A person is holding and reading a colorful booklet titled 'Dream Street' with illustrations of children and buildings on the cover, outside under a clear blue sky. 
The Initiative

St. Pete Reads!® is our citywide literacy initiative.

We bring together research, public programming, and media to shift how literacy is understood in St. Petersburg, from something people lack to something our community actively practices and values.

support us today
support us today
Group of diverse people crossing the street at an intersection, some with strollers, under a bridge with trees and blue sky overhead. 
THE STUDY

The St. Pete Reads! Study is the community-based research project within the initiative

This project is funded by the Community Foundation of Pinellas, the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, and United Way Suncoast. The study listens to youth, caregivers, and community members to better understand:

  • How families experience reading in daily life

  • What motivates participation in literacy activities

  • How public programs and shared spaces support reading

take our survey
take our survey
A group of diverse people, including a woman and children, are at an outdoor event, engaging with books and materials on a table with trees and sunlight in the background. 
The Campaign

The PSA Campaign uses local voices, images, and stories to normalize reading as part of everyday life.

Highlighting real people reading in real places, helping reshape public narratives around literacy.

Two smiling women holding white t-shirts with the logo of St. Pete Reads at a literacy event, standing outdoors among lush green foliage. 
the festival

St. Pete Reads!® Lit Fest is our South St. Pete-rooted literacy celebration shaped by community voices and shared experiences with books.

Held each fall during National Family Literacy Month, the festival brings youth and families together with authors, illustrators, artists, and local partners for a day of reading, conversation, creativity, and resource sharing.

The festival also features storytimes, workshops, book discussions, poetry, and interactive activities that make reading feel joyful, social, and accessible. 

Pull Up
Pull Up