Literacy here is more than a classroom skill; it’s a tool of self-discovery, resilience and civic power. One of the first students to complete Read Lead Freedom Schools — Partnership for Growth LA’s free, after-school and summer literacy enrichment program — is a testament to that power. National Literacy Month, observed each September, offers an opportunity to celebrate programs that work and to confront inequities that persist. Programs like Read Lead Freedom Schools pair instruction with civic empowerment so children don’t just learn to read —they learn to lead. National Literacy Month puts this issue in full focus.