Tennessee Voices, Episode 305: Shana Berkeley, executive director, Corner to Corner
A decades-long challenge is that too many children are not reading at grade level. This has an impact on their ability to be financially successful.
Research over the years shows that as many as two-thirds of school third graders in Metro Nashville Public Schools are not proficient in their literacy skills.
Several efforts have emerged to fix that including the programming of Corner to Corner, a faith-based nonprofit that works on improving economic mobility.
On this episode of the Tennessee Voices video podcast, new Executive Director Shana Berkeley, an attorney by training and experience, talked about the diverse programs and her vision.
Berkeley, a Vanderbilt University alum and Belmont University Law graduate, previously led The Academy at Corner to Corner, which focuses on helping "underestimated" entrepreneurs get the skills they need to succeed.
We also spoke about other programs including Script to Screen, which helps children increase their reading skills by reading a screenplay and then following along while they watch the movie.
The Coalition is the organization's effort to engage the community on racial justice. Berkeley said she wants to reach not only community leaders, but also church members and housewives, for example. She wants them to become "co-conspirators" in this important work.
Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.
Sign up for Latino Tennessee Voices newsletter: Read compelling stories for and with the Latino community in Tennessee.
Sign up for Black Tennessee Voices newsletter: Read compelling columns by Black writers from across Tennessee.
Your state. Your stories. Support more reporting like this.
A subscription gives you unlimited access to stories across Tennessee that make a difference in your life and the lives of those around you. Click here to become a subscriber.
About Tennessee Voices
The Tennessee Voices videocast is a 20-minute program, which started in March 2020 and invites leaders, thinkers and innovators who have written guest columns for a USA TODAY Network Tennessee publication to share their insights and wisdom with me and our viewers.
Please email your ideas for future guests to me at dplazas@tennessean.com. Thank you for watching.
Finally, our journalists are working hard during this pandemic to bring you accurate, verified and solid information. Please consider subscribing and supporting local journalism.
Watch past episodes: Tennessee Voices videocast
David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee and an editorial board member of The Tennessean. Tweet to him at @davidplazas.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Voices: Helping kids learn how to read with Shana Berkeley
