Recruiting families for community programs

Duration: 58 minutes
Status: Now available on demand

Recruitment isn’t a one-time event—it’s an ongoing process that requires creativity, persistence, and community insight. In this recorded webinar, leaders from Mesquite Independent School District (TX) and Pikes Peak Library District (CO) share how they’ve successfully generated interest in their LENA Start programs and turned curiosity into long-term engagement.

As programs return to in-person and hybrid formats, this conversation offers practical strategies for increasing participation, building visibility, and strengthening partnerships to support early literacy efforts in diverse communities.

Topics include:

• Identifying quick wins and common recruitment roadblocks
• Crafting compelling elevator pitches for staff and stakeholders
• Building relationships with local media outlets
• Creative outreach strategies — including the story behind Mesquite ISD’s decorated ReadPlayTalk school bus

Panelists:

Lindsay Paris
Community Liaison, Mesquite ISD
Lindsay leads the district’s community education department and ReadPlayTalk, an early literacy initiative that encourages parents to read, play, and talk with their children every day. Mesquite ISD is entering its third round of LENA Start sessions.

Melody Alvarez
Director of Family & Children’s Services, Pikes Peak Library District
Melody launched LENA Start at PPLD in 2018 and continues to facilitate sessions, recruit families, and build partnerships to expand the program’s reach across Colorado Springs.