about
In 1999, a “Ready to Learn” state summit was held with the goal of encouraging efforts to assure that children 0-5 would be a priority for both the public and private sectors. Regional Summits were formed and in April of 2001, with the support of the Colina Foundation, EVERYBODY READY was formed, specifically focused on increasing public and private sector awareness and support for quality services, activities, and programs for families with children age 0-5 in Wayne County, Michigan.
In 2006, EVERYBODY READY was designated by Wayne RESA as the fiscal, administrative, and program entity for the State of Michigan’s Great Start Initiative in Detroit/Wayne County. For the past 15 years, over 50 community leaders meet quarterly to enhance and maintain a comprehensive, high-quality Early Childhood system in Wayne County, Michigan. The blend of EVERYBODY READY and the Great Start Initiative is referenced locally as EVERYBODY READY FOR A GREAT START!
EVERYBODY READY has consistently engaged with diverse families in Detroit/Wayne County to assure that their voices are embedded in the messaging, content, and resource-sharing on behalf of families throughout Wayne County.
EVERYBODY READY has a solid reputation (at the local, state, and national level) for building partnerships and maintaining collaborative relationships among Early Childhood professionals and community leaders in developing and implementing innovative, responsive, family-friendly initiatives. EVERYBODY READY maintains a database of nearly 700 authentic partnerships (where HMG training, programming, care coordination, COVID response activities, social media messaging, early literacy training supports, etc. are provided and maintained.) Locally, we are partners with the ongoing work of Hope Starts Here, Brilliant Detroit, the Brightmoor Quality Initiative, IFF, and Western Wayne Health Clinics to name a few.
Families of young children are often overwhelmed and confused by too much mediocre information and complex, inequitable access to helpful resources. EVERYBODY READY focuses on connecting Lifepoints - families with children ages 0-8 to Touchpoints - places where families connect on a daily basis (laundromats, barbershops, houses of worship, libraries, community organizations, pediatric clinics, WIC offices, child care providers, GSRP, Head Start, Early On, etc.).
EVERYBODY READY has received recognition for ongoing innovation. It has changed the way that early childhood information and resources are shared. The best practical early childhood supports/resources were identified and simplified by listening to families and adjusting the delivery, the message, the content and the access in a way that a local Pastor called, “profound simplicity”.
EVERYBODY READY has received recognition for ongoing innovation. It has changed the way that early childhood information and resources are shared. The best practical early childhood supports/resources were identified and simplified by listening to families and adjusting the delivery, the message, the content and the access in a way that a local Pastor called, “profound simplicity”.
When families wanted current, accessible information EVERYBODY READY created www.greatstart.org
When families needed daily access to Food Resources, EVERYBODY READY created a daily food calendar https://www.greatstart.org/food.
When families needed access to current resources for fun, activities and academic resources, EVERYBODY READY created a FIND FUN page https://www.greatstart.org/findfun
When families said they were confused about finding free preschool, www.findfreepreschool.org was created.
Since 2001, EVERYBODY READY has received public and private grants for various initiatives from: the Michigan Department of Education, Wayne RESA, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; the Clinton Foundation, DTE Foundation, St. John Mission Grant; Delta Dental Foundation; Colina Foundation: Comcast; Women’s Caring Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Skillman Foundation; Development Centers; Detroit Institute for Population Health; the Ford Motor Company, Oakland Schools, United Way for Southeastern Michigan; Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Fisher Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
EVERYBODY READY is a 501c3 Michigan non-profit, current with 990 filings and has independent audits conducted annually. To date, there have been no questioned or disallowed costs.
board of directors
Executive Director-Kathleen Alessandro
President-Elaine Koons - Early Childhood Consultant
Vice President-Lisa Rutledge - Western Wayne Family Health Centers
Secretary-Nancy Colina - Colina Foundation
Treasurer - Kirsten Toth - Community Partner
members at large
Dr. Sophia Lafayette-Lause - Wayne RESA
John Colina - Colina Foundation
Karen Wilson-Smithbauer - Family Foundation