Project Bridge
Project Bridge is designed to strengthen early literacy connections between families and early childhood programs while equipping both caregivers and educators with engaging, evidence-based resources and training grounded in the science of reading. First Up and the Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI) co-developed these workshops, ensuring the programming reflects the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of the communities we partner with. This program is made possible by the generous support of Vanguard and is offered at no cost to families.
3 Workshops
A cornerstone of Project Bridge, these interactive sessions are led by First Up specialists and hosted in partnership with early childhood programs or a community space. Workshops empower caregivers to practice reading strategies, explore engaging literacy activities, and strengthen the connection between home and school.
Participants receive:
- 30 books in the family’s native language for their home library.
- Caregiver-focused instruction on how to use the materials effectively.
- Hands-on practice with their children to reinforce literacy learning.
- Accompanying activities and materials to enhance the reading experience at home.
Professional Development opportunities for Pre-K educators
To support alignment between home and school learning, pre-K educators at participating partner early childhood programs receive two sponsored professional development sessions on culturally sustaining literacy practices and inclusive engagement strategies. Each participating school program or community organization also receives 75 culturally sustaining books for their classroom or community library.