Angel Reese
photo credit: The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 6, 2026

Angel Reese Joins Atlanta Dream, Bringing The Bayou Barbie Back Down South

Reese will say goodbye to the Windy City in this new trade.

Angel Reese is officially with the Atlanta Dream, marking her departure from the Chicago Sky.

The WNBA All-Star, known by fans as the “Bayou Barbie,” will return to play hoops in the South with the new trade. In the deal, confirmed by ESPN, Reese will play for the Dream as her former franchise received two first-round picks.

The 6-foot-3 forward announced the news herself with her signature No. 5 on the red Dream jersey. The former LSU player wrote that it’s an “Angel’s dream” to join the franchise in the Georgia capital city, with the city also honoring one of its new star players.

Reese will become a new asset for the team, having already established herself as a formidable player on the court. In her sophomore season, she averaged 14.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. As the leading rebounder for the league for two consecutive seasons, she intends to help the Dream secure its first WNBA championship.

Beyond her on-court prowess, the Vogue cover star has become a growing advocate for women athletes. With her sneaker collaboration with Reebok and her career as a media personality, Reese will now become attached to a cultural hotspot.

The Atlanta Dream has also prepped fans’ excitement for the upcoming season. The franchise already has Reese’s jersey on sale, with part-owner and former player Renee Montgomery also congratulating the 23-year-old on the news.

Fans also commented on what a “dream” trade this was for the women’s basketball organization, especially as Reese can promote new opportunities within the vibrant Atlanta scene.

“This is the perfect market. In a majority Black city, centralized in the South so LSU, SEC, & DMV fans can travel, and with several HBCUs close by,” shared one X user. “I can already see her speaking at Spelman and her number 5 jersey being a staple like Michael Vick’s was.”

Reese will face her former team at a pre-season game in Chicago on April 29. However, WNBA fans can catch Reese in her first home game with the Dream as they play against the Las Vegas Aces on May 17. Tickets to the game are on sale now.

RELATED CONTENT: Angel Reese Joins Undefeated’s Rose BC For Final Playoff Push

Oria, oral history, startup
(Photo: Kampus Production/Pexels)
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 6, 2026

Neighbor Calls Out Caregiver Who Allegedly Forced Elderly Man To Walk Outside In A Diaper As Punishment

Many on social media are concerned about the well-being of an elderly man who appeared to be forced outside in a wet diaper by a caregiver.

A concerned neighbor in Wilmington, North Carolina, has sparked outrage after sharing a viral video that appears to show a caregiver forcing an elderly man to walk outside in a wet diaper as punishment.

Concern grew after a Facebook user, Jonathan Maurice Pigford, shared a nearly two-minute video on April 3 that captured a disturbing encounter with an elderly man wearing only a shirt and diaper, who appeared to have been forced outside by an upset caregiver, allegedly claiming it was meant “to teach him.”

“Had to flip on my crazy neighbor again,” Pigford captioned the post. “She makes this man walk around like this in the winter, too. Fkn ridiculous. Authorities are involved. I’ll update later.”

The video, reposted by It’s Onsite, shows Pigford approaching the elderly man who appears to be jogging half-dressed down the street of their residential block.

“Are you OK? Come on, let’s go home—I’ll take you,” Pigford tells the man, who responds that he’s fine and says “thank you.” But as they approach the home, an upset caregiver emerges and demands the elderly man “turn around and go back where you came from.”

“What do you mean? He’s wet,” Pigford tells the woman.

“He’s supposed to be out here. He’s going to go all the way back to where he’s supposed to go,” she explains.

“Where is he supposed to go? Don’t he live here?” Pigford asks.

“He knows,” the woman scowls, before asking the elderly man, “Are you supposed to be out here? No!”

“But why would you make him go all the way back there?” Pigford asks.

“To teach him,” the woman said.

Pigford continued addressing the caregiver, telling her the man’s behavior is typical of aging. When she told him to “mind his business,” he pushed back, accusing her of exploiting the man for a paycheck. The exchange escalated before Pigford ended the video, saying he was calling the police.

In a follow-up, Pigford thanked supporters and confirmed authorities were called to the home, though he said he had no update on whether the elderly man remained in the caregiver’s care.

RELATED CONTENT: Nationwide Provides Strategies and Tools to Help Black Caregivers Manage Finances

Cardi B, Zevia, Investor , Ambassador
(Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV)
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 6, 2026

NYC Mayor Mamdani Taps Cardi B To Promote Jingle Competition For 2-K Program

The mayor and the Bronx rapper want NYC families to take advantage of this free childcare opportunity.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Cardi B are joining forces again, this time to promote a new initiative for local families.

The boots-on-the-ground mayor and the Bronx-born rapper are promoting the release of 2-K program applications for New York residents. According to CBS News, the Childcare for All program expects to start in the fall, with 2,000 seats available for families to apply for.

As a mother of four, Cardi B understands the importance of these opportunities for both child and parent. Not only does the 2-K program help children get an early start to education, but it also provides free childcare for working parents.

“Sometimes, us women, we can’t really go forward because we don’t have nobody to help us take care of our kids,” she said.

However, the 2-K program has a short application window. Submissions open June 2 with a deadline of June 26. Families can expect to hear if their child has gained a spot in August.

While the program already has the A-list entertainer to help with its marketing, the rapper wants others to join the promotion through a jingle competition. New Yorkers can submit original 15 to 30-second jingles all about turning in those 2-K applications.

“As Cardi B says: ‘I can get ’em both. I don’t wanna choose.’ With universal child care, New Yorkers won’t have to,” Mamdani said in a statement. “For too long, families have been forced to choose between affordable care and staying in the city they love. Now, they can have both—free care in the greatest city in the world.” 

A panel of guest judges, including the “Get Up 10” rapper, will decide on the winner. The winning jingle will become the official song for the program and will be heard across New York radio stations.

Those opting to apply for the jingle competition must do so by April 17.

In the meantime, Mamdani is preparing to roll out one of his biggest plans yet with the Childcare For All program. Partnering with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, this first-year rollout will pave the way for increased spending and more families to take part in the 2-K program.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘Women Of Power’ Panel Proves The Future Of Work Isn’t Waiting—Neither Should You

Caribbean Air,Air Jamaica
Arpingstone, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
by Mitti Hicks

April 6, 2026

Caribbean Airlines Loses $255 Million Since Acquiring Air Jamaica

The numbers show that while the Air Jamaica routes have made money for the airline, with the exception of 2020 during the pandemic and 2025, personnel and administrative costs have increased since 2020.

A new investigation revealed that Caribbean Airlines (CAL) has incurred losses of over TT$1.7 billion (U.S. $255 million) since acquiring Air Jamaica (AJ) in 2011 and managing AJ’s base operations.

The investigation by the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian analyzed unaudited account figures from 2012 to 2025. The numbers show that while Air Jamaica routes have made money for the airline, with the exception of 2020 during the pandemic and 2025, personnel and administrative costs have increased since 2020.

CAL sources told the regional outlet that the Jamaican government has not contributed any money to the airline since becoming a part-owner in 2011. Under the original ownership agreement, Jamaica held a 16% stake in the company, but that share has since decreased to 11.8%. Sources indicated that if Jamaica’s stake falls below 10%, the country will lose its right to have a representative on the airline’s board of directors.

Currently, there are two Jamaican directors on the CAL board.

CAL Is Feeling The Financial Impact

While CAL has pressed Jamaican government officials for financial support for the airline, nothing has been offered.

Trinidad & Tobago Guardian’s investigation revealed that CAL’s expenses come amid a trying time for the airline, as it seeks further financial support to offset rising fuel costs. Without the Jamaican government’s support, travelers could see an increase in overall ticket costs, a reduction in “lower revenue routes,” and a fuel surcharge to help write off its billion-dollar debt.

Former Director of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Trinidad and Tobago, Ramesh Lutchmedial, told the outlet that the “Jamaican diaspora never supported CAL.”

“Instead, [they] chose to fly with other airlines. CAL stuck to the agreement, and in the first two years, CAL lost over USD$200 million. Eventually, CAL had to drop the loss-making routes,” said.

He continued, “Also, during the pandemic and throughout CAL’s loss-making periods, despite the fact that Jamaica is a shareholder and employs hundreds of Jamaican citizens, the Jamaican Government has not injected a single cent into CAL.”

In 2025, CAL discontinued flights between Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Montego Bay and Kingston due to “poor performance.”

RELATED CONTENT: Airline Ticket Prices Jump Worldwide As Iran War Pushes Fuel Costs Higher

The Shade Room, Angelica Nwandu, Maury Povich
Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for AfroTech
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 6, 2026

The Shade Room Founder Reveals She Declined $100M Offers To Sell During Election Season

The celebrity blog caught the eyes of political organizations for its influence, especially during election season.

Angelica Nwandu, founder of The Shade Room, talks about the company’s rise to receiving $100 million offers, especially during election seasons.

During an appearance on the “On Par with Maury Povich” podcast, the CEO shared rare insights on her journey to The Shade Room and its tremendous growth. Despite her platform’s major following, Nwandu has kept a relatively lower profile. However, the Nigerian-American has remained steadfast in keeping The Shade Room under Black ownership, especially at a time when influence means everything.

As the former television host revealed that Nwandu has turned down 9-figure offers to sell her company, she explained why she passed on the payday to remain true to her Black audience.

“It’s because of the community that I have and that we serve. I really love them. I’m really protective over where they’ll go,” she responded when asked by Povich about her refusal of the offers.

Notably, these sizable checks would come during election season. Given The Shade Room’s massive Black audience, new owners could have marketed certain candidates or political views to its viewers. However, Nwandu wanted to maintain the integrity of the platform she built and was willing to forgo the payday to do so.

She explained, “Because a lot of times when the offers would come, it would be during an election year.”

“So they would change it for some partisan reason,” inquired Povich.

Nwandu responded, “Exactly.”

Nwandu built The Shade Room from the ground up, starting the celebrity news blog in 2014 after she lost her job as an accountant. She has since grown the primarily Instagram-based platform to over 28.7 million followers, whom she fondly refers to as “Roommates.”

However, protecting the “roommates” has become a big priority for Nwandu. Knowing the Shade Room’s influence within the Black community, and with more young voters getting their political news from Instagram, she declined to switch owners for the sake of a check.

“For politics, because it was a large Black audience, and like, you know, their voting ability, and so, like, they would, it would usually be election year,” she continued. “So 2020, 2024. So on Instagram, we are the, well, in the last 30 days, the No.1 source of politics on Instagram…we built a really big community.”

Not only were politically minded organizations on the prowl, but so were celebrities featured on the page. Although she did not name any famous offers, she insisted that keeping ownership in her hands was the best play for the TSR audience.

“If someone bought it out, they would change it up completely,” she added. And to me, like I didn’t want to do that…or it would be like an entertainer, who would be someone that we report on, that would want to buy it, would want to gather investors to buy it. So it just wasn’t the right play.”

RELATED CONTENT: Rapper Boosie Gifts His Mama A Whole Estate

soul food, southern food, Busy Bee, Atlanta
(Photo: Getty Images)
by Ahsan Washington

April 6, 2026

9 Soulful Spots Keeping Black Culinary Legacy Alive

They’re cooking up a tale of migration, grit and flavor, and culture.

From the smokiness of barbecue pits to the charm of Creole dining rooms, Black chefs and restaurateurs have long transformed traditional family recipes into cultural menus and dining experiences. Across the nation, these culinary landmarks do more than dish out meals; they dish out memories, resistance, and community. 

Each establishment cooks up a tale of migration, grit, flavor, and culture that still shapes America’s palate. BLACK ENTERPRISE shines a light on nine soulful spots keeping Black culinary legacy alive one plate at a time.

Dooky Chase Restaurant—New Orleans 

Dooky Chase Restaurant, the storied Creole‑soul kitchen that Leah Chase and her family opened in 1939, has long stood as a civic and culinary pillar of New Orleans. It has doubled as a hub for civil‑rights strategizing, a sanctuary for Creole customs and a showcase for art. Over the decades, the business has been handed down like a family heirloom along with recipes, neighborhood feasts, gallery‑like art installations, and the stories that simmer on every plate. In 2025, Dooky Chase added another accolade to its shelf: the James Beard America’s Classics Award.

The Busy Bee Café—Atlanta

The Busy Bee Café, a long‑standing soul‑food cornerstone and historic Civil Rights hangout, has been drawing civil rights leaders and members of the Black community together since it opened in 1947. Still run by the founding family, the café is hailed as an anchor safeguarding the time‑honored traditions of Southern Black comfort cooking. 

Jones Bar-B-Q Diner—Marianna, Arkansas

Jones Bar‑B‑Q Diner, one of the longest‑running restaurants in the United States, has been slinging Southern‑style barbecue since the 1910s. The Jones family has guarded its time‑tested recipes, the way it smokes its meat, and its hard‑won local reputation, keeping a thread of community identity woven through each generation. 

Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack—Nashville

Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack began in the mid‑1930s, as a kitchen born out of a grudge. Over the years, it morphed into a benchmark for Black culinary ingenuity and a name that food lovers now point to when they talk about innovation. The Prince family grew the single neighborhood joint into a handful of locations all while guarding the secret spice blend.

Harold & Belle’s—Los Angeles

Harold & Belle’s Creole restaurant, a time‑capsule that draws its lineage from the streets of New Orleans serves as an outpost of Gulf cuisine for Black transplants. Harold & Belle’s reserve a Southern sensibility. Since its 1969 launch, the Legaux family has steadily reimagined the space, rolled out vegan choices, guarded the recipes, and sewed a web of community ties. 

Welton Street Café—Denver

Nestled in Denver’s Black Five Points neighborhood since 1989, Welton Street Café stands as one of the remaining authentic soul‑food outposts. At a time when such venues are scarce, it serves Black comfort cuisine that steadfastly preserving the essential flavors and generous hospitality that root Black heritage in Denver’s foodscape.

Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Café—Phoenix, Arizona

Since opening its doors in 1964, Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Café has been a Phoenix staple and living testament to Arizona’s culinary heritage. The cafe has an unmistakably local feel and stays true to its core soul‑food menu.

Sweet Home Café—Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.’s Sweet Home Café is tucked inside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of History and Culture and spotlights regional Black culinary traditions through four distinct food stations. Launched in 2016 the café’s purpose is to weave foodways into history, reworking historic recipes into approachable museum‑dining dishes and inviting guests to experience storytelling on the plate. 

RELATED CONTENT: Peep These Black-Owned Bakeries, That Turned Tradition Into Sweet Business, On National Pound Cake Day

Fred Simon,James gadson,
Photo by Isabella Mendes: https://www.pexels.com/photo/purple-lights-on-a-stage-5389619/
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 6, 2026

R&B World Mourns the Loss Of Two Beloved Musicians

Drummer James Gadson (86) and singer Fred Simon (74) both were reported dead on April 3

Two R&B greats died over the weekend: drummer and songwriter James Gadson and The Lost Generation’s Fred Simon.

Rolling Stone announced Gadson’s death on April 3, while the news of Simon’s death was announced on Facebook by his wife, Diana Simon. Gadson was 86, and Simon was 74. No cause of death was listed for either artist.

Over Gadson’s long and productive career, the drummer has played with many legendary artists and has appeared on songs that most people of all ages have heard. His reach was massive because of his drumming talent, which began in the 1960s, with records by artists like the Temptations, Ray Charles, D’Angelo, and Herbie Hancock. Many artists, including rappers, used songs he played on as the backdrop for some of their own hits.

The Roots’ Questlove, who is also a drummer, posted on his social media about the impact Gadson had, listing many of the songs he’s played on, as well as some we may have heard that used samples featuring his drumming. He credited his drums on records, some of which were considered “breakbeats.”

“Some drummers are soulful. Some drummers are funky. Some [drummers] are rockin’. Some drummers are swinging—— but NO drummer has impacted the art of breakbeat drummer (danceable drums) like James Gadson.”

According to Penn Live, Simon started his career as part of the R&B group, The Lost Generation. The group was formed in 1969, with the lead singer, his brother, Lowrell, Jesse Dean, Leslie Dean, and Larry Brownlee. They had several songs hit the charts, with “The Sly, Slick and the Wicked” peaking at No. 30 in 1970 and reaching No. 14 on the R&B charts. That same year, another song, “Wait a Minute,” made its way to No. 25 on the R&B charts in 1970.

Simon’s wife alerted his fans on their Facebook group page, The New Lost Generation.

“It’s taken me a minute to be able to write this post. So with a very heavy heart, my husband Fred Simon, the last original member and one of the founding members of The Lost Generation and New Lost Generation, has died.”

RELATED CONTENT: D’Wayne Wiggins, Tony! Toni! Toné! Co-Founder, Dies at 64 After Cancer Battle

Rev. Raphael Warnock, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Ebenezer Baptist Church
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 17: Senator Raphael G. Warnock attends the 2022 King Holiday Observance Beloved Community Commemorative Service at Ebenezer Baptist Church on January 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
by Sharelle B. McNair

April 6, 2026

Sen. Raphael Warnock Says Trump ‘Needs A Lot of Prayer’ After Televangelist Compares Him To Jesus

Warnock admitted to CNN’s Jake Tapper that he prays for the president all the time but he’s going to need more than that.

Before preaching the good gospel on Resurrection Sunday, Sen. Raphael Warnock touched on one man who “needs a lot of prayer,” and that’s President Donald Trump. 

The Georgia Democratic senator, who is also the senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, admitted to CNN’s Jake Tapper that he prays for the president all the time, but he’s going to need more than that. “I pray as much as he has influence and power over people I care about. I affirm his humanity as I do anybody, but part of that prayer is about accountability,” he said during the interview. 

“I have to be honest about what he’s doing. His kind of unabashed, unvarnished bigotry, the cruelty that he is unleashing on American streets through his version of ICE, those things have to be condemned. “And so, for me, prayer and prophetic speech, which holds power accountable, those two things go hand in hand. I am not about to be the chaplain blessing that which is ungodly and unjust.” 

Warnock’s description of Trump and the acts of his administration is a stark contrast to how televangelist Paula White described him during an Easter lunch event held at the White House. She compared the indicted president to Jesus since they were both “betrayed and arrested and falsely accused.” 

https://twitter.com/ReallyAmerican1/status/2039469844492632131

Despite praying for him, Warnock and Trump aren’t known to see eye to eye about religion. After a 2024 interview, Trump claimed the senator used “religion to try and divide the entire country” in a Truth Social post, according to The Hill, while Warnock said “Jesus is a victim of identity theft” inside Trump’s White House.

It doesn’t seem like Trump is focused on one religion, as his expletive-laced Easter post threatened Iran while giving “praise be to Allah.” “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day and Bridge Day, all wrapped in one In Iran. There will be nothing like it!! Open the f***** strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH!,” the president of the United States wrote. 

However, Warnock still hopes that things will turn around, reflecting on the meaning of Resurrection Sunday and calling it the “story of hope.” “The story of the resurrection is the story of hope in the midst of despair. I talk a lot about hope; I don’t talk too much about optimism. Optimism to me is milk toast. It’s thin. Often, it denies the tragic character of human experience. The tragedy that sits at the heart of our politics,” he said.

“Hope recognizes that there is a tomb, that was a crucifixion, and that there are a lot of people that live right there in a Good Friday world. But resurrection Sunday reminds us that that tomb does not have the last word and that there is hope.”

RELATED CONTENT: Trump Has Money For War, But Won’t Insure The Poor

trump, black pastor
The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
by Mitti Hicks

April 6, 2026

Trump’s Easter Post Backfires, Democratic Lawmakers Call Him ‘Unhinged’

The cost of Brent crude rose 1.4% to $110.60 while U.S crude rose to $113.60. This is the highest amount in over three years.

As millions of Christians were waking up to celebrate Easter Sunday, President Donald Trump posted an expletive-ridden rant that has concerned his important voting bloc.

“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Trump wrote. “Open the F****n Straitm you crazy b*****ds, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”

His post did not calm the markets. Rather, it had the opposite effect. According to CNN, the cost of Brent crude rose 1.4% to $110.60 while U.S. crude rose to $113.60, the highest amount in over three years.

Consumers are feeling the impact at the gas pump, where gas prices are their highest since June 2022. Gas prices have risen by 38% since the war began, with a national average of $4.11 on Sunday. In addition, stocks fell on Sunday after markets were closed on Friday. Dow futures were down 0.69%, S&P 500 futures fell 0.76%, and Nasdaq futures declined 0.91%.

Iranian officials have responded to Trump’s Truth Social post, stating the Strait will remain closed until the country is fully compensated for the damage it has suffered during Trump’s war.

Trump’s threats to Iran come less than a week after the president said the U.S. did not need the Strait of Hormuz as he addressed the nation last Wednesday, The Daily Beast reported.

“The United States imports almost no oil through the Hormuz Strait and won’t be taking any in the future. We don’t need it,” said Trump.

Democrats Call Trump ‘Completly Unhinged’ After Easter Post

U.S. lawmakers are criticizing Trump’s Truth Social post. Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut called Trump’s comments “completely, utterly, unhinged,” in a post on X.

“He’s already killed thousands,” Murphy wrote. “He’s going to kill thousands more.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Trump was ranting like an “unhinged madman on social media.”

“He’s threatening possible war crimes and alienating allies,” Schumer wrote.

“These are the ravings of a dangerous and mentally unbalanced individual. Congress has got to act NOW. End this war,” Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders wrote.

Under the Geneva Conventions, striking power plants and bridges that are primarily used by civilians is off limits. As the New York Times reported, the administration is already coming up with a defense of why attacking Iran’s infrastructure would not be a war crime by stating it’s crucial to their missile and nuclear programs.

RELATED CONTENT: Charles Barkley Sounds Off On Trump’s ICE ‘Travesty’ During March Madness Coverage

Federal Literacy Grant Program, Reading Scores, D.C.
(Photo: pixdeluxe/Getty Images)
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 5, 2026

Federal Literacy Grant Program Improves Reading Scores Of Black And Underserved Students In D.C.

Education officials noticed a jump in the reading scores for Black and underserved students in the program.

A federally funded literacy grant program has reportedly boosted the reading levels of participating students across Washington, D.C., public charter schools. The program was enacted to address a systemic problem among this demographic, in which Black and poorer students in this school system read at a lower grade level than their counterparts.

According to the Washington Post, the program allotted $16 million for schools to provide reading improvement techniques in the classroom. Across a four-year period starting in 2021, over 17,000 children benefited from the program, which helped from preschool onward.

The improvement techniques included books, equipment, and tutoring, as well as coaches to give feedback on performance. The results from the years-long initiative suggested that focused learning positively impacted students.

“The students that participated in this grant closed a third of the achievement gap in D.C.,” said State Superintendent of Education Antoinette Mitchell. “That is huge. It is so significant.”

The Post confirmed that students in participating schools scored 2.8 points above schools that they were initially 2.9 points behind, on average. Although these findings are not research-backed, the initial reports show that increased funding and dedication to these learning discrepancies could resolve them in the long-term.

An evaluation of these findings was initially underway, providing more substantive proof that the grant program directly yielded these results. However, the Department of Government Efficiency-induced cuts led to the termination of the program evaluation.

Despite this, D.C. schools saw tremendous growth in reading comprehension, especially in younger grade levels. The implementation of curriculums that used the “science of reading” helped students as they matriculated to the next grade level. This holistic learning method incorporates phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension, ensuring children learned the full scope of the discipline.

“Teachers have to have a very clear understanding of the science of reading—that is, how kids learn to read,” Mitchell said. “They have to understand the connections that students are making as they move through [reading levels].”

This commitment to boosting children’s reading comprehension extended from administrators to teachers, as students received dedicated instruction that tackles these learning gaps at the root. Now, local education officials want to expand upon this success, with a bigger $25 million grant awarded in 2024.

With this continued rollout, they will expand the program to more schools, hoping to change the tide for all D.C. students to not only catch up, but also get ahead in reading.

RELATED CONTENT: 7 Online Literacy Programs To Tap Into On International Literacy Day

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