February invites us to pause and notice the relationships that ground us; the people who show up consistently, care deeply, and find meaning in doing something together. At Lead to Read KC, we see this kind of love every day in our classrooms, our schools, and our community.
Reading is often thought of as a solitary act, but our work reminds us that literacy is deeply relational. It’s built through trust, time, and shared commitment and sometimes, through families, partners, and loved ones who choose to show up together.
As we celebrate 15 years of Lead to Read KC, this month’s theme is simple: Share the Love.
Leadership and Commitment
David and Lisa Lowe have been part of the Lead to Read KC story for a long time and in complementary, powerful ways.
David is a longtime board member and steadfast champion of our mission. Through his leadership at Lockton, he has helped ensure that literacy isn’t just something the company supports from the sidelines, but a mission it actively participates in. His commitment models what it means to bring an organization fully into alignment with community impact — not just through funding, but through people, presence, and purpose.
Lisa brings that same commitment directly into classrooms and communities. As a longtime Reading Mentor, she often signs up for back-to-back sessions, stocks book baskets for Reading Is Everywhere locations, and shows up at outreach events to help recruit and encourage new volunteers. Her consistency reflects a deep belief that access to books and caring adults matters.
Together, David and Lisa show how leadership and service can reinforce one another, creating ripple effects that extend far beyond any single role.
Partners in Service
Radell Oakman’s work as a Site Coordinator already places her at the heart of Lead to Read KC’s daily impact, but when she invited her husband Karl into the work, something powerful happened.
Together, Radell and Karl have helped bring more first-line responders, including members of the KCK Police Department, into classrooms as reading mentors. Their shared commitment has expanded who shows up for students, modeling that literacy is a responsibility we can all carry, regardless of profession.
Their partnership reminds us that when people invite their loved ones into meaningful work, the impact multiplies. What starts as one person volunteering becomes a bridge into an entire community of readers.
Family Time
For Paige Chappell, an Associate Board member, reading mentoring has become a way to deepen her relationship with her mother, Molly.
By volunteering at Indian Creek Elementary together, Paige and Molly have found a new way to be positively engaged together, rooted in shared values, time, and purpose. Reading side by side has offered them space to connect, reflect, and contribute meaningfully to their community as a family.
Their story is a reminder that literacy work doesn’t just change outcomes for students; it also strengthens the bonds between the adults who show up.
Love Looks Like Showing Up
These stories are just a snapshot of the many relationships that make Lead to Read KC possible. We have more than 75 couples, 30 families, and countless coworkers and friends who choose to read together, volunteer together, and invest together.
As we move through February, we invite you to join us in sharing the love.
Can you tell 15 people you love about Lead to Read KC?
Whether that’s a friend, a family member, a colleague, or someone you’ve been meaning to invite into this work — your voice helps grow a community where every child has access to books and caring readers.
After 15 years, one thing is clear:
Reading brings us together. And love is what keeps us coming back.
