PCHA Partners with JWB for Grade Level Reading Campaign

The Pinellas County Housing Authority (PCHA) is excited to announce the opening of several new reading nooks within their housing properties, as well as a new reading nook located in the lobby of their central office.  The reading nooks are a result of the wonderful partnership with the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) and their Campaign for Grade Level Reading.

The children’s furniture for the nooks and the brand new books were donated fully by the JWB.  The children who visit the nooks are encouraged to take the available books home with them to read and enjoy.  As a continuation of the program, the JWB will replenish the books as they are taken to their new homes by the children.

The creation of each nook was based on the space available for placement.  For example, in the management office at Rainbow Village, PCHA has one bookshelf, but in another reading nook at Rainbow Village’s ROSS Office there was a larger space, this allowed for various seating and additional bookshelves.  PCHA also has a reading nook in the Norton Computer Learning Center which features open, comfortable seating and bookshelves.

PCHA is thankful for the partnership opportunity and shares in the belief of JWB when they state “Reading on grade-level by third grade is one of the most important predictors of high school graduation and career success. Yet nationwide, only about one-third of all children achieve this milestone. In response, JWB and our Pinellas County partners launched the Early Readers, Future Leaders: Pinellas Campaign for Grade-Level Reading with a vision that all children will be proficient readers by third grade.”

To learn more about this program, please email the Juvenile Welfare Board at dhintz@jwbpinellas.org