On Thursday, June 27, 2024, Maryland READS launched the READ Strong Network in Queen Anne’s County. Education and community leaders across the county united to address Maryland’s reading challenges and collaborate on establishing a robust reading ecosystem to ensure all children achieve proficiency. More than twenty stakeholders, including school board members, educators, and nonprofit leaders, gathered at the Centreville Public Library for an event aimed at mapping out and initiating the development of a vibrant reading environment for the youth of Queen Anne’s County. Shannon Bent, Vice-President of the Queen Anne’s County Board of Education, opened the session with a heartfelt personal story and words of encouragement for all attendees. This event marks the first of several planned Read Strong Maryland gatherings statewide and the beginning of a transformative initiative in Queen Anne’s