READ 718

READ 718 is a community-based organization providing individualized, evidence-based, one-to-one literacy instruction to students in grades 1-8 from low-income households who have fallen behind in reading. Our mission is to close the literacy gap in Brooklyn and to help ensure educational access and equity for all Brooklyn children. Our immediate goal is for all of our participants to be reading at or above grade level; our ultimate goal is to make a substantial impact on our participants' lifelong education and life outcomes by strengthening their fundamental reading skills.

READ 718 was founded on the premise that all Brooklyn children deserve access to literacy, that literacy is a fundamental right, that almost all children will learn to read with appropriate instruction, and that communities have the power to support and provide for children when they need additional resources. Far too many children are entering middle school without the strong literacy skills needed to succeed in school and beyond.

Literacy is a racial and social justice issue in Brooklyn, where only 40% of Black and brown children are proficient in reading and 30% have sunk below a “basic” literacy level. There are over 50,000 children in Brooklyn who need additional support in reading. Strong literacy skills are the backbone of a successful education and essential for future personal and professional agency and autonomy. High school graduation rates, poverty rates, incarceration rates, health outcomes, mental health, and earning power are directly tied to literacy rates. 

Emily Kirven (Executive Director), a former English teacher, founded READ 718 in 2015 to tackle the literacy issues she observed firsthand while teaching at a public middle school in Brooklyn. After years of witnessing how her students' poor reading skills affected their ability to perform in all of their academic subjects (and knowing that most could not afford private tutoring to address the problem), Emily felt compelled to create a solution: a free or low-cost literacy program responsive to children's needs and abilities. 

Since opening our doors in 2015, READ 718 has provided tens of thousands of hours of one-to-one and small group literacy instruction to over 800 children (many of whom have returned for multiple cycles and years), trained over 1100 community volunteers, provided 27 educational workshops to parents and educators in our community, and launched the following programs (in addition to our core program, READ 718 After School): Saturday READing Room, Summer READing Room, READ 718 Remote, READ Up, Rising READers, Word Up, Writing Workshop, and Book Club (Writing Workshop and Book Club were both added in the past year). During the 2024-25 school year, READ 718 served 285 children, providing over 10,000 hours of one-to-one and small group instruction. In the 2025-2026 school year, READ 718 expects to serve approximately 315 children, an increase of 11% over the prior year. 

On average, 83% of our students move up at least one reading level per 10-week cycle, and students move up an average of 1.3 levels per cycle, or approximately 4 reading levels per academic year. Children who stay with us for a full school year (or three 10-week cycles) on average make approximately 15 months of reading progress in a 10 month period. For children who are struggling with reading (and/or who have learning differences), that is substantial progress in a short time. The progress is happening because READ 718 gives students exactly what they need: personalized, one-to-one instruction in a warm, supportive environment. 

When children are confident readers, they can be confident students, setting them up for success in school and in life.

To learn more, visit our website at read718.org.