A Storied Success
Client: Read Alliance
About the Project
Over the past 25 years, the New York City-based non-profit Read Alliance has developed a unique model for early childhood literacy intervention. Through hiring teens to teach reading to young children, READ has has helped thousands of struggling students improve an essential life skill, while also becoming one of the largest teen employers in the city.
READ has been one of our longest clients and it’s hard to express how much we love and respect them. We’ve been lucky to go to many different schools and see their work in-action. There’s a real magic to the relationship between young child and their teen mentor. It gives purpose and meaning to the teen while helping the child not fall behind in a bedrock skill of getting an education. There’s beauty in the elegant simplicity of their model and their results have been astounding.
In 2025, READ celebrated its 25th anniversary by reflecting on how far the organization has come and showcasing its current programs. The theme of the celebration was “A Storied Success.” To bring this story to life, we interviewed the program’s founders, current staff, and teachers, and captured footage of live tutoring sessions. We also spoke with several student-tutor pairs—the relationships at the heart of READ’s impact. This video premiered at READ’s annual fundraising gala. As part of the event, they commissioned us to produce a full video package, including this feature, a series of short quotes for social media and awardee videos displayed during the gala.
Below are a small selection of other videos we've produced in collaboration with Read Alliance.
