Literacy-Rich Neighborhoods Initiative: 2020-2024

Launched in 2020, the Literacy-Rich Neighborhoods Initiative (LRNI) set out to turn neighborhood spaces into playful learning environments that expand literacy opportunities for young children and their families. 

Drawing on emerging research on playful learning landscapes and promising pilot efforts, the initiative called for public installations across several Philadelphia neighborhoods, designed in collaboration with community organizations and stakeholders, to support early language and literacy development. Following four years of stakeholder persistence and collaboration, a dozen new installations with connections to the culture, people, and history of local neighborhoods are now supporting literacy and language development within everyday life across Philadelphia.

LRNI succeeded in engaging community members in developing multiple opportunities in their neighborhoods for families with young children to interact in ways that supported early literacy skills and connected families. Through a focus on the concrete deliverables of playful learning installations, the initiative helped to rally community-based organizations and communities to come together and work toward an inclusive vision of literacy.

This report tells the story of the initiative including project learnings and key takeaways and recommendations for grantmakers, researchers, and community-based organizations undertaking a similar effort.