Right to Read movie, vision screenings open to campus and community

In partnership with the Youngstown City Schools, YSU invites students, faculty, and staff to a special screening of the impactful documentary, "The Right to Read". To address one of the factors impacting literacy, free vision screenings will be provided by Sight for All United through the Vision to Learn van. The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County will also have their pop-up library on site.

The event will take place on Tuesday, September 3 with a screening at 3 p.m. and another to follow at 5:30 p.m., in the Williamson Hall Auditorium.

For those interested in the 3 p.m. screening, please RSVP here. The 5:30 p.m. screening is geared more toward the community and does not require an RSVP. The screenings are free and open to the public. Community members can park at the Youngstown Early College located at 20 West Wood Street at no charge. Spaces are available in front and back of the building.

Inspired by Governor DeWine’s Initiative regarding literacy, the film itself chronicles the efforts of an NAACP activist, a dedicated teacher and two American families striving to ensure the youngest generation achieves the fundamental skill of reading—a crucial determinant of lifelong success.

Following the screening, a panel discussion will delve deeper into the themes presented in the documentary. Panelists include Mandy Wallace, assistant professor, Teacher Education & Leadership Studies; Kathy Mock, former United Way director of Education, retired YSU Faculty Member and Austintown School Board Member; and Jeremy Batchelor, superintendent for the Youngstown City School district.

The discussion will be moderated by Abby Ambrose, a YSU Honors student majoring in Early Childhood Education. YSU students, including honors students who serve as pen pals in the Dr. Abdu Pen Pals Program, will also be in attendance.

“This event is an example of how YSU listens to community needs and brings together the right partners to address those needs,” said Amy Cossentino, associate provost and dean of the Sokolov Honors College. “We hope many from campus and the community will take part in this event that serves to educate us all about the importance of literacy and vision.”

This event is an excellent opportunity for the YSU community to engage with critical educational issues, gain insights from YSU and community panelists, and access valuable resources. This past spring, Governor DeWine visited YSU for a roundtable on the state’s literacy plan as part of the administration’s commitment to reading education.