During a recent visit to the Agape Youth and Family Center in Northwest Atlanta, I observed a Sprouting Readers session conducted by Emory University’s Urban Health Initiative (UHI). Emory student volunteers from various disciplines, including Chemistry, Psychology, and Business, engaged with second and third grade children by reading to and with them. After reading, they extended the learning experience beyond the book through supplemental lessons, culminating in a game to assess the children’s comprehension. Correct answers were rewarded with grapes or other healthy treats.
For many of these children, who may not have regular access to fresh produce at home, this incentive proved to be a strong motivator. The session not only exposed the children to the importance of fruits and vegetables but also created a desire for them by presenting them as desirable prizes. It was particularly heartening to hear several children express their intention to ask their parents to purchase some of the same nutritious foods they encountered during the session.
In 2016, the implementation of a program aimed at providing agricultural education and business skill development to youth and young adults in an urban community with limited access to fresh and healthy food (metro food-desert community) revealed a critical challenge: a lack of reading skills among the participants. To address this issue, the Sprouting Readers program was developed as part of Emory University’s Urban Health Initiative.
Sprouting Readers is a collaborative, community-based program designed to promote a love for reading and learning among young people and empower them to achieve their full potential, both in the classroom and in leading healthy lives. Initiated seven years ago through the Emory Urban Health Initiative, Sprouting Readers addresses the social determinants of health, particularly food access and literacy, in designated food desert regions of metro Atlanta with below-average high school graduation rates. The program targets children from kindergarten to third grade, a crucial period for developing reading skills, as those who fail to read at grade level by third grade are at an increased risk of dropping out of high school. Poor reading abilities and the absence of a high school diploma have substantial long-term effects on well-being and prosperity.
Sprouting Readers employs a multifaceted approach to each session held: a) reading of an age-appropriate gardening/nutrition book with the children, b) teaching a STEAM lesson related to the book topic and aligned with Georgia Department of Education grade-level standards to reinforce the book’s content, c) engaging in a hands-on activity based on the book topic and STEAM lesson and d) providing each child with their own copy of the featured book to keep and encourage them to share it with family and friends.
Sprouting Readers uses engaging books, with elements of science, gardening, food, and with multilingual and diverse representation, to foster a sense of wonder, curiosity, and self-placement in the stories that they hear. The program also emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusivity, ensuring that every child has access to books and resources that reflect their own experiences and cultures. In addition to providing a rich collection of diverse literature, Sprouting Readers is included in cultural celebrations, community events, and food distributions at the Sara J Gonzalez Park in Atlanta.
The program involves volunteers from various Emory schools, including the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory School of Medicine, and Emory College, as well as graduate and undergraduate students from other colleges and universities. It offers these volunteers, many who are future professionals in public health, healthcare practitioners, or policy advocates, an opportunity to develop programs that address health disparities and gain important experience working collaboratively within communities. The program connects children and young adults, fostering friendships and mentoring relationships. It brings together children and college/university students, creating bonds between the different age groups.
Sprouting Readers has conducted weekly or biweekly sessions for the past seven years in Northwest Atlanta and is currently being conducted at the Agape Youth & Family Center and Sara J. Gonzalez Park in Atlanta’s Westside community. Each session has been attended by 10 to 20 Agape students. Emory undergraduate and graduate students from Emory College, Emory Rollins School of Public Health, and Emory School of Medicine have planned and led each session. Since its inception, Sprouting Readers has distributed over 1750 books from classroom sessions and community events. Currently, program evaluation efforts are underway, with pre- and post-assessments administered by students’ teachers and/or parents.
By empowering young people with the tools and resources they need to succeed, Sprouting Readers contributes to the creation of a more literate and healthier community. Through its innovative approach and collaborative partnerships, Sprouting Readers is making a lasting impact on the lives of young people, inspiring them to become lifelong learners and active participants in their communities.
I would like to acknowledge the work of my colleagues, Caitlin Farrell, Eva Li, and Janet Mao for their contributions to this article, and even more so, to the Sprouting Readers program for the past several years as their contributions have helped to make the program the success that it is today.
Sprouting Readers is a program of Emory University School of Medicine’s Urban Health Initiative (UHI), which provides health disparities education and advocacy, builds collaborative partnerships and develops practice models with low-resourced communities and those who work with them to advance equity in health and well-being. To learn more about Sprouting Readers or UHI or to make a donation to support our efforts, please contact Joan Wilson or visit the UHI website.
