Murphy Austin Adams Schoenfeld LLP, focusing on business law and commercial litigation, is proud to support Rob on the Road - Region Rising.

More information available at murphyaustin.com.

And now, Rob on the Road, exploring Northern California.

♪♪ [Rob Stewart] In this Region Rising episode, two spotlights, featuring April Javist with the Sacramento Literacy Foundation, and later, Kelly Fong Rivas, the racial equity advisor to the Sacramento Mayor.

We begin with the passionate work of the Sacramento Literacy Foundation, led by reading champion April Javist, working to help all children in our region achieve grade level reading by the third grade.

Currently, the Sacramento Literacy Foundation says, "More kids cannot read at grade level than those who can."

And when it comes to literacy, there is a lifelong impact.

Talk about making a region rise.

April, you really have a key to that and it is so good to see you today.

Thank you, April Javist, for joining us.

Thank you for having me, Rob.

Okay, let's jump into some of the ways that this is going to be, uh, fixed, you say.

[April] Yeah.

[Rob] Um, first of all, you're... you're testing around the third grade.

That's your measurement tool, correct?

[April] Right.

[Rob] OK. Yeah, because in the third grade- First of all, the third grade is the first year that the standardized test is delivered to a student.

So, that's one of the reasons that we go with that.

[Rob] OK. [April] Third grade is also- A... a child is supposed to learn to read up to the third grade.

And then, in the fourth grade, they're supposed to read to learn.

So, if they can't read proficiently by the third grade, then everything that comes next is going to be really difficult because- [Rob] Let's dig into that right there, instead of jumping to the, um, the statistics first, because I...

I really find it fascinating to explain what happens when someone cannot read.

Well, just imagine yourself sitting in a classroom.

You're in the fourth grade, you're supposed to be able to read the word problems at math.

You're probably good at math, but you can't read the word problem.

You... you... you just don't... you just don't understand it.

So, suddenly, you're having trouble in math now, too, not just in reading, because reading is what you need to do to learn from the fourth grade on.

You have to have that skill undertone, and without it, you're going to continue to slide back and slide back.

But more importantly, you're going to lose your interest in learning.

Right?

I mean, how can we expect a child who's struggling with every single class every hour of the day to sit there and try and learn?

They're going to get disruptive.

They're going to end up with their head on their desk.

They're going to end up creating problems in the classroom.

They're just- And they're going to end up feeling really bad about themselves.

That's what is really going to happen.

[Rob] And it... it follows throughout life, and as the years go by, the problem goes with it exponentially.

It expands.

[April] It does.

It does.

Reading and not reading is literally correlated with nearly every positive and negative life outcome, respectively, from the kind of job you're going to be able to achieve to the kind of education you're going to be able to achieve, to the kind of adulthood you're going to be able to have.

It's literally correlated with the entire nine yards.

And then, when we talk about someone reading at grade level and when someone is behind, then the... the mountain continues to grow... [April] Yeah.

[Rob] ...it's almost as if looking around the world, and let's just say where we live, that if everything instead of- where everything was, instead of being written, was in music notes and you didn't read music.

Or, if every other music note was a letter and you couldn't make sense of things.

[April] That's right.

[Rob] Imagine how hard... that would be.

[April] Right.

And we're asking kids to sit there for that.

I mean, think about that kid- right?

- that doesn't like school at all, because this experience is so frustrating.

You can't tell them just to figure it out either, because there's proof that there's ways that it can be done.

Let's jump in to some of the fascinating things that you and I went through.

[April] Yeah.

So, the Science of Reading, which is... [Rob] Take it.

[April] ...also known as evidence-based curriculum, um, gets put forward in the 2000 reading panel as the way to help kids read.

And that's in... that's in the year 2000.

And since then, there's been a lot of back and forth between the Science of Reading in... in... in this particular context which equals phonemic awareness, uh, decoding, fluency and comprehension.

So, it's a step-by-step scope and sequence approach to learning to read, and it basically says this: You must be able to decode and you must be able to comprehend words in order to be a reading person.

[Rob] OK. [April] So, if you can't decode- right?

- but you can listen and hear, you still can't read.

If... if you can- If... if... if you can decode, but you don't know what a single word means, you won't be able to read.

Now, Mississippi implemented the Science of Reading as a policy in 2015.

[Rob] OK. [April] They put the Science of Reading in every kindergarten, first, second grade classroom from '15, '16, '17, '18.

When they take a test with their kids having had the Science of Reading for three years, third graders, uh, scored 85% across the state grade level reading.

[Rob] Wow!

[April] Yeah.

Pizza party numbers, right?

We should give them- We should give every third grader in Mississippi a pizza party.

[Rob] Wow!

[April] I mean, it's a big, big difference and that's just after three years.

It's amazing.

[Rob] So, how do we get from our 37% to the 85 plus?

Wow, that's a good question.

Um- We have a lot of politics in this state around education, um, we- so we have some difficulty there.

Right now, the movement is really working district by district to try and get the Science of Reading implemented into school districts.

What's tough about that is that some school districts choose curriculum district-wide, some school districts choose curriculum- the school, itself, will choose the curriculum, school to school to school.

And in some districts, the classroom will choose the curriculum, the teacher.

So, it gets very tough if you don't have a system where everybody's doing the same thing.

And I think we're going to have to work on that in our school districts.

We have 13 school districts here in Sacramento.

It's... it's a lot.

We have four very large ones, and one of them is seriously working on implementing the Science of Reading and that's the Twin Rivers school.

[Rob] Twin Rivers, yeah.

But that doesn't mean that we can't work at a district level and start showing results that then will force the hand of the... of the... of the... of the people in power, right?

I mean, if we can show some districts where we're getting 95% reading because of the Science of Reading, well then, we'll just have to beg the question why we wouldn't do that everywhere.

You know, what... what would be the possible reason not to... not to do that everywhere?

So, I don't want to go down a rabbit hole on this, but I think it's important just to ask this question: Why would someone argue against it?

Um, I think...

I think part of the argument is- comes from, um, some lay over from the alt No Children Left Behind, with left- which left a whole lot of kids of color behind.

And so, I think communities of color, uh, feel weary of something that's for everybody, 'cause often times when it's something for "everybody," it's not something for people of color.

It's something for- You know, it's typically been something for Caucasian kids.

You know?

And so, I think that there's some skepticism there and some, um, past experience that makes it hard to say, "OK, let's... let's give it... let's give it a roll."

[Rob] Mmhmm.

Well, I do know this.

Everything that you stand for is for diversity... [April] Yes.

[Rob] ...and for helping every single human being... [April] That's right.

Everybody.

So, let's jump in to some of the solutions.

So, what are some of the things that you want to talk about?

Well, the things that we're doing right now, because of, you know, where we are in history, is- Our... our first and biggest initiative right now is to put diverse, high quality books into the hands and homes of our poorest kids.

They don't see themselves in books, so their interest in reading is already somewhat subdued.

So, if they start seeing themselves and they start having some books in their home, they're going to get more of an interest for the reading.

Right?

They're gonna get- [Rob] Let's do this then.

I want people to see what you're talking about, because when you showed me, it brought tears to my eyes.

♪♪ The greater the level of a child's literacy, the greater their level of access to resources, to opportunities.

There is an important need for us to place intentionality on targeting those youth that are from marginalized communities, disconnected communities and underserved communities.

I work with children as young as five, and I see how much reading has impact their life because they go from only knowing sight words such as "the," "look," "was" to, "Oh yeah!"

when I read the book.

And they come in, bringing books in and reading to the whole class actually.

In our partnership with the Sacramento Literacy Foundation, we have the opportunity to send all of our students home with a customized book bag in order to support their interest in literacy and in order to keep them reading throughout the summer break.

We know that closing the literacy gap is behind closing the opportunity gap.

It really all goes back to literacy, and a gap can exist before students even enter school for the first time in TK or Kinder.

When I was younger, I could not find myself on the pages of books, and that has really inspired me to be an author, to write books where children can find themselves.

I didn't see myself on the pages of a book growing up, and when I became a mother, it was really my priority to have that reflection for my own children, to be able to see themselves on the pages.

We're supporting school districts to put evidence-based direct curriculum into classrooms.

That's through teacher training, after-school programing and supporting curriculum implementation.

[Rob] How beautiful and how touching!

I know, right?

The kiddos, they love the books.

You know?

And they love having them.

I mean, if you just looked at some of those kids going, "Wow!

For me?"

You know, they just- Um, I think they're excited by it.

Um, what will make this journey at the Literacy Foundation, the Sacramento Literacy Foundation, worth it for you?

What do you want to see?

Well, to be honest, I come at reading from a perspective of- a little emotional- of ending poverty.

I was raised here and I was poor and I see that some people didn't make it and some- Mostly, people didn't make it- right?

- from... from where I'm from.

Um- And... and I...

I think that reading is such a key to that.

It's such a way for people to feel confident and strong.

So, I guess I think, for me, it changes everything and I'm...

I'm looking for that game-changer.

And I think back to those children in that video... [April] Yeah.

[Rob] ...when they see themselves in a book for the first time, just as you said you did as a little girl.

[April] That's right.

[Rob] It is a powerful, powerful thing.

And I thank you for your... for your honesty and your boldness and standing up for what you believe in, because that's what it takes.

[April] Thank you, Rob.

It's really nice to be here with you.

[Rob] Thank you.

♪♪ And now, Kelly Fong Rivas, the racial equity advisor to the Sacramento Mayor.

Mayor Darrell Steinberg created the position in 2022 and tapped his former chief of staff to step up to the plate.

Her job?

To ensure that all people in Sacramento's communities are represented and have a seat at the table and a place in the hearts of those who lead the capital city.

You know, it sounds to me, Kelly, and this... this explains so much as to why you are in this role, the first person to ever have this role, is because it is leading through a lens of love and heart... [Kelly] Yeah.

...and about reacting to, um, not necessarily who is right, but what is right.

That's a really beautiful way of putting it, um, because we all come from so many different backgrounds and perspectives and within these roles that we all play, whether within government or within community leadership position, so much can get caught up in personality dynamics.

And it really is about the fundamental work at hand and agreeing on that.

Even if you may not agree or like one another in different roles and scenarios, it is heart work.

And it is really about just making sure that you lead, really, with that love for community, um, and that kindness, 'cause people can tell.

You know, you can tell, when people step into the space, really what they're about.

Trauma touches everyone in a different way... [Kelly] It sure does.

[Rob] ...um, and every community in our region has been touched by trauma, affected by trauma.

What are some of the areas that stick out to you when it comes, specifically, to an incident that has made you want to do what you do for this region?

Can you talk about an area or a certain specific person that has pushed you to your "why"?

Oh, that is a really great question.

Um, I was- like a little montage movie reel that just went through my head as you were speaking, of so many different moments.

And there are several that are very, very particular and some of which aren't my stories to share, so I won't here, even though they have been incredibly impactful.

Um, but ones that I will talk about that have been more public and really have changed, um, our community and I would argue, you know, sort of state and country in a lot of different ways that revolve around public safety and how we define it, are what we went through as a city, together, with the death of George Floyd and being really in community within the different protests, um, each night, you know, until early into the morning, and really experiencing, um, what folks were feeling, what folks were saying, being up early in the mornings with businesses cleaning up, with our police department and roll calls going over.

I get the benefit of being in these very unique spaces that not everybody gets an opportunity to be and to see firsthand, to try and understand and translate between these different individuals, entities and organizations, um, firsthand.

[Rob] As well as those who are deeply affected.

[Kelly] Exactly.

Um- [Rob] That's where your... your space is... [Kelly] Right.

[Rob] ...is of influence.

Yeah.

So, just being in those spaces and taking, um- not taking any of it lightly, um, doing my best to absorb it, to find a way to best communicate what I'm hearing amongst all parties and for the mayor, in terms of advice.

Um, I really do see how we can move forward and kind of the distance and gaps between where we are, and try and bridge them.

And it's moments like that in our city that are really unprecedented in terms of experiencing when tensions in- are high, when emotions are high, and you get to see people step forward, um, and react in different kinds of ways and be there for them.

Um, that really has shaped me.

And it just reminds me my "why," why I'm in these types of spaces, and as hard as it gets, um, that it is a real privilege to be within a position approximate to power, with... with power, and to really use that for the benefit of those who don't feel that they can exercise power in those spaces.

So, another event that was extremely impactful for me in this work and how to navigate being in these spaces was the death of Stephon Clark.

And through that- and I won't share all of the details of this because some of it is very personal and, um, one of the things that I have really learned from my own, um, experience with trauma and loss is how difficult that can be in the immediate aftermath.

And so, I was fortunate to be in the position where you do have access to nearly everyone within the city.

And that meant the mayor, that meant our police chief, that meant our police department, that meant our community leaders, our religious leaders being out in the protest, um, and the actual Clark family.

And I really got a chance to bond with and work with Stevante, to be there for his family in different ways in a real time of crisis.

And we definitely had some interactions- and he's talked about this before in different forums- of 3 a.m., you know, calling me up, and us trying to work through, really, what that trauma was he ex- he was experiencing and how he was expressing it.

And how could we work together?

And how, in a position that I was in, help communicate between all of these disparate parties when emotions were high?

And the one thing that really stuck with me from this that I will share with you is learning how to absorb what everybody was saying, what they were feeling, recognizing that each individual, each organization, each body's sort of experience of a situation was their true experience.

And while they were in conflict with one another, that did not negate the actual firsthand experience they were having.

I hear someone in you who is incredibly empathic.

Yeah, I think it's one of the things that's very helpful for... for the work... the work, um, that I do here in this role.

What will be a litmus test for you that this role is helping, in your heart, this region rise?

That is a great question.

I feel like there are a few really key litmus tests, given the projects that I've taken on.

Um, there's one specific to developing a racial equity lens, with community centered in that process of going through and really building together the definition, going through our history to really acknowledge and apologize, and then building out the training, um, to create the capacity for our city staff to know how to apply a racial equity lens within their areas of work.

So, whether you're a park supervisor or in the planning division or working on a budget decision, that you know how to apply a racial equity lens to your areas of expertise.

And I think once we get to that point, that is a real litmus test and change that will show the city is taking this seriously, and is a level of systemic change that many have been longing for.

One of the other litmus tests that I'm really looking at is in the development of our ability to offer alternative response when it comes to 911.

And we currently have the ability, through a Department of Community response, to address quality of life issues for and with our unhoused community.

Um, but it's a pretty complicated system, when calls come into the city through our 911 dispatch or through fire dispatch or through our 311 system, in being able to help bring some real, um, shared but also respectful of privacy set of metrics for those systems to be able to dispatch the best response, whether that's fire or medical, whether that is public safety in terms of law enforcement to an act of crime, or whether that's really a social worker for someone who is experiencing, um, an acute moment of distress, um, within the mental health realm.

We don't quite have the way to do that, but we've got a lot of the tools available, incredible staff working on it.

And that's one of the other things that I know will... will prove out to be a good litmus test for our city and how we partner together with community.

What would you say to someone who does not understand the need for what you do?

That's a good and tough question, um, especially because it touches- When I think about each of the areas I'm working on, whether it's developing a racial equity lens or offering alternative 911 response, or trying to create a strategic blueprint for investment within, you know, our underserved communities financially, or trying to develop municipal reparations.

Each one has a slightly different answer.

I think one of the first things that I would say to somebody or encourage them to think about by asking me that question would be, you know, "Why... why do you ask that?

What is your perspective?"

And really start from there to understand, where are they coming from?

Because that's the basis of the work always.

What is it that's within each individual's experience that has shaped their view of where things are?

And what is it that feels, perhaps, like a threat or an unnecessary endeavor to them, based on that question?

And then, really start to dig in to see, you know, what are those areas where they have felt or seen an injustice?

And try and help them to understand, outside of an individual perspective, the way that our systems work and how much of that we live within without even realizing its impact on each of us, and try and, uh, build... build a little basis of understanding from there.

That's- That is so interesting.

And someone had said to me, when this, uh, was being discussed about this... this position that you have, and as well as being on Region Rising, um, you know, "Explain to me what she does, what Kelly Rivas- Kelly- Explain to me what Kelly Fong Rivas does."

And I said, "Well, she has to take every single person's feelings into account that could be affected and stand up for what is right.

Not 'who' in the group, but 'what.'

And her heart and her head are the perfect balance for moving an issue through where it needs to go."

And your background and your track record has proven that.

Thank you.

That's a really beautiful way of explaining it.

Um, and I...

I will share that the emotional labor that is involved in a role like this is essential.

We often think about the soft skills as something that are sort of a "nice to have" for roles of leadership or just in general, um, but they're essential in this type of work.

And I think they should be essential for all leaders to really understand and recognize, um, how we approach them.

I'm happy for you and I'm...

I'm thrilled to know that you are in the position to have such an impact of... of pause, of purpose, of passion.

And your platform is something that is touching so many people's lives.

We are going to be so much better off because of you.

Thank you.

It is an incredible opportunity to be able to help create space, uh, for those in our community and within this city, you know, that are doing this work.

And I'm just grateful for it and know that, um, the work to be successful will really be those, um, that are engaged in it, being able to be seen and be heard in ways that I don't think they've felt before.

[Rob] Thank you.

♪♪ Murphy Austin Adams Schoenfeld LLP, focusing on business law and commercial litigation, is proud to support Rob on the Road - Region Rising.

More information available at murphyaustin.com.