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In Wilmington, Delaware, K Ready WORKS (Whole-Child Outreach for Readiness and Kindergarten Success) is focused on advancing kindergarten readiness starting with children and families in the 19802 zip code through strong community partnerships and targeted supports. These efforts are made possible through collaboration with organizations featured below.

Through this partnership, Reading Assist is piloting the placement of trained Early Literacy Guides in Pre-K classrooms to deliver evidence-based literacy support directly to students.

Reading Assist is a regional nonprofit dedicated to helping children with the most significant reading challenges reach proficiency. Through high-impact tutoring, educator training, and community partnerships grounded in the science of reading, the organization provides intensive literacy support while strengthening the ability of schools and organizations to deliver effective instruction. Serving communities across Delaware, Camden County, New Jersey, southeastern Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC, Reading Assist works alongside educators and partners to ensure more children build the foundational reading skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.

Through this partnership, Planting to Feed will launch two new community fridges in Wilmington’s 19802 neighborhood, located at local childcare centers, to expand access to fresh, healthy food for families.

Planting to Feed Inc. currently operates seven community refrigerators across Wilmington and Dover, each stocked weekly with fresh produce grown in their urban gardens or sourced through wholesale and food rescue efforts. Open 24/7 and designed to remove barriers to access, the fridges are available to anyone with no ID, application, or questions asked, ensuring that nutritious food is always within reach for the community.

Through this partnership, Teach Zen Inc. will deliver a dual program model to support children, families, and educators across Wilmington, Delaware.

The first offering, Summer of Feelings, brings families together in welcoming community space. In these sessions, Teach Zen’s yoga instructor leads engaging read-alouds of carefully selected social-emotional learning books, followed by mindfulness and movement activities that help children and caregivers build emotional awareness and connection.

The second offering, the One Love, One Heart (OLOH) Social-Emotional Learning Program, will be implemented across two preschool centers in Wilmington’s 19802 community.  This research-aligned, trauma-informed curriculum is rooted in Teach Zen’s signature 3M framework of Music, Movement, and Mindfulness. The program supports children in developing emotional intelligence, self-regulation, and resilience, while also equipping educators with practical self-care tools to foster calm, responsive, and nurturing classroom environments.

Through this partnership, PREP is expanding early literacy support for preschool children by providing engaging, high-quality literacy kits paired with monthly Ranger Rick magazine subscriptions. Each child also receives a read-along companion and simple activity sheet to encourage shared reading and meaningful family engagement.

These resources help caregivers actively support their child’s language and literacy development through conversation, storytelling, and hands-on activities. By strengthening the home-school connection, PREP empowers families as their child’s first teachers, fostering a love of reading and building a strong foundation for long-term academic success.

Through this partnership, Gift Connect provides parenting and family education support through the Legacy of Literacy Circle, a 12-week, trauma informed program designed to strengthen early literacy and family well-being.

Grounded in the Six Loving Habits framework of Speak, Sing, Read, Play, Count, and Serve and Return, the program equips parents as their child’s first teacher while fostering meaningful everyday interactions that support language and literacy development. Families also benefit from the integration of Carnegie Hall’s Lullaby Project, wraparound supports, and the Gift Connect Parenting Suite app, which offers 24/7 AI powered guidance along with tools for songs, stories, and continued learning between sessions.

By addressing literacy alongside generational trauma, isolation, and systemic barriers, Gift Connect empowers parents to show up with confidence and connection, creating stronger families and a foundation for lifelong learning.

Through this partnership, DIEEC is offering two cohort-based professional learning experiences to support early childhood educators.

The first, Let’s Grow Outside, guides educators in exploring outdoor gardening with young children, helping programs create and sustain edible gardens while integrating hands-on learning into daily routines. The second, Shining the Light on You, focuses on the health and well-being of educators, providing space to explore wellness topics and receive support in achieving personal wellness goals.

Both cohorts are designed to foster mentorship, connection, and shared learning, strengthening educators’ skills while building a supportive professional community. DIEEC is housed within the University of Delaware’s College of Education and Human Development.