Friday, October 31. SMART Reading Executive Director, Jessica Bowersox
Podcasts > The Sound of the Pacific Northwest
The Sound of the Pacific Northwest is a weekly show that keeps you connected to the issues and resources in our community. Hosted by Luciana and Pedro Bartes
Friday, October 31, 2025
In the Pacific Northwest, we have a serious problem with drugs, crime, homelessness, domestic violence... so many issues that, believe it or not, improve when this one thing gets better… We’re talking about reading… Children who cannot read proficiently by the fourth grade are four times less likely to graduate on time—hindering their chances to succeed in college, career, and in life. And here’s an alarming statistic… In Oregon, more than half of 3rd graders are not reading at grade level. There is an organization in Oregon that is working hard to boost reading levels in school. We’re talking about SMART Reading. To talk about SMART Reading, we have invited Jessica Bowersox, SMART Reading’s Executive Director.
