READ USA is thrilled to announce our 2025 Peace in the Pages Award Honorees! Please join us in congratulating:
Peter Racine, Retired President, Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation: READ To Lead Award Honoree
Will Brown, Reporter, WJCT News: Mark Landen Memorial Award for Democracy Through Journalism
Jennifer Beale-Collier, Principal, Anchor Academy Elementary School: Marjorie Broward Memorial Scholarship Award
We will be sharing more about each of our award honorees in the coming weeks, leading up to Peace in the Pages on Friday, November 7, when we will celebrate these phenomenal individuals’ contributions to literacy, grade-level reading proficiency, and building the workforce of tomorrow!
To join us at Peace in the Pages…
Our supporters who donate $1,000 a year or more to READ USA are invited as our guests to Peace in the Pages. However, if you are not currently a READ USA donor, you can also save your seat at Peace in the Pages by donating $150 today!
Because of the generosity of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, our presenting sponsor, and our event partners, the cost of the luncheon is fully underwritten, so 100% of your donation is tax-deductible because it all goes directly to READ USA’s mission!
Click here to make your donation today and reserve your seat at Peace in the Pages! If you would like to reserve multiple seats, please email joe@readusainc.com for support.
Reminder: READ USA supporters who donate $1,000 or more do not need to make an additional donation; donors will receive seating information from us soon!
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, and our event partners, Kids Hope Alliance, Duval County Public Schools, and STEM2 Hub, for helping make this year’s event possible!
If you have any questions about Peace in the Pages, please contact joe@readusainc.com.
READ USA Participates in JWB Cares Homeownership Initiative
Yesterday, our President & CEO Dr. Rob Kelly joined JWB Cares, the charitable arm of JWB Real Estate, for a special announcement about its new Welcome Home Fund aimed at boosting local homeownership and making the path to homeownership more accessible.
“Today’s announcement is so meaningful because it’s about more than housing—it’s about stability, opportunity, and workforce readiness,” shared Dr. Kelly, who served as emcee during the press conference. “When families have safe, stable homes, children are better able to focus on their learning, and teens are better prepared to build their futures.”
He continued, “This investment reflects JWB’s long-standing commitment to building strong families and stronger communities, and it directly complements the mission of READ USA.”
Through the Welcome Home Fund, JWB Cares awarded $20,000 grants to eight aspiring homebuyers – a total of $160,000 – for down-payment assistance. To participate, JWB residents made submissions for down payment assistance. READ USA volunteers carefully reviewed these submissions and selected 20 submissions to move forward. From there, an independent review committee had the difficult task of choosing the eight final recipients.
Dr. Kelly participated in the review committee alongside LIFT JAX CEO Travis Williams, LISC Jacksonville Executive Director Dr. PeDro Cohen, and Ability Housing Director of Programs Cody Spencer.
“We are proud to stand alongside JWB and Alex Sifakis in this effort to expand opportunity and strengthen our community. Together, we are creating pathways not only to homeownership, but also to brighter futures for children, teens, and families across Jacksonville,” added Dr. Kelly.
Congratulations to the eight grant recipients! You can read more about yesterday’s announcement in the Jacksonville Business Journal here.
20 Years of Read(ing) for the Record
This year, Jumpstart’s Read for the Record – “the world’s largest shared reading experience” – celebrates its 20th anniversary, and its 20-week celebration kicked off this week!
Image provided by Jumpstart.
Every year, Read for the Record unites millions of people across the globe by reading the same book on the same day to raise awareness for early literacy. This year, Read for the Record chose the popular children’s book, See Marcus Grow, by Marcus Bridgewater.
Team READ USA has participated in Read for the Record Day, typically hosted in the fall, by reading aloud in classrooms at the elementary schools we serve for the past few years. This year, Read for the Record Day will take place on Thursday, February 26, 2026—and we will be celebrating again this year!
#DYK: During the past 20 years, more than 30 million people globally have participated in Read for the Record across all 50 states and over 30 countries?!
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Jumpstart will spotlight one book each week – leading up to February 26, 2026 – from its 20-year history. Activity guides will be released with each book.
This week, Jumpstart is featuring its first book, The Little Engine That Could – a classic children’s book by Watty Piper.
To stay connected or read more, visit Jumpstart’s website, which has links to its featured books, activity guides, and social media channels: https://www.jstart.org/read-for-the-record/
#FastFacts Wednesday: Dyslexia & Bullying Prevention Awareness
Catch up on some #FastFacts news briefs this week!
Dyslexia Awareness & Educator Resources
#DYK that approximately 1 out of 10 people globally are affected by dyslexia? (Source here.) While that is an estimation, it demonstrates the prevalence of this language-based learning disability.
The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) provides resources for individuals experiencing dyslexia, parents/caregivers, teachers, and others. These resources offer guidance on how to identify signs and symptoms of dyslexia, and provide strategies, tips, and tools to help students and loved ones experiencing dyslexia.
Specifically for educators, the IDA publishes Dyslexia in the Classroom: What Every Teacher Needs to Know – a fantastic resource for teachers, administrators, and school-based personnel to help every child achieve their fullest potential. You can check that out and more on IDA’s website HERE.
Bullying Prevention: Not Just in October!
October is also Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, but seeing as 1 in every 5 students in the U.S. has reported being bullied (source here), it’s important to recognize, stop, and prevent bullying every day of the year!
While many of us have heard of – or, unfortunately, experienced – in-person or cyberbullying, there is also a newer phenomenon to watch for called “soft bullying,” also known as the Silent Sabotage. On Monday this week, News4Jax published a story about soft bullying, so you can read more about that HERE.
Also, the locally based Monique Burr Foundation for Children provides a variety of prevention education programs to protect children and teens from bullying and abuse. From Child Safety to Teen Safety to After-School Safety, the Monique Burr Foundation for Children is an excellent resource for children, parents, and educators alike!
Stay tuned for our next installment #FastFacts Wednesday soon!
Children’s Book: Because I Had a Teacher by Kobi Yamada
Illustrated by Natalie Russell
Because I Had a Teacher beautifully illustrates how teachers influence not just academic success, but emotional growth, confidence, and character as well. For parents, it’s a reminder that behind every worksheet and classroom routine is a person who sees your child’s potential—even when your child doesn’t yet see it themselves.
Many teachers quietly give encouragement every day—through a nod, an extra minute of help, or a smile across the room. This story captures those small moments, letting students recognize that each kindness is a piece of a much larger belief in their potential.
By reading about the bear and cub relationship, students step into the teacher’s shoes for a moment. They begin to understand why teachers celebrate every success, comfort every failure, and never stop believing in what each student can become.
October, during which we celebrate World Teachers’ Day, is the perfect month to encourage your child to write a note or draw a picture as a heartfelt gesture for their teacher. It will not be just a gift—it will be a wonderful moment of connection.
Submitted by Melanie Poag, READ USA Content Assistant
Parent Education Corner: The Importance of Independent Reading
Independent reading is one of the simplest and most effective ways to help children grow as learners, thinkers, and curious individuals. Even just 15–20 minutes a day can make a huge difference!
Here’s why it matters so much:
- Builds Reading Fluency: When children read on their own, they get repeated exposure to sentence structures, vocabulary, and punctuation. Over time, this helps them read more smoothly and with better understanding—what we call fluency.
- Expands Vocabulary: The more kids read, the more words they see. And not just everyday words—books expose them to rich, varied language that they might not hear in daily conversation. This naturally strengthens their vocabulary, which in turn improves comprehension and communication.
- Improves Comprehension: Daily reading gives children the chance to practice making connections, visualizing, asking questions, and predicting outcomes—all key skills for understanding what they read. The more they read, the stronger these skills become.
- Fosters Independence and Confidence: When students choose books that interest them and read at their own pace, they develop a sense of ownership over their learning. This independence builds confidence and motivation to keep reading.
- Develops Focus and Stamina: Reading independently helps kids learn to sit with a book, concentrate, and engage for longer periods of time—all essential skills not just for school, but for life.
- Encourages a Love of Reading: Perhaps most importantly, daily independent reading creates a routine where books become a familiar and enjoyable part of a child’s life. And once a child loves to read, they’ll keep reading – and learning – on their own.
Submitted by Melanie Poag, READ USA Content Assistant