Raising A Reader Massachusetts’ presence in Lowell launched in 2010 as a result of a generous grant by the United Way, and has allowed us to expand our reach in the Merrimack Valley. Cesarina Gonzalez leads Raising A Reader in the Lowell community and has been working hard to create partnerships and enter new sites.
Why Lowell?
Since 1985, the National Commission on Reading has noted that the “single most significant factor influencing a child’s early educational success is an introduction to books and being read to at home prior to beginning kindergarten.”
Unfortunately there is a persistent achievement gap in many communities across the Commonwealth. This  gap is linked to common social concerns such as family poverty, low educational attainment, limited access to available educational and other resources, and high rates of low literacy.
Lowell’s community data profile, made available through our friends at Strategies for Children, remind us of the level of need in the community.
Where are we in Lowell?
We are currently serving more than 600 high need children and their families in Lowell. Our Implementation Partners include:
- Public schools: Bartlett Partnership School, Lincoln Elementary, Morey Elementary, Murkland Elementary
- Child care centers: Community Teamwork Inc Head Start
- Home visiting: Thom Ann Sullivan Early Intervention
- Family child care centers: Acres Family Childcare System
Staff
Our Lowell program is staffed by Regional Program Manager Cesarina Gonzalez. Have a question for Cesarina? Call her at 617-292-BOOK (2665). Her email address is cesarina@raisingareaderma.org.