Community Organizations Partner To Improve South St. Pete Literacy Rates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2022

Contact: Lorielle J. Hollaway
833 22nd Street S. Suite B
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
sprstudy@culturedbooks.org
727.328.4822

Participants needed to take part in paid focus groups on family reading programs
Cultured Books Literacy Foundation, Inc. in partnership with Shaping The Early Mind, Barbershop Book Club, and Thrive By Five are conducting a research study on family literacy engagement in the south St. Petersburg, area codes of 33701, 33705, 337070, 33711, 33712, and 33713.

St. Pete Reads! Literacy Engagement Study is a mixed-methods study that addresses the literacy gap between Black students and non-Black students in Pinellas County and how community plays a role in closing it. The purpose of the study is to receive community insight to better understand how to improve reading programs in support of Black youth and families in St. Petersburg FL.

Research tells us that family involvement in literacy-based activities outside of school positively impacts a student’s academic achievement. Through participation in the focus group; youth, caregivers and literacy stakeholders will have the opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences to help improve reading programs in our community.

Focus groups will be held at the following locations in St. Pete:

Caregiver* and Youth
Caregivers are parents, aunts, uncles, grand parents or older siblings.
April 28 | 6-8pm The Well 833 22nd St. S. S
April 30 | 9-11am Enoch Davis 1111 18th Ave S.
May 4 | 6-8pm Childs Park Rec. Center 4301 13th Ave S.
May 7 | 9-11am Enoch Davis 1111 18th Ave S.

Literacy Stakeholder
Literacy Stakeholders are educators, mentors, community leaders, youth pastors, etc.
April 27 | 6-8pm The Well 833 22nd St. S.
April 30 | 1-3pm Enoch Davis 1111 18th Ave S.
May 2 | 6-8pm Childs Park Rec. Center 4301 13th Ave S.
May 7 | 1-3pm Enoch Davis 1111 18th Ave S.

Focus groups are 90 min long and participants receive a $15 gift card, meal, and swag bag.

Thank you to the community in advance for their help in improving reading programs in St. Pete!

Peace, Love + Books,
Lorielle J. Hollaway
Cultured Books Literacy Foundation