Meet Norma Nelson | President & CEO: Readers 2 Leaders

We had the good fortune of connecting with Norma Nelson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Norma, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Readers 2 Leaders (R2L) is a local nonprofit that opened its doors in 2011. Our goal is to equip students for success through the power of reading. For twelve years, we have helped thousands of students reach their reading goals so they can pursue paths of academic, professional, and personal fulfillment.

While I am not the founder of Readers 2 Leaders, I was the first employee hired to develop the programs and set the foundation for R2L’s work in the community. I am forever grateful to our founders, Ted and Stephanie Schweinfurth, for their vision and leadership in starting R2L. Their support and dedication have made our work possible.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Readers 2 Leaders provides the literacy expertise students need through In-School, After-School, and Summer Camp Tutoring and Coaching. We partner with schools and community agencies to reach students where they are and offer the specific instruction they need to become proficient readers.

Students in R2L Tutoring programs work with R2L Instructors four days a week for at least 30 minutes per session to target essential literacy skills including fluency, comprehension, and word decoding skills. Our trained instructors use research-driven methodologies, based on the curriculum Phonics Suite, published by Really Great Reading. Through small group instruction, one-on-one reading sessions with volunteers, tech-based learning, and hands-on activities, students master the tools and concepts they need to become strong, independent readers!

Readers 2 Leaders Coaching equips adults who work with striving readers, including nonprofit professionals, educators, and caregivers, to provide high-quality reading support to students in their existing contexts. Through a suite of services that vary in duration and focus but all remain rooted in phonics and the science of reading, we are increasing the number of adults who can help children read.

Readers 2 Leaders is unique in that we run a family literacy center located in West Dallas, at the intersection of Singleton and Hampton Rd. We run both our after-school and summer programs out of the center. We also host many partner nonprofits at our facility. Last year, we partnered with local nonprofit Aspire to host adult literacy classes during the day, prior to our after-school programs starting.

Personally, I am a big believer in collective impact; it is only by working and partnering with nonprofits, school districts and businesses across our community that we can make a sustainable change.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Readers 2 Leaders has a long history in West Dallas, and prior to my time at R2L I worked as a teacher in West Dallas (starting in 2004). The neighborhood has changed through the years but this is a strong, beautiful and resilient community.

Soiree Coffee Bar on Singleton Blvd. is a great place for coffee or breakfast. We also love the pan dulce at two locations: La Estrella on Singleton as well as Vera’s bakery (located nearby in Oak Cliff). Also, the strawberry tres leches cake from Vera’s is a must-try! We also love cakes from Cake Bar.

A few places we enjoy in our area that we include for lunch include Milagros Taco Cantina on Singleton Blvd., as well as TacoDeli. Cibo Divino is a a great place as well for lunch or a glass of wine.

A great place to have a beer and hang out after work is Community Beer Co. at Pegasus Park. Many of our nonprofit partners office at Pegasus Park and it’s a frequent hangout for many of us working in the nonprofit sector.

Finally, Bishop Arts is not far away – in about 10 minutes there are many options for a great meal or a night out just down the street from Readers 2 Leaders

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people who make the work of Readers 2 Leaders possible! I have already mentioned our incredible founders, Ted and Stephanie Schweinfurth. I am also forever grateful to my leadership team, as well as the programmatic staff who work with and support our students and adults served by R2L.

Being a nonprofit, we would not be able to bring this important work to the broader community without the support of our Board of Directors. Readers 2 Leaders has had three fantastic Board Chairs in my 12 years with the organization: Jennifer Owen (our current Chair), Michael Kleiman, as well as Ted Schweinfurth. These three individuals have put in countless hours of volunteer service to help guide our organization forward. I have learned from them as mentors and leaders, and they have each supported me throughout my time with R2L.

Additionally, our work is made possible by our key partners, including Dallas ISD, where we tutor students across 10 campuses, as well as the many donors and funders who invest in us from a philanthropic perspective.

Last but not least, our students and adults in our training programs do the work each and every day to grow their early reading skills/teaching skills. They are the true Readers 2 Leaders heroes!

Website: www.readers2leaders.org

Instagram: @readers2leaders

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/readers2leaders/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/readers2leaders

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@readers2leaders

Image Credits
Anthony Chiang Photography Simon Luna Studios Jin Ae Sakai