UWGN-2024 AnnualReport - Flipbook - Page 16
THE STATE OF EDUCATION ACROSS OUR REGION
We are compelled to address a critical challenge facing our community’s youth – the alarming literacy
rates among Greater Nashville’s third graders. With nearly three out of 昀椀 ve third graders not reading
on grade level, the implications for their future success and the well-being of our community are
signi昀椀 cant. We have embraced this challenge, recognizing the transformative power of education in
shaping the trajectory of young lives.
We want to share our commitment to nurturing a
love for learning and empowering all students to
thrive academically through targeted initiatives
focused on early childhood development, literacy
improvement, and ensuring every child has the
support they need to graduate and succeed beyond
the classroom.
DIRECT SERVICES
Our work focuses on delivering high-quality
learning environments through initiatives that
provide classrooms, homes, teachers and students
across our region with curriculum, instruction and
assessment materials. We also provide ongoing
access to professional development for education
providers at every level, to ensure that every child
has what they need to improve their foundational
math and literacy skills.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Through support from UWGN, funded partners
across the region strengthen family and community
engagement efforts. UWGN sponsors family and
youth advisory councils, partners with agencies and
funders to improve family engagement and access
to resources, and hosts communities of practice
like the regional TN Afterschool Network and
CORE Network Nashville, along with vital literacy
engagement programs like Imagination Library of
Middle Tennessee.
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CORE Network Nashville
CORE Network Nashville hosted the inaugural
Early Childhood Champion Awards and reported
record growth for the annual conference, which
is free to attend thanks to funding by partners
like PNC Financial Services.
Imagination Library of Middle Tennessee
Get registered for Imagination Library straight
from the delivery room. UWGN’s Birthing
Hospital Initiative partners with local area
hospitals to ensure that families are given early
access to book registration.
CATALYST FOR SYSTEMS CHANGE
UWGN is committed to supporting the whole child
on their path toward lifelong success – starting with
their early education. By aligning policies, practices
and people, we act as a catalyst for systems-level
change, strengthening the ecosystem of education
across our region. Through strategic investments
of both 昀椀 nancial and relational capital, we can
build book-rich environments, increase parent and
caregiver understanding of a child’s development,
improve grade-level reading, encourage social
emotional and mental health, and ultimately,
positively impact on every child’s ability to thrive
beyond the classroom.
