About us
Born in the West End. Built for every reader.
Decode Project started in 2018 when our co-founder, a school counselor, noticed that a lot of the kids sent to her for behavior were really just frustrated readers.
Mission
Readers first
Prioritize the students who most need access to structured literacy, and end inequities in education by building strong foundations in reading.
Vision
Every zip code
A world where every child has fair access to educational resources, no matter their zip code, race or income, and grows into a learner ready to take on the world.
Our story
From six students to hundreds of readers
We started in 2019 with six students. By winter, they were raising their hands more, and one student jumped eight reading levels in half a school year.
Since then we’ve run summer camps, moved online during COVID, trained youth counselors, partnered with JCPS elementary schools and launched our LIT Summer Experience. Same idea the whole time: kids learn to read when someone teaches them the way their brain needs.
What we value
Action
Literacy is a path to freedom. We push for real, system-level change.
Access
We remove barriers so every young person can reach their potential.
Collaboration
We center the people most affected by inequity.
Accountability
Every community member matters, and we all work toward a fairer world.
Equity
We treat people fairly based on their real circumstances.
Our team
Meet our staff, board and the Literacy Mentors working with students every week.
Impact reporting
Numbers, milestones and the story of how we’ve grown since 2018.
Partners
Maupin Elementary · University of Louisville Office of Community Engagement and School of Education · Evolve 502 · New Directions Housing Corp. · Spalding University Career Design Center · National Center for Families Learning · Faithworks Performing Arts
Thank you to MAC Construction for supporting our work.
Where we serve
Jefferson County, Kentucky
We started in Louisville’s West End, and today we work with families and partner schools across Jefferson County.
