The Power of Partnerships

Creating a Community of Readers

The axiom that two heads are better than one really is true when it comes to strengthening communities. A community working together can accomplish goals that neither individuals nor groups could achieve alone.

Diverse stakeholders shape their efforts through collaborative partnerships. These partnerships give communities a structure for organizing, planning, and implementing their ideas. Collaborative partnerships are the mechanism for designing comprehensive strategies that strengthen children, families, and communities.

The process of building a collaborative partnership is multidimensional. It involves:

• developing a vision of long-term change;
• recognizing opportunities for change;
• mobilizing people and resources to create changes;
• seeking support and involvement from diverse and non-traditional partners;
• choosing an effective group structure;
• building trust among collaborators; and
• developing learning opportunities for partners.

Although the effort takes time and requires careful attention, it is essential to make the effort in order to create strong, viable partnerships that produce lasting change.

Read 20 is honored to be a member of a long list of collaborative partnerships within the Hamilton County Community. Listed below are our partners:

• KMT Creative
• Read Chattanooga
• Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce
• Hamilton County Department of Education
• Faith Based Schools & Educators
• Downtown Rotary Club
• Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
• United Way of Greater Chattanooga
• Governor’s Books to Birth Foundation
• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
• Hamilton County Bicentennial Library
• Hamilton County Educational Association
• Covenant College
• WSMC 90.5 Classical FM - Collegedale
• Barnes & Nobles Booksellars
• A Novel Idea
• City of Chattanooga
• Ronald McDonald Children’s Fair
• Chattanooga Area Association of Education of the Young Child
• Read Aloud Collegedale
• Chattanooga Parent Magazine
• Step ONE - Hamilton County Government Health Initiative
• The Parent’s Place / Child Care Resource & Referral Center
• Chattanooga Housing Authority
• Parent’s Are First Teachers
• University of TN at Chattanooga
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee

If you are interested in joining Read 20 as a partner to benefit the children of Hamilton County, please contact Read 20 at 423.209-6190 or email: ShulaY@HamiltonTN.gov