© 2024 The Children's Literacy Project. All rights reserved.
333 South State Street V163, Lake Oswego, OR 97034
Across the country, literacy nonprofits are changing lives every day. We’re honored to shine a light on their incredible work—stories filled with hope, resilience, and meaningful impact. This space is dedicated to sharing their efforts and honoring the difference they’re making in their communities.
Haverhill Promise is a cross-sector collaboration between schools, nonprofits, teachers, parents, health entities, early education providers, the library, community leaders, and businesses that are interested in playing a role in ensuring that all Haverhill students have the tools necessary to achieve grade-level reading by the end of third grade.
Haverhill Promise serves as a thought partner to community stakeholders and leaders through the lens of collective impact. Haverhill Promise works both through systems level and grassroots change. Through local partnerships, our goal is to see improved outcomes and effective coordination across the city. Our key roles are to advocate, convene and build community, align efforts with established research and coordinated local initiatives, and strengthen early literacy networks and leaders across Haverhill.
Haverhill Promise and the Book Buddies program has created meaningful connections between students and community volunteers while fostering a love of reading. This initiative pairs volunteers with students to exchange letters about books the adult provides to the student, creating a unique opportunity for children to develop literacy skills and build relationships. Starting in 2021 with one school, we have successfully scaled this program to include every third grader in the Haverhill School District. This means we have nearly 600 students paired with nearly 600 volunteers as a pen-pal style Book Buddy. During a recent screening event, where we review the letters and books to ensure they are in good condition and appropriate, 35 dedicated volunteers reviewed over 500 letters and books written by students, showcasing the enthusiasm and creativity sparked by the program.
One particularly impactful moment came from a second grader who expressed newfound confidence in writing after participating in Book Buddies. The student shared that receiving encouraging responses from their buddy made them feel proud of their progress and excited to write more. This program not only strengthens literacy skills but also builds self-esteem and fosters a sense of belonging for students. By connecting children with caring adults through the shared joy of reading, Haverhill Promise is making a lasting impact on young lives in the community.
Haverhill Promise’s UPSTART program has revolutionized kindergarten readiness for families in Haverhill. This program provides free laptops, personalized curriculum, and coaching support to families, ensuring children develop essential early learning skills before entering school. In 2024 alone, Haverhill Promise registered over 60 families for the program, empowering parents to take an active role in their child’s education. The Summer 2025 program is doubling in size this year due to a new Upstart partnership with the YMCA and HeadStart.
One family shared how Waterford UPSTART transformed their child’s learning experience. Their preschooler, who previously struggled with letter recognition, began confidently identifying letters and sounding out words within weeks of starting the program. Not only that but the child was excited to log into the program and looked forward to the personalized learning each day. The parent expressed gratitude for the individualized support they received, noting how it helped them feel equipped to guide their child’s learning journey. By providing accessible tools and resources, Haverhill Promise is helping families lay a strong foundation for academic success while bridging gaps in early education.
Haverhill Promise is tackling chronic absenteeism head-on through its innovative Anxiety and Absenteeism Project. Recognizing that anxiety can be a significant barrier to school attendance, the organization distributed bilingual copies of the book "Worries Are Not Forever" to every first grader in the district. This book serves as a foundation for discussing social-emotional learning and addressing feelings that may prevent children from wanting to attend school. School counselors pushed into classrooms for a week-long curriculum tied to the book’s contents, teaching students strategies to manage their worries and build resilience.
Additionally, family workshops provided caregivers with tools to help their children navigate stress at home, creating a holistic approach to addressing absenteeism. By combining literacy with social-emotional learning, Haverhill Promise is helping children overcome barriers to education while fostering emotional well-being for both students and families.
These stories highlight Haverhill Promise’s dedication to improving literacy outcomes while addressing broader challenges faced by children in the community. Each initiative demonstrates the organization’s innovative approach to empowering young learners and supporting families on their educational journey.
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