In Pittsburgh Public Schools, 64% of Black students in 3rd and 5th grades are reading basic and below regardless of their socioeconomic status. These literacy rates are an illustration of the historical, structural, and systematic racial inequities causing opportunity gaps for Black students. When Black students are not afforded the opportunity to learn how to read, they will encounter academic and social barriers. These barriers have the potential to prevent Black children from creating and advancing their dreams.

The Dreamocracy Learning Lab views the literacy gap as an opportunity to create transformative learning experiences for Black children. These experiences are centered on meeting children at their dreams, which serves as a powerful vehicle to meet them at their academic need. The lab’s target audience are families with children from Pre-K to 3rd grade.

The lab’s program objectives are to:

1. Inspire children to develop a love of reading
2. Assist students in developing a reading identity
3. Encourage children to use to reading as a tool to develop their dreams
4. Expose children to books that are culturally and personally relevant
5. Support caregivers in creating reading cultures
6. Create relevant content that informs and inspires families to engage in reading.

The Dreamocracy Learning Lab meets children and families at their dreams, connecting children to books that speak to their dreams. The lab creates engaging content and innovative learning experiences that connect dreaming to reading.