In the June edition of Listen Lakeland, host Ileana Kniss, Board Chair of Lakeland Vision, speaks with Ruthie Teets, ReadingPals Program Manager, and Katelyn Bruce, Senior Director of Marketing at United Way of Central Florida, about the impact of early childhood literacy initiatives in our community. They discuss how the ReadingPals program connects volunteers with kindergarten students to build foundational reading skills and supportive relationships, and share data showing improved literacy outcomes, attendance, and behavior. The episode also highlights the 30th Anniversary Summer Readathon, a community effort encouraging children to read daily throughout June to prevent learning loss during the summer break. The conversation emphasizes how local involvement in early education contributes to student success and long-term community well-being. 🌐 Listen now and stay connected with your community! Visit lakelandvision.org for more episodes and to participate in our survey. 🎧 Listen Lakeland is a collaborative project by Lakeland Vision, the City of Lakeland, and Hall Communications, dedicated to providing an exceptional quality of life for all residents.