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Today, we introduce you to Ashley Lundell, who has lived up to the meaning of living united by involving the community to rethink reading and lead efforts of transformation relating to Readers Are Leaders.
In January 2022, Ashley joined United Way of Kenosha County (UWKC) as the Readers Are Leaders (RAL) program intern. Since then, she has fully immersed herself in RAL, reviewing existing data, tutoring students, and researching fellow tutoring programs and methods. Her objective was to gain a better understanding of how RAL currently runs and to explore ways in which the program could be better meeting the needs of our community.
Similarly to Anita, who helped create excitement for learning, Ashley is excited to open the conversation surrounding how tutors can foster students’ motivation to read. She has found that tutors play a key role in not only helping students grow but also in shaping their attitudes towards reading, and a positive attitude towards reading is a robust predictor of success.
In addition to learning about reading, including how students learn to read, Ashley also enjoyed building relationships with the students she worked closely with at Forest Park Elementary. She felt a strong connection to the work she was completing and experienced firsthand the value of community involvement.
“This experience has really solidified the importance of engaging with individuals in the community,” says Ashley Lundell, RAL program intern at UWKC. “Some of the most impactful pieces of information have come from conversations with other tutors or from listening to community forums.”
Ashley’s future looks bright as she prepares to graduate in December 2022 with her Bachelor of Arts in psychological sciences. You might not have guessed it, but her underlying passion lies in healthcare. Ashley plans to continue studying public health and social psychology, so she can help ensure the best care for everyone — just like she has helped ensure the best reading support for every student! When she is not looking out for those around her, you might find her knitting or crocheting.
All of us at United Way of Kenosha County are grateful for the work Ashley has completed to continue moving Readers Are Leaders forward amidst our reintroduction of the program. We are also grateful for the close partnership with Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD), which has been pivotal in so many ways but especially in understanding students’ and teachers’ needs. Thank you to all the KUSD staff and administrators who help make RAL possible!
Our vision: a community where all individuals and families in Kenosha County achieve their human potential through education, income, and healthy lives.
By mobilizing the caring power of our community, United Way of Kenosha County (UWKC) makes a lasting impact — together. How? From helping Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) clients get the most out of their tax refund, serving on governing committees and advocating to tutoring elementary school-aged learners, supporting local nonprofit programs and painting Born Learning Trails (and so much more throughout our community!), we work to bring our vision to life.