Poverty and Literacy with Dr. Donna M. Beegle

By Tony Kriz | July 10, 2023
Dr Beegle was raised in poverty and illiterate until adulthood. Overcoming staggering odds, and the assistance of some unexpected neighbors, Donna not only escaped the cycles of generational poverty, but has since risen to become one of the world's most sought after authorities on poverty. In today's episode Tony asks Donna the connection between poverty and failing in school, specifically the layered difficulty poor children carry everyday that keeps them from the life-transforming gift of reading. Donna Beegle has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. She is an authentic voice from poverty that speaks, writes, and trains across the nation to break the iron cage of poverty for others through services provided by her company, Communication Across Barriers (CAB). Since 1989, she has traveled throughout hundreds of cities in all 50 states and four countries to assist professionals with proven strategies for breaking poverty barriers. State agencies, politicians, and other organizations have partnered with her to implement community-wide approaches to improving outcomes for citizens in poverty. She has been featured internationally, on CNN and is the subject of an upcoming PBS documentary.

Dr Beegle was raised in poverty and illiterate until adulthood. Overcoming staggering odds, and the assistance of some unexpected neighbors, Donna not only escaped the cycles of generational poverty, but has since risen to become one of the world’s most sought after authorities on poverty.

In today’s episode Tony asks Donna the connection between poverty and failing in school, specifically the layered difficulty poor children carry everyday that keeps them from the life-transforming gift of reading.

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 Lucy Becomes a Mentor

By Tony Kriz | June 22, 2023
Some of the best literacy stories are about everyday citizen-neighbors who learn the power of reading and want to help in some small and tangible way. Today, Tony talks to Lucy Martin about her journey to become a reading buddy near her home in Southern California.

Some of the best literacy stories are about everyday citizen-neighbors who learn the power of reading and want to help in some small and tangible way.

Today, Tony talks to Lucy Martin about her journey to become a reading buddy near her home in Southern California.

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Starting a Literacy Program from Scratch

By Tony Kriz | June 7, 2023

On this week’s podcast, Tony is joined by Anna Paul, the Director of a less than two year old literacy program based in Clark County, Washington called, Read Northwest. Their slogan is, “Word by Word, Life by Life.”

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Learning from EnrichedNYC with Mary Cantwell

By Tony Kriz | June 1, 2023

Our first featured national leader, activist and thinker in the movement to transform literacy in America is Mary Cantwell, the co-founder of EnrichedNYC and OnWords. Mary is based in New York and her enthusiasm and effervescence is matched only by her clarity and thoughtfulness. Please join us for this stimulating conversation. Learn more at enrichednyc.com

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A Seattle Story

By Tony Kriz | May 10, 2023
Roy Chang, a former pastor and lifelong education activist, looked across the greater Seattle area and saw too many schools with struggling students. His solution: start School Connect Washington. Listen to hear his fight for teach every kid to read.

Roy Chang, a former pastor and lifelong education activist, looked across the greater Seattle area and saw too many schools with struggling students.  His solution:  start School Connect Washington.  Listen to hear his fight for teach every kid to read.

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DIY Literacy Program

By Tony Kriz | May 9, 2023

In Jeff Johnson’s small community there was no established “reader buddy” program. Listen to today’s short conversation as Tony and Jeff discuss this fun, fumbling and ultimately successful story of one man’s desire to fight illiteracy in his community.

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