WORDS: Merab-Michal Favorite
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
With a great appreciation of books instilled in her as a child, Bronwyn Beightol recognized the power of literacy early on. She still remembers her father’s reading voice, the sound of him turning the pages of their latest mystery novel, and even the smell of a new book opened for the first time. It was the love of the written word she carried with her throughout her career.
Now the Chief Impact Officer at United Way Suncoast, which covers a five-county region, Beightol is committed to improving early literacy, working to greatly reduce the number of children reading below grade level in on our most vulnerable communities by 2026. An effort she believes is the “pathway to promise,” or the key to opening the future for generations.
“There is an equity in the ability to read that changes the trajectory of our lives,” she said. “When we talk about promoting reading, we’re also talking about promoting education and the ability for students to solve problems and create the life they imagine for themselves.”
The initiative is a collaborative approach that includes a number of community partners serving diverse populations, including The Early Learning Coalitions, Boys and Girls Clubs, and even Meals on Wheels. In Manatee County, United Way Suncoast focuses on school readiness supports like access to quality early education, engagement activities for community spaces, and reading rooms for families living in low-income housing. The organization also funds in-school supports like paraprofessionals and mentors to instill a love of reading in young children.
Recognizing the Need
Beightol worked with United Way for 13 years before being promoted to her current role with United Way Suncoast. During her tenure with United Way of Manatee County, her team launched a community-driven information campaign, holding town hall meetings and speaking to more than 400 leaders from all walks of life about their future goals and aspirations. Together, they identified equitable access to quality education as the top necessity. The feedback led to the launch of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading in Manatee County. Thanks to the leadership of The Patterson Foundation, this is now the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, a four-county movement in Manatee, Sarasota, DeSoto, and Charlotte counties. It’s a collaborative approach to increase reading proficiency by third grade.
“There was incredible work going on, but nobody had taken a step back to see how our children were doing overall or establish a protocol to measure their success,” she said. “We decided grade-level reading was a good way to do that as it’s one of the most important benchmarks.”
Beightol said third grade is a significant target because, until that point, students are still learning to read, but afterward, they are reading to learn. By the end of third grade, students that aren’t reading at grade level begin to fall behind their class for lack of comprehension.
The grade-level reading initiative, which includes Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties, couldn’t have come at a better time. In 2017-18, United Way reported that 75 percent of children at 10 Manatee County Title I schools were not reading at grade level by the end of third grade (delete five percent increase).
“If you think about it, our entire community ecosystem relies on reading. It improves high school graduation rates and provides a more reliable workforce,” she said. “If you’re looking around the class and you don’t understand the material, that’s when thoughts of dropping out begin; they begin at nine years old.”
United Way Suncoast’s “Big Plan” addresses the issue by focusing on 10 Title One schools in Manatee County, schools with a large percentage of students eligible for free and reduced lunch. United Way invests in other local agencies that provide educational materials, mentoring, parenting classes, and after-school engagement activities for students.
A Focus on Diversity Equity and Inclusion
Beightol is committed to equity and views literacy as a socioeconomic issue. She’s re-imagined the negative slogan “pipeline to prison,” instead of giving it a positive spin as “pipeline of promise,” instead of giving it a positive spin as “pipeline to promise,” which she explains is about growing children for their future and focusing on the positive outcomes of children who meet benchmarks, graduate on time and fill jobs in the community.
It’s never really not just about the reading; it’s about ensuring a brighter future for our children,” she said. “We need to do better for our children, as individuals, and as a community.”
One of the programs aimed at children with limited access to early education is the establishment of community reading rooms. United Way set up two at La Mirada Gardens Apartments and Bradenton Village Apartments, with plans to expand to more housing developments in the near future. These reading rooms provide resources and education for parents with activities they can do with their children to promote developmental milestones.
Beightol’s favorite success story occurred at the La Mirada reading room. A four-year-old boy, Maison, who never had access to books at home, read 44 in the summer before kindergarten. Not only did he develop the skills he needed to thrive in kindergarten and beyond, but he also exposed his siblings and family members to the resources, changing the trajectory of the family’s future.
United Way has also been addressing ALICE (Asset, Limited, Income, Constrained, Employed), or families with income above the Federal Poverty Line that earn too much to qualify for benefits but are still unable to cover basic household expenses in the counties where they live. Initiatives such as early education curriculum and mentoring help reduce the financial burden by providing much-needed services free of charge.
Beightol addresses many of these issues in her Freedom to Rise Podcast, where she interviews community partners showcasing their efforts in the region. In the podcast, she discusses complex topics like racism, mental health, and poverty in an effort to raise awareness and reach new audiences. Some of Beightol’s favorite episodes include interviews with Superintendent Cynthia Saunders, Bradenton Police Chief Melanie Bevan, and Manatee Commissioner Reggie Bellamy.
United Way Suncoast as a Community Convener
Above all, United Way serves as a catalyst for people and businesses to come together and help with various initiatives. The organization created an emergency fund during the pandemic, raising $1.9 million for strategic community partners within the five-region area.
“United Way Suncoast as a convener empowers individuals to invest in their community as a force multiplier,” she said. “We have streamlined initiatives so supporters know their gift will make a difference for our children’s future.”
The organization also provides volunteer opportunities through Volunteer Suncoast for people in the community who want to give their time and talent to specific projects throughout the year.
Beightol’s efforts to create a better community through literacy are nothing short of inspiring. It’s easy to imagine her as the protagonist, leading the way for children to travel down a pathway of promise in a page-turning work of non-fiction. One gets the sense she won’t forfeit her mission until every child has a happily-ever-after.
