Join the others who have taken the pledge:

kelly baysura, Guillermina Walker, Indian River County Lawyers Auxiliary, Katherine Wolf, Louis and Sara Smith, Kathryn Woodall, Vero Equine Riding Academy , STEPHANIE CLARK, Shariea Shoatz, Cathryn Miquelon, Ronda Weaver, Sophie Wood, Arianna Lagges, Jennifer Seifstein, Linda Condit, Marie OBrien, Mary Laquidara, Celeste McWilliams, Carol David, Casey Dunn, Jeff The Bro, Angel Maldonado, liz woody, Christine Ryall, Lisa Guilmette, Amy Kelly, Tina Campbell, Diane Donar, 1 1, Jessica Cox, Gina Sultaire, Gloria Severino, Clare Hughes, Samantha Breen, Erin Hollander, Jenna Chatfield, Matt McManus, Crystal Gothe, Fenia Hiaasen, 211/Help Me Grow, Sandy Hamrick, Emily Jarrett, Megan Falcone, Lisa McFaland, Debra Barnesd, Maureen Nicolace, Kim Klaus, Christopher Cummings, Devi Maharajh, shelby dorris, Randall Hunt, Heidi Lourie, Elizabeth Tetreault, Karen Disney, SHARYN A HAWKER, Melody M Englert, Kelly Palmer, ggdxfg fdgfh, Achillies Pace, Lori Nalls, Jennifer Steele, Annie Brown, Melissa Hall, Rebecca Turner, Toni Reukauf, Brittany Bailey, Kathleen Nealy, Mark yBzNyaFpSKdSM, shelby dorris, Kelly Palmer, Mary Strickler, Nancy Prizito, Ashley Farruggio, Jennifer Durrett, Nancy Sparkman, Pamela Prange, United Way of Indian River Co., Amanda Emanuel, Andrea Cosner, Elaine McGinty, Marisela Luna, Karen Newkirk, Tabitha Johnston, Erica Thomas, Sherry White, Kayla Chitty, Sara Goodman, Mark Farrell, Matthew McManus, Gabrielle Wagner, Kelli Mejia, Keith Touchberry, Lesley Lane, Cathy Durrett-Filusch, Kathleen Hamilton, Agnieszka Szymanska, Bobbie Donelson, Angela Bosman, Tiffany Justice, Lisa Wheeler, Nichole Harris, maria miranda, sharon richards, Amy Speak, Dorie Shemo, Thomas Moore, DOE-OEL, Marsha Van Arman, Gretchen DiVincenzo, Margaret Dawson-Brown, Lilibeth Ballina, hannah kaufeh, Milli Wenzel, valerie conway, LaTanya Morgan, Deirdre Creech, belinda washimgton-davis, Christina Lindgren, Laura Zorc, Tirso Moreno, kayla poindexter, Tisa Blidgen, Annie Brown, Karen Taylor, Katie Collier, Courtney Mellin, Yasmin Medina, Autumn Wheeler, Jamie Stalter, Mary Anne Sitkowski, Cheryl Gondek, Heidi Lourie, Mike Gaudio, Brooke Flood, Wendi Adams, Lisa Guillette, kari broomell, Dr. Connie Proskovec, Bridgette Diskin, Elizabeth Stenger, Susan Rosier, Hope Woodhouse , Tammy Eriksen, Bill McMullen, Keondra Eberhardt, Jill Truax, tommy collettit, Patricia Mandell, Debra Schroeder, Renee Boesch, Lisa Segroves, janice pagan, Linda Hammerle, Diane Bressner, charlene bentien, Heather Quigley, Kristina Trahan, Tessa House, judy jones, Tracey Barker, Michelle Chandler, uritayay, Pamela Miller, Susan Del Tufo, keesha trusty, Hollie McDougall, Kerilyn Ngom, Patrick Toole, Literacy Services, test test, jorge luis ramirez, Di Pugh, Edward Shanaphy, F.A.C.T. 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Home > News > Moonshot Reading Captains March for a better future

Moonshot Reading Captains March for a better future

The Learning Alliance’s Moonshot Moment Rocket joined floats and community groups walking in unity to honor the late Dr. Martine Luther King Jr. during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Gifford.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Committee of Indian River County hosted the annual event to keep Dr. King’s values alive.

Volunteers and Moonshot Reading Captains escorted the Moonshot Rocket from 37th Street to the Victor Hart Senior Community Enhancement Complex, where the community gathered to honor the life and legacy of the slain civil rights leader.

Folks gathered for an afternoon of food and music for a family-centered day. Luna, TLA's Literacy RV, stopped by with free books to ensure that all children have access to books in their homes. In order to transform our nation’s future, we must cultivate a culture where 90 percent of children read on grade level by the end of third grade.

King is remembered for his contributions to the civil rights movement to end racial segregation and discrimination in America.

A big proponent of education, King said, “Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.”

“We knew the launching of our Moonshot Reading Captains grassroots program had to paint a colorful picture of sights and sounds for the whole community to see as we marched in the parade,” said Margaret Ingram, MRC lead captain. “The MLK Parade was the opportune moment to spread our message as it was far-reaching and visionary.”

This visibility allowed the community to put a face to this grassroots program when we meet with them later during recruitment and our awareness campaign, according to Ingram. “The parade was a time when families came out for one focus: “REMEMBERING THE DREAM.” Just as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for freedom for ALL and changed the mindset on equality for all in this Nation; We intend to change the mindset of Literacy in the community through the Moonshot Reading Captains program and bring freedom to our children through reading. Reading books opens up new worlds to children and allows them to escape to new places with all the thrills of a parade. Remember our slogan: 'Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.'”

The Learning Alliance is committed to creating a better tomorrow by taking a stand for our children today. By uniting an entire community to reimagine education, we are working together to cultivate literate, creative, and compassionate citizens who will improve our world.

Parents sat and read to their children in the reading corner and selected free books, candy and special wristbands emblazoned with our motto: “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.”

“Having Luna stationed in the park for families to stop and get books for the children and themselves while enjoying the festivities was a bustling sight! We gave out hundreds of books that were age appropriate which also allowed us to talk to the families about the MRC Program coming soon to their neighborhood,” said Ingram.

Take a look at the amazing day we had at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQYQ28BLtgI.