A May report from the Florida Department of Education revealed that third-grade reading scores dropped or remained stagnant in four of the five counties serviced by United Way Suncoast. It’s a clear indication that COVID-19 education disruptions have impacted student performance. It’s also a signal that out of school reading programs remain critical to elevating performance and dealing with post-pandemic problems. On this episode of the Freedom to Rise podcast, we speak with Bill Sadlo, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota/DeSoto; Dawn Stanhope, Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee; and Bernadette Denison, literacy coordinator at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast about how their organizations are working to reverse the trend and unlock literacy in our region.