Who We Are
Literacy is the fundamental civil right of our time.
FULCRUM (Full and Complete Reading is a Universal Mandate) is an Oakland-based nonprofit with a national presence, committed to fighting for every student’s right to read.
A fulcrum makes balance possible. When weights are unequal, shifting the fulcrum restores equilibrium.
Literacy is the fulcrum of modern society. It empowers people to learn, grow, and overcome systemic barriers. Without it, access to education and opportunity remains out of reach.
mission
To radically improve student reading outcomes by catalyzing the awareness, adoption, and effective implementation of evidence-based literacy instruction and support within school systems, educator prep programs, and policy nationwide.
vision
A nation where all children learn to read.
Our Staff
Learn about the people behind FULCRUM.
What We Know
Learn more about the reading crisis and the outcomes research shows us are possible.
What We Do
Learn more about how FULCRUM is creating the conditions needed for change.
Our Story
In 2019, award-winning educator Kareem Weaver set out to understand what was missing in Bay Area education. He uncovered a troubling truth: Oakland schools were using unproven and ineffective methods to teach reading. In response, he joined forces with former colleague Liza Finkelstein to launch FULCRUM—a nonprofit organization built on the principle that Full and Complete Reading is a Universal Mandate.
United by a shared belief in literacy as a critical driver of societal change, they initially focused on supporting the Oakland NAACP’s reading initiatives. Their efforts quickly expanded, however, as Kareem emerged as a leading voice in the growing evidence-based literacy instruction movement. FULCRUM worked diligently to shift hearts and minds in the East Bay and played a pivotal role in Oakland Unified School District’s decision to adopt new curricula grounded in the science of reading.
Although FULCRUM’s reach has evolved over the last six years, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to literacy alone. Today, FULCRUM engages diverse communities—from school districts to state departments of education—working diligently across political, racial, socioeconomic, and ideological lines to protect every child’s right to read.