Fighting the Literacy Battle // May 10, 2023

Karen Vogelsang, director of ARISE2Read shares their efforts of engaging students at risk in the battle of literacy by serving elementary students at risk for reading failure. They do this by recruiting and training volunteers to provide students with focused support to acquire the literacy skills needed. Additionally, Karen discusses her trip to the 2023 World Literacy Summit, as well as her time as an elementary teacher. She recalls Ezekiel Kelly, one of her students, being recruited by gangs while in the 2nd grade. Sadly, in September of 2022 as an adult, Ezekiel Kelly was accused in a shooting spree that put Memphis in an hours-long lockdown. He faces 28 charges, including three counts of first-degree murder. This horrific event is one of the many reasons that Arise2Read is motivated to fight the literacy battle.