Rally for Readers: Highlights from Read by 4th’s 2025 Partner Network Meeting
On September 30th, 2025, more than 100 partners, funders, families, and literacy champions packed into REC Philly. The occasion? Read by 4th’s annual Partner Network Meeting and the celebration of ten years of Philly’s early literacy movement.
This year’s theme put advocacy front and center, reminding us that reading is power and that policy drives possibility. Partners didn’t just connect with one another; they linked arms with advocacy leaders. Action tables buzzed with energy as partners signed petitions and joined direct efforts to advance policy change.
Couldn’t join the party? Don’t worry, we’ve got the highlights.
“This is not just a campaign, it’s a movement.”
The night kicked off with warm welcomes from Jenny Bogoni, Read by 4th’s founding Executive Director and now the Free Library Foundation’s Chief of Community Engagement, alongside Monique Moore Pryor, Esq., the Foundation’s President.
Monique reflected on her first taste of the movement at Tree House Books’ Philadelphia Literacy Day:
“I watched a book block party unfold across North Philly. Thousands of free books in children’s hands, partners side by side, neighbors helping neighbors. Even when the storm rolled in, no one left. Everyone covered the books, held the tents, and pulled together. That’s what it looks like when a city protects its children’s right to read.”
It was a reminder that Read by 4th has always been more than programs or events; it’s about relationships, trust, and collective community action.
Ten Years of Progress and the Road Ahead
As Jenny shared, the past decade has transformed literacy in Philly:
The Science of Reading has gone from “whispered in hallways” to being embedded in our public school curriculum and named agendas in state policy.
Literacy is no longer “the school’s job alone.” Rec centers, pediatricians, libraries, and even the Philadelphia Zoo are all literacy partners.
More than a thousand Reading Captains are rewriting what community change looks like.
Families have stepped into leadership roles through the Parent Council.
High-quality Pre-K, teacher prep programs, and literacy-rich playgrounds are now part of the city’s fabric.
But Jenny was clear: the work isn’t finished. Literacy scores haven’t moved enough. The pandemic widened gaps. And now, children’s right to read freely is under attack.
Her words carried both urgency and commitment:
“How long are you willing to fight for Philly’s young readers? … Movements like this don’t happen by accident. They happen because people link arms and say: ‘We will not stop until every child can read.’”
Honoring a Founding Champion
One of the night’s most powerful moments was celebrating Donna Cooper, co-founder of Read by 4th and longtime President of Children First, who will be retiring this year.
Donna reminded the room why the campaign started in the first place:
“We do this because we believe our kids have power. And the power to control their lives, to prosper, to lead, that power begins with reading.”
Her stories traced the movement’s roots: from neighbors handing out books at block parties to advocates fighting for systemic change in teacher training, and fair school funding.
And in classic Donna fashion, she didn’t just inspire, she pushed us all to action:
“That’s why we love Philly. ‘Cause we don’t just love hard, we fight hard. Right?”
Donna may be retiring, but as Jenny said while gifting her a special Philly ABCs print: “A is for Advocate. And no one embodies that better than you.” And she’ll be around for the long haul, making good trouble for a better Philadelphia.
A Movement Renewed
Closing out the night, Read by 4th’s new Managing Director, Julia Cadwallender, brought the focus back to action and connection. As both a mom of three and a literacy leader, she reminded us that small actions add up to big change.
Julia left partners with two takeaways:
Action: Visit advocacy partners, sign petitions, grab a new advocacy poster, and use your voice to speak up for literacy.
Connection: Keep building relationships, because every conversation strengthens the movement.
What’s Next?
The night wrapped with music, laughter, and buzzing conversations around advocacy tables, but one thing was clear: this isn’t the end of our fight, or our story.
Here’s how you can keep the momentum going:
Read the 2025 Impact Report to see what’s happening across Philly’s early literacy ecosystem.
Recommit to the Read by 4th movement and keep early literacy a priority across Philadelphia. Sign the Partner Agreement or Reading Captains Pledge.
Advocate for early literacy by learning more about the crisis and the policies that can help fix it. And be sure to connect with our partners leading the charge: PA Literacy Coalition, Children First, Philadelphia Alliance to Restore School Librarians (PARSL), and Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia.
