Join the others who have taken the pledge:

Heather Young, Rachel Holpfer, Melody M Englert, Mary Graves, Brenda Zamora, Angel Maldonado, Jennifer Durrett, Beth Livers, Heidi Lourie, Nicolas ospina de la hoz, Suzi Rusin, Matt McManus, Mindy Lessem Pollack, Lisa Guilmette, Lisa Barnum, Sonja Phillips, Carla Cundiff, Katherine Wolf, Healthy Families, joshua poindexter, Socorro Luna, Dasie Hope Center, Cynthia Jorgensen, Matthew McManus, Isabel Marron , Wendi Adams, Carol David, Susan Del Tufo, Amanda Emanuel, Annie Brown, Christine Sturgeon, Susan Rosier, Sterling Bobbitt , Donna Hedgecock, ISABELLA LAGGES, Harvest Food & Outreach Center, Megan Falcone, Becky Allen, Cathy Durrett-Filusch, Kelly Palmer, Susan Rosier, Edward Shanaphy, shelby dorris, valerie conway, Ann Mathis, Nancy Blessing, Farrah Lemanski, judy jones, Gretchen DiVincenzo, yaquelin andrade, Kathryn Woodall, Lorri Dior, Rose Brickles, Ramon Echeverria, 1 1, Kelly Sartain, matt KdPIOvmNNItBy, Leslie Connelly, Dr. David Christiansen, Susan Del Tufo, Deborah Dillon, parker hammond, Katie Collier, Tammy Eriksen, Ramon Echeverria, Katrena McMahan, Kimberly Robideau, Agnieszka Szymanska, Kathryn Perez, Kaori Fischer, Ashley Farruggio, Amy Kelly, Therese Victoria, Mardy Fish Children's Foundation, Gisele Parker, Lisa Bishop, FELLSMERE ELEMENTARY, Bill McMullen, cheryl gondek, Gloria Luna, GEORGE JETT, Bridgette Diskin, Andrea Cosner, TLA, Teri Dugan, Marisela Luna, Gina Sultaire, Jennifer Steele, Elizabeth Stenger, Janet Farmer, LaTanya Morgan, DOE-OEL, donna palmquist, Page Woodward, Christina Hayes, FRAN PERKINS, Christy Baer, Stacey Fletcher, Lilibeth Ballina, Debra Barnesd, Kristina Trahan, allene moorehead, Indian River County Chamber of, Paige Newinski, -1' 1, jennifer jackson, Heidi Lourie, yaquelin andrade, Theresa Wagner, Achillies Pace, Rhonda McGilberry, Christina Lindgren, Carolina Rojas, jennifer roker, Amanda Stevens, Ramon Echeverria, Traci McGough, Tiffany Carlsen, janice pagan, Shannon Gillen, Brittany Lindsey, Milli Wenzel, Erica Thomas, Indian River County Lawyers Auxiliary, Indian River Taekwondo Langlois, Ralph Sunshine Acquisitions, Michael Van Houten, Christina Lindgren, Brittany Bailey, Literacy Services, Clare Hughes, Jill Truax, Maria Alvarez, John obrien, carrie fernandez, Cathryn Miquelon, Growing Healthy Kids, Inc., 1 -1', Bent Pine Golf Club, Tessa House, Dorie Shemo, Lydia Galbraith, ann prince, SHARYN A HAWKER, East Coast Earthworks & Excavating, Kathleen Nealy, audrey colonna, Mary Laquidara, mardy hall, Emilia Jacobs, Pamela Prange, Kristin Culbreth, Jeanne Prince, Fellsmere Police Department FPD, Isabel Marron , Emily Wick, GoldenTabs VlNDAmqBXuOUgPSzn, Casey Dunn, Ronda Weaver, Heather Thompson, Guillermina Walker, Patricia Beaudoin, Amanda Acker, 1 1, Elias Medina, Michelle Bass, Crystal Gothe, Taylor Walker, Donna Hedgecock, Emme Scheible, Fourth Quadrant Partners, 211/Help Me Grow, Emily Jarrett, Mark Farrell, shelby dorris, Clare Hughes, Linda Condit, Samantha Breen, Vero Beach Museum of Art, Jeff The Bro, jorge luis ramirez, Pamela Miller, Lisa Segroves, Mary Strickler, Lisa Guillette, Amy Speak, mardy hall, Margaret Dawson-Brown, Karen Malits, Heather Quigley, Liane McMullen, Rhonda McGilberry, Jayne Becker, Vero Beach Magazine, maria marron, Christine Ryall, Tricia Boyle, jacki decaro, Tiffany Justice, Kristen Jones, Phoebe Beacham, Celeste McWilliams, Debra Schroeder, Bobbie Donelson, kelly baysura, Renee Boesch, Mari Seg, Raquel Searcy, Judy Whalen, Jamie Stalter, kari broomell, Nancy De La Hoz, Gifford Youth Activity Center, Shawna Carton, Kelley Williams, Janie Graves Hoover, Mary Anne Sitkowski, Susan Del Tufo, Susan Aguirre , Keith Touchberry, The Buggy Bunch, Jennifer Seifstein, Alejandrina Micket, Tina Campbell, Melinda Judson, Elaine McGinty, Renee Lincoln, Hollie McDougall, Cheryl Gondek, Kerilyn Ngom, Joy Lukomski, Mary Kramek, Mark yBzNyaFpSKdSM, Michele Sternberg, Tirso Moreno, Elizabeth Falkiewicz, Nancy De La Hoz, Sharon Klein, Nate & Kristen Bruckner, Sherry White, Elizabeth Pinkney, Kaori Fischer, sabrina fraga, Tanya BRAUN, Dee Hollenbeck, Sophie Wood, Leslie Jones, Natalie Arbuckle, Jessica Cox, Narda Pitkethly, Heather Thompson, Kirra OBrien, sharon butler, uritayay, Liz Tetreault, belinda washimgton-davis, Krishna Patel, ruth darrigo, charlene bentien, Deirdre Creech, Diane Bressner, kayla poindexter, Kelli Mejia, Alaina McCloud, Kathy Minix, Margaret Autullo, LaTanya Gibson, Thomas Moore, Michele Smith, Annie Brown, Jennifer Roberts, Arianna Lagges, Tami Haffield, Megan Falcone, audrey colonna, Kelly Palmer, Sharon Delo, Angela Bosman, briana carter, Courtney Mellin, Karen Disney, Louis and Sara Smith, Diane Donar, Randall Hunt, Andrea Cosner, Karen Newkirk, Chuck Evans, Kenny Carmichael, -1' 1, Brooke Flood, Tabitha Johnston, Kathleen Hamilton, United Way of Indian River Co., sharon richards, Laurie Pedersen, Kim Brady, Juelie Perry, Michelle Chandler, Toni Reukauf, Carrie Spencer, Ana Renuart, STEPHANIE CLARK, keesha trusty, Lucy Roy-Delapaz, Marie OBrien, Shariea Shoatz, Vero Beach Museum of Art, Nicole Piontek, Maureen Nicolace, Lori Nalls, buzz wurzer, maria miranda, Fidelity Investments, Nancy Prizito, Nancy Sparkman, F.A.C.T. Fellsmere Action Community Team, Patrick Toole, tommy collettit, Rebecca Turner, Adam Faust, Devi Maharajh, test test, Angela Jawhar, Marta Cronin, mary kannapes, Tracey Barker, Vero Equine Riding Academy , JIM BATORY, Sherrie Hale, Mike Gaudio, Lenora Ritchie, Robyn Bethel, Elizabeth Tetreault, Teri Dugan, Hayley Gondek, 1 -1', Arlene Kahn, Becky Levesque, Elizabeth Pinkney, Bruce Green, elizabeth bahl, Milli Wenzel, Laura Zorc, Dorothy Cominsky, ggdxfg fdgfh, AmeriCorps/Big Brothers Big Sister, Nichole Harris, Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County, Vero Beach Police Department, Helene Caseltine, JOY VANHORN, Laura McGill, Whole Child Indian River, Hope Woodhouse , Patricia Mandell, Christopher Cummings, Becky Warren, Sandy Hamrick, renee fraker, Keondra Eberhardt, Sharon Klein, Janai Cooper, Patricia Mandell, Jeff Miller, liz woody, MAry Grace Hektner, Ralph Autullo, Gabrielle Wagner, Tara Miranda, VBKA, Susan Del Tufo, Fidelity Investments, hannah kaufeh, Dean Stewart Photography, Diane Mahan, Kidz Closet Charities, Erin Hollander, Autumn Wheeler, Melissa Hall, tommy collettit, Lisa McFaland, Barbara Johnson, Jenna Chatfield, Angel Maldonado, Helene Caseltine, Teri Barenborg, Marsha Van Arman, hannah kauferh, Sharon Klein, Cindi Ellis, Dorie Shemo, Maria Ortiz, JIM BATORY, LaTanya Morgan, Janet Alford, Shanti Sanchez, Yasmin Medina, Jody Houston, Tara Luton , Fenia Hiaasen, Kevin Maloney, Karen Taylor, Nancy Blessing, Doug Glenn, Amber Petry, Kay Yurigan, Linda Hammerle, Susan Rosier, Di Pugh, Rebecca Blair, Sue Sharpe, Sandra Daniel, Gloria Severino, Kim Klaus, Jennifer Croom, Kim Klaus, Kayla Chitty, Sara Goodman, Tessa Stanley, Tisa Blidgen, Kerilyn Ngom, Lesley Lane, Kelli Mejia, Lisa Wheeler, Annie Brown, Dr. Connie Proskovec, Mary Ann Kalin, Barneyxcq yWxcSpFGWvTabbVDxz, Karen Newkirk, Kristi Challenor, Stacey Klim, Lillian Marsiglia, Christy Baer , Heather Helton,

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.