Why We’re All In: Headline Sponsors Share Their Vision for Literacy & Justice for All

Literacy is a civil right. This belief unites the sponsors of our upcoming Literacy & Justice for All Symposium on March 6-7, 2026. We asked our headline sponsors what gives them hope, why they chose to support this gathering, and what we can accomplish together. Their responses remind us why this work matters—and why we can’t do it alone.

A Solvable Crisis

“Literacy is a serious but solvable crisis,” said Cassie Perham, Senior Program Officer at Chamberlin Education Foundation. She points to the robust research base and real examples of progress happening right now: “We are encouraged by the early adopter schools in West Contra Costa that are leading the way to implement evidence-based curriculum, professional development, and instructional practices, while new state legislation provides resources and frameworks for these changes to be scaled system-wide.”

Dana Cilono, Director of Education Strategy & Ventures at Kenneth Rainin Foundation, sees legislative momentum as a turning point:

“I am hopeful that recent literacy legislation in California leads to improved outcomes for children. We have educator preparation programs auditing and improving their coursework to better prepare tomorrow’s educators. We have schools screening children for possible reading difficulties using valid and reliable tools and then sharing the screening data with families! Soon, schools and districts will have a fresh list of curricular programs that align with the evidence base, as well as professional learning providers who can help them connect research to practice. This is an incredibly promising moment, and I am hopeful that we all can work together to ensure that the labor involved in getting to this point is not for nothing.

A Shared Responsibility

Marissa L. Trambley, Vice President of Philanthropy & Advocacy at Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, sees this alignment happening on the ground:

“What gives us hope is seeing literacy treated as a shared responsibility. We’re seeing stronger alignment between schools, families, nonprofits, and community partners around early literacy, from increased access to 1:1 and small group tutoring for students furthest behind, to access to culturally affirming books, to restored school libraries and resources. We are seeing momentum around creating a culture of reading and better outcomes when kids have books they want to read, adults to support them, and consistent extra time to practice,” Trambley said.

The Power of Community

Making good on this moment requires something bigger than any single organization can provide.

“Together we can create the conditions for every student in every classroom in every school to become a strong reader,” Perham said. “Ensuring all students have the literacy skills required to succeed in school and thrive in life will take a collective effort of teachers, school and district leaders, families, and community partners working to expand opportunities and remove barriers to learning and create the systems-level policies and investments to scale and sustain progress.”

Trambley echoed this sentiment:

“Individually, our efforts and programs can run the risk of misalignment in both approach and focus. Together, there is an opportunity for scale, consistency, and the reach needed to systematically change the conditions kids are learning in across an entire school district. Collaboration lets us align tutoring, book distribution, library investments, and family engagement as key interventions, so students aren’t experiencing fragmented literacy support. It also lets us advocate with a unified voice for resources, equity, and literacy as a justice issue that has not been fully available to all,” Trambley said.

Dorian Luey of the Hellman Foundation sees this community-building as essential:

“The unwavering commitment, care, and accountability to student outcomes held by community-based organizations that are working with students, educators, and policymakers to build lifelong literacy are always a source of hope and optimism.”

This is precisely why the Symposium matters: “The Literacy and Justice for All Symposium makes evident that it takes a community of people to support literacy development, and it has been such an important lever to expanding this community and braiding together the efforts that are needed to sustain this field,” said Luey.

Creating Space for Learning and Connection

Perham emphasized what happens when educators have the opportunity to learn together:

“Students benefit when teachers and educators have opportunities to learn and be in community with one another. The Literacy & Justice for All Symposium provides a powerful space for West Contra Costa teachers and school leaders to dig into literacy research and evidence-based practices that are driving results, connect with educators and experts to see what’s working beyond our local community, and inform important policy conversations with on-the-ground knowledge and practitioner expertise.”

Trambley highlighted why this community-centered approach is critical:

“We chose to sponsor Literacy & Justice for All because it represents the kind of community-centered platform that encourages unified change. This symposium brings together educators, advocates, families, and organizations who do the work every day and creates space to think, learn, and problem-solve together.

“For us, literacy is inseparable from justice, and progress only happens when those closest to the challenges are part of and help shape the conversation,” she continue. “Sponsoring this convening is about showing up as part of the collective with a chance for Eat. Learn. Play. to continue listening, contributing, and aligning our efforts as part of a broader movement working to ensure every child has the opportunity to read, learn, and thrive.”

Why This Matters Now

Cilono put it plainly: “Change is hard because it confronts the status quo. Change is hard because it keeps pushing when the status quo resists. Change is hard, but we know that not changing is not an option. Literacy is a civil right.”

And in these uncertain times, that conviction matters more than ever: “I am hopeful that in a world full of uncertainty, we continue to fight for literacy. That in a world where truths are shaken, and freedoms are threatened, we stand by the belief that literacy is a civil right, and that supporting children’s literacy is an act of resistance.”

Join Us

The Literacy & Justice for All Symposium brings together the research, the practitioners, the community partners, and the resources we need to transform literacy outcomes for all students. Our headline sponsors—Chamberlin Education Foundation, Kenneth Rainin Foundation, Hellman Foundation/Third Plateau, and Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation—are investing in this gathering because they know what’s possible when we work together.

By equipping all educators with effective materials and supporting strong instruction, we have a real opportunity to dramatically increase reading success and transform outcomes for generations of students to come. There is still much work to be done, but we’re not doing it alone. Learn more and register for Literacy & Justice for All