Tempe, Arizona is tackling educational inequality head-on, with an expanded investment in resources designed to enhance the academic and career prospects of its student community. Embracing the My Brother's Keeper Alliance's mission, Tempe has become the first city in the state to secure the MBK Community designation, which promises to usher in a new era for the city's boys and young men of color.
At the heart of this initiative, the City of Tempe has placed a particular emphasis on improving literacy among first to third graders struggling to read. Recognizing early reading proficiency as a key predictor of future success, the city's partnership with My Brother's Keeper Alliance, as reported by the Tempe government website, is multiplying efforts to provide targeted tutoring services.
According to the Tempe government, Lori Masseur, Director of Early Learning at Read On Arizona, stated, "Research shows that with the right instruction, intervention, and support, nearly all children can learn to read—and this exciting next step through Read On Tempe’s My Brother’s Keeper certification will expand their ability to deliver targeted, evidence-based literacy supports for at-risk students and continue to advance the goals of Arizona’s Literacy Plan 2030."
The city has also ramped up its AARP Foundation Experience Corps tutoring program, pairing experienced volunteers with young readers for dedicated help twice a week. Currently, Thew Elementary has referred 12 students to the program, who are after school working with four new volunteers at the Escalante Multi-Generational Center, focusing on students of color. The outreach appears to square with the data, which suggests a dramatic 98% of participating students exhibit improved reading fluency.
Moving forward, Tempe plans to leverage its recognition as an MBK Community to address additional educational milestones. These include tackling the disproportionate gaps faced by young men of color when it comes to college attendance and engaging with the labor market. As the Director of Tempe's Community Health and Human Services, Tim Burch, told the Tempe government website, "Our partnership with the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance elevates the work we’ve been doing for more than 40 years in schools across Tempe."
Tempe's array of educational programs extends beyond literacy initiatives, offering comprehensive support that reaches across all age groups. These include Tempe PRE preschool, Kid Zone for before and after school enrichment, the HUG Book club, and college and career readiness programs such as College Connect and Career Ready Tempe.
Families in Tempe are also being connected to public schools and a plethora of innovative programs through the Thrive in Tempe partnership, which collaborates with three local school districts and Arizona State University to make educational progress an attainable goal for every child in the city.
