The Worcester Education Collaborative is excited to host the 2nd Annual John E. Bassett Symposium on Monday, November 18, 2024, at 4:00 PM at the Hanover Insurance Group. This year, we are honored to present Ralph Smith, Managing Director of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, with WEC's prestigious "Apple of a Different Color" award. This special honor, given periodically to visionaries in the field of education, recognizes Mr. Smith’s transformative leadership and decades-long commitment to advancing literacy and educational equity. Following the award presentation, Mr. Smith will share his insights on the vital role of community collaboration in addressing the literacy crisis.

After his keynote, Mr. Smith will be joined for a fireside chat by Dr. Patrick Proctor, Associate Professor at Boston College’s Lynch School of Education, whose research focuses on bilingualism and literacy, particularly among Spanish-speaking learners. The discussion will be moderated by Jason Homer, Executive Director of the Worcester Public Library, providing a rich dialogue on the intersection of research, practice, and community engagement.

In addition, WEC will provide updates on our Raising Readers Together initiative—a city-wide effort aimed at increasing children’s literacy achievement and fostering a culture of literacy throughout Worcester. This initiative addresses the concerning decline in reading scores and the widening achievement gap exacerbated by the pandemic. In a city where only one in four 3rd graders met proficiency standards on the 2024 English Language Arts MCAS Assessment, collective action is urgently needed. Join us to learn more about how we, as a community, can empower every child in Worcester through literacy.