The Right to Read: A Panel Discussion - A Lowenthal Symposium Event

The Department of Education is pleased to invite you to our Lowenthal Symposium, The Right to Read: A Panel Discussion.  This hybrid event, scheduled for Friday January 26th, will include the opportunity to view a powerful documentary, The Right to Read by Executive Producer Levar Burton and Director Jenny Mackenzie, and to discuss right to read issues with our moderator, Dr. Kerri Fair, and stakeholders in the St. Louis community.

The Lowenthal Symposium Series is dedicated to understanding and improving the lives and educational experiences of urban youth.  The right to read means giving each student the capability to access information that can allow them to reach their fullest potential.  According to the International Literacy Association (ILA), reading is an issue of social justice that tops the list of 10 fundamental human rights,  About one in three children in the United States cannot read at a basic level of comprehension with outcomes particularly problematic for Black and indigenous American children, nearly half of whom score ‘below basic’ by eighth grade.  The film “shares the stories of an NAACP activist, a teacher, and two American families who fight to provide our youngest generation with the most foundational indicator of life-long success: the ability to read.”

Please join us for our panel discussion of this important topic on January 26th!  In-person seating will be available for the first 25 participants with an option for virtual participation for those who prefer to join us remotely.  The Right to Read documentary will be available for online viewing prior to the event or in person on the afternoon of the panel discussion.