The goal of family literacy programs is to bring parents or caregivers together with their children for intergenerational activities that inspire and support reading and learning in the home and throughout life. Since parents are their children’s first teachers, promoting parental involvement in their children’s education is a powerful way to improve literacy in our communities.

Our Family Literacy Program: Project LIFT

Literacy Action’s family literacy program is called Project LIFT, a free family reading program for parents and children (ages 5-8), especially those who need help with reading or English language skills. The main goal of Project LIFT is to create a feeling of fun and togetherness centered around family times spent reading together, and to encourage families to read more at home by giving them free books to start a home library.

Project LIFT is a unique program that features reading, movement, and art activities based on a fun, interactive “spotlight book” each session, with the aim of building literacy skills for both children and parents. Participating families receive new children’s books throughout the program free of charge.

Project LIFT 2023 was a great partnership between Literacy Action and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. 2024 dates and locations available in January, 2024.

To encourage family literacy in your home, click here for Reading Rocket’s Family Literacy Tips: From A to Z.

Please contact Dana Venhaus at dvenhaus@literacyactionar.org or 501-372-7323 for more information about sponsoring or making a donation to support the families in Project LIFT.

We would like to give a special thank you to Heart of Arkansas United Way, Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust, Riggs Benevolent Fund, Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church, Heflin Youth Foundation, Tegna Foundation, and Hendrix College Campus Kitty for supporting Project LIFT!