor at Law The Ezold Law Firm, P.C.
Steve Piltch, Ed.D.
Senior Fellow Director, School Leadership Program, Graduate School of Education University of Pennsylvania
Mary Klein
Retired Educator
Nelson Flores
Assistant Professor University of Pennsylvania
Gerald Mosely
President CP&P Development, LLC
Frank Gettridge
Executive Director National Public Education Support Fund
Lori Taylor
Senior Counsel Foley & Lardner LLP
Steve Johnson
CFO with ReUp Education
Margot Lebovitz
Former Real Estate Attorney Executive Committee Member, Heights Philadelphia
Neil Phillips
Neil P. Phillips, LLC. Principal/Consultant/Advisor
Dr. Diana Greene
CEO, Children's Literacy Initiative
Be the change and join our team as we work towards our mission to empower and support educators while uplifting children and their communities.
CLI addresses the gap in literacy training by providing high-quality instruction, coaching, and resources. Through research-based strategies and professional learning communities, we empower educators and leaders with skills that last a lifetime, ensuring students benefit greatly throughout their educational journeys. Our organization partners with districts to establish sustainable processes, supporting continuous improvement in schools.
We maintain a Gold Participant rating from GuideStar, showcasing sound fiscal practices and a commitment to accountability and transparency. We also hold a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, denoting exceptional financial health and dedication to accountability and transparency with 83% of expenses directed towards programming in 2023-24. Unrestricted philanthropic funding supports our organizational capacity, technology, and innovation, contributing to our sustainability and strategic growth. For further details, you can review our latest Form 990 and audit. Federal Tax ID# - 23-2515768.
Reach out to a CLI team member today to learn more and explore possibilities for working together.
