Literacy Leap Initiative

Creating communities where everyone can thrive starts with supporting our children.

That’s why Universally, Inc. has partnered with the Little Ruth Children’s Collection to launch Literacy Leap. Literacy Leap is a joint initiative that brings Community-to-Classroom Connections programs at no cost to schools, after-school programs, and community-based organizations serving K-3 students and their families across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.

Literacy Leap provide books, curricula, author visits, book clubs, and creative extension activities from the Little Ruth Collection directly into classrooms—helping students strengthen literacy and reading comprehension, social-emotional development, and problem-solving and community building. Most of all, Literacy Leap helps foster children’s love for reading.

With your help, we’re working to raise over $100,000 to provide books, learning resources, and enrichment programs through the Literacy Leap Initiative. 

How It Works

• (1) Tell us about your students. Schools or youth programs contact Universally to design a customized visit.

• (2) Choose your format:

  • School Spirit — A dynamic author read-aloud, lively Q&A, and a signed book for every student.

  • Little Learners — Author visit plus one extension workshop designed for younger readers.

  • Literacy Leader — Author visit plus a multi-session author residency or book club for deeper engagement.

  • Education Visionary — Year-round option with multiple author residencies and small-group literacy support.

• (3) Schedule and deliver. We coordinate dates, authors lead the session, students engage in with authors and each other, every child takes home a signed copy.

• (4) Extend the learning. Author-led, SEL-aligned activities reinforce story structure, emotional vocabulary, creativity, community-building and problem-solving.

• (5) Sustain momentum. Schools can build on the experience with follow-up residencies, book clubs, or classroom extensions.

Outcomes

• 5,000+ books and literacy kits distributed across DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

• Students demonstrate improved reading comprehension.

• Expanded emotional vocabulary and self-awareness.

• Measurable growth in empathy and teamwork.

• Teachers report calmer classrooms, stronger cooperation, and renewed excitement for reading.

Literacy Leap Across the U.S.

2025–26, the Literacy Leap Initiative will expand to communities beyond the Washington, DC area. If you would like to help us expand Literacy Leap to your school, community, or region, reach out to aisha@universallyinc.org.

Join us in bringing free, story-driven learning experiences to children across the DC region—one classroom, one book, one leap at a time.