Kwame Alexander Joins National Push to Close the Literacy Gap for Young Readers
April 22, 2026
[Oakland, CA] — Reading Partners announced during National Poetry Month that renowned poet, educator, and #1 New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander has joined its national Board of Directors.
Reading Partners employs evidence-based, individualized tutoring that helps students develop essential reading skills and gain confidence and reading proficiency by fourth grade. As a literary force whose work has inspired a generation of young readers, Alexander brings a deep belief in storytelling as a pathway to identity, confidence, and opportunity to the organization’s leadership.
“Kwame’s work has helped shape how young people see themselves and their place in the world,” said Adeola Whitney, CEO of Reading Partners. “He understands that literacy is not just about reading words—it’s about unlocking potential, building confidence, and expanding opportunity. His voice, creativity, and passion for educational equity will help us continue to grow our impact and reach more students.”
Alexander’s appointment comes at a critical moment for literacy nationwide. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, reading scores for both fourth- and eighth-graders declined again between 2022 and 2024, continuing a downward trend that began in 2017 and accelerated during the pandemic.
“Literacy offers every child an opportunity to express themselves,” said Kwame Alexander. “Reading Partners is doing the essential work of making sure more young people have access to that power early in their lives. I’m honored to join the board and support an organization that is not only grounded in proven results but also committed to finding innovative and community-driven ways to help children discover the joy and possibility that comes with reading.”
Alexander is the author of 45 books, including The Crossover, which won the Newbery Medal, and has long been a champion for increasing access to diverse stories and meaningful literacy experiences. He is also the founder of One Word at a Time, a nonprofit dedicated to cultivating a love of reading and writing among middle school students by connecting them with authors and stories that reflect their lived experiences.
To speak with Kwame Alexander or Adeola Whitney, or to learn more about Reading Partners and its work to expand early literacy nationwide, please contact Jen Peters at peters@collaborativecommunications.com or visit readingpartners.org.
About Reading Partners
For more than 25 years through its core tutoring program, Reading Partners has supported student growth and confidence in school and beyond by engaging community volunteers to provide proven, individualized literacy tutoring. Since its founding, the national nonprofit organization has directly mobilized over 100,000 community volunteers to provide more than 3 million individualized literacy tutoring sessions—both in person and online—to 100,000 elementary school students in over 600 under-resourced schools and 120 districts across ten states and the District of Columbia. Visit readingpartners.org to learn more about Reading Partners’ program impact and how the organization is using its online tutoring platform, licensing and training partnerships, family workshops, and other program innovations to positively impact more students. Connect with Reading Partners on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and Instagram. Reading Partners is a proud AmeriCorps service partner and has been endorsed by The New York Times and featured on The TODAY Show, GMA, and PBS NewsHour.
