Fort Morgan, Colorado
Fort Morgan Growing Readers demonstrates the power of collective impact to address equity and inclusion in small rural settings. The community has come together to make Fort Morgan the first place in the U.S. where every young child entering kindergarten is offered a home library of 100 age-appropriate books and their families are supported to develop a daily routine of shared reading.
Beginning in 2018, every family with a 4-year-old could register for weekly shipments of books and family tip cards with ideas about shared reading. Families also received weekly text or email messages, and were encouraged to use Unite’s digital library to read with their children, and share their reading experiences with friends and extended family.
54% of families reported they read with their child more than before receiving Growing Readers books. This behavior change combined with all participating families receiving 100 books is transforming the Fort Morgan community from a book desert into a book garden.
A total of 91,632 books were delivered, and 1,207 families participated.