Overview

Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.

— Fredrick Douglass, 19th Century abolitionist, social reformer, writer, and statesman

The Genius Society is a justice-centered, culturally and historically responsive literacy enrichment program developed through a university-community partnership between Northeastern University’s Speech-Language Center and community partners in Charlotte. Grounded in Dr. Gholdy Muhammad’s Cultivating Genius (2020) and Unearthing Joy (2023) frameworks and inspired by the legacy of 19th-century Black literary societies, The Genius Society positions literacy as both a personal and political act, honoring each child’s cultural wealth while using evidence-based practices to foster language and literacy empowerment. The program’s five pursuits — Identity, Intellectualism, Skills, Criticality, and Joy — guide every session. 

Program Schedule and Details

The Genius Society currently serves school-age children at two Charlotte community sites through weekly enrichment sessions. Each session is structured around Muhammad’s five pursuits, weaving together culturally responsive practices, interest driven texts, creative expression, collaborative inquiry, and language and literacy skill-building. Graduate student clinicians from Northeastern University’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program deliver services under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist. 

Key Outcomes and Benefits

Participants develop foundational and advanced language and literacy skills within a framework that affirms the fullness of who they are. Through engagement with culturally relevant texts and responsive instruction, children build reading comprehension, oral language, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills, while also deepening their sense of identity, expanding their understanding of the world, and discovering their own voice as thinkers, storytellers, and agents of change. Families can expect growth that is both measurable and meaningful.