The motivation behind Together We Create 4 Kids is simple: they want children to know that their voice matters, their ideas matter, and their future matters. It’s an organization dedicated to the empowerment and literacy of the next generation.
But it’s not just about books. For Laneice Runnels, the Milwaukee co-founder and host committee chair of Together We Create 4 Kids, it’s about building a free, family-focused movement around a much wider idea of what it means to be literate.
The Milwaukee stop of the national tour lands on Saturday, September 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at North Division High School, with interactive workshops, hands-on technology opportunities, a Literacy Village, free books, and community resources.
We talked with Laneice about how the organization came together, what she hopes families walk away with, and why she calls it a village effort.
How did Together We Create 4 Kids get its start? What is your background?
Together We Create 4 Kids began with a vision from founder Destinee Brown to create spaces where young people could discover their gifts, build confidence, use their voices, and understand that their stories matter. What really connected me to the vision was the idea that we don’t have to wait until children become adults to begin investing in who they are called to become.
My own background is rooted in leadership, workforce development, community engagement, faith, and creating opportunities that connect people to resources. Over the years, I have worked with individuals, families, organizations, businesses, and community partners, and one thing I have consistently seen is the power of access. Sometimes one introduction, one resource, one encouraging adult, or one opportunity can completely change the direction of someone’s life.
When the opportunity came to help bring Together We Create 4 Kids to Milwaukee, I saw an opportunity to bring people from different sectors together around our children.
How long has Together We Create 4 Kids been operating? Have you faced any major challenges with growing your organization or any triumph stories?
Together We Create 4 Kids is growing into a national movement, and this tour represents an exciting new chapter in that work. With growth, one of the biggest challenges is always bringing a big vision to life while making sure each community feels seen and represented.
Milwaukee has been a beautiful example of what can happen when people believe in a vision. We have seen businesses, nonprofit organizations, educators, community leaders, volunteers, workshop presenters, sponsors, and others step forward and ask, “How can we help?”
For me, that has already been a triumph. This isn’t one organization trying to do everything. It is a village coming together and bringing what each person has to the table.
What is Together We Create 4 Kids, and why did you feel Milwaukee would be a good stop?
Together We Create 4 Kids is a literacy and empowerment experience designed to expose young people and families to learning, creativity, leadership, technology, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, the arts, wellness, and other opportunities.
For our Milwaukee stop, we intentionally built the experience around National Literacy Month because literacy touches everything.
When people hear “literacy,” they often immediately think about reading a book. Reading is absolutely essential, but literacy is bigger than that. Financial literacy matters. Technology literacy matters. Communication matters. Understanding how to tell your story matters. Entrepreneurship requires literacy. Even having the confidence to walk into a room, understand information, ask questions, and advocate for yourself involves literacy.
That is why our Milwaukee theme is:
“Find Your Voice. Own Your Story. Through Literacy.”
Milwaukee was a natural fit because there are so many incredible people and organizations already doing meaningful work here. We didn’t want to recreate the wheel. We wanted to create a space where those resources could come together and families could experience them in one place.
What’s the mission behind Together We Create 4 Kids?
At the heart of the mission is empowerment.
We want children to know that their voice matters, their ideas matter, and their future matters. We want to expose them to possibilities they may not have considered and surround them with adults who can encourage those possibilities.
We also believe strongly in the village. No single organization, school, parent, business, or government agency can do everything children need. But when we work together, we can create something powerful.
What was it like putting the tour together?
It has been exciting, challenging, humbling, and incredibly rewarding.
There are a lot of moving pieces behind something like this—sponsors, workshops, volunteers, youth activities, community partners, logistics, media, food, books, technology, family resources and so much more.
But one of the most rewarding parts has been watching people say yes.
Every yes adds another piece to the experience. Someone brings books. Someone brings technology. Someone teaches a workshop. Someone sponsors. Someone volunteers. Someone shares the event with a family.
That is really what “Together We Create” means. Everyone may not be able to do everything, but everyone can bring something.
What do you like about being in Milwaukee?
Milwaukee has a tremendous sense of community.
We certainly have challenges, but we also have people who genuinely care about this city and are willing to work to make it better. I have seen that throughout the planning of this event.
There is something special about watching people who may come from completely different industries, organizations, neighborhoods, or backgrounds sit at the same table because they all agree on one thing: our children deserve opportunities.
That is the Milwaukee I want people to see.
What’s your favorite part about what you’re doing?
My favorite part is connecting the dots.
I love being able to say, “I know someone who can help with that,” or “There is an organization already doing that work—let’s bring them to the table.”
And ultimately, I love thinking about the child who may walk into this event simply expecting to have a fun Saturday and leave having discovered something new about themselves.
Maybe they meet an author and realize they can write a book. Maybe they experience drone technology for the first time. Maybe they learn something about entrepreneurship or financial literacy. Maybe they participate in the arts or martial arts. Maybe they receive a book that sparks a love of reading.
You never know which moment will become the moment that stays with a young person.
What can people expect when working with/sponsoring Together We Create 4 Kids? How about what families can expect when attending the tour?
For our partners and sponsors, they can expect collaboration and meaningful community impact. We don’t simply want someone’s logo attached to an event. We want partners who understand the vision and want to be part of creating an experience for children and families.
For families attending the Milwaukee event, they can expect a full day of FREE experiences and resources.
There will be interactive workshops, youth and community performances, our Literacy Village, children’s books, family activities, community resources, technology opportunities, and much more.
Our Literacy Village is especially important to us because we want literacy to feel alive. We want children and families engaging with books, stories, authors, reading activities, and people from throughout the community.
Most importantly, we want families to leave feeling encouraged, connected, and exposed to resources and opportunities they may not have known existed.
Anything else we should know? Any favorite stories?
One of the things I would love people to understand is that this event is bigger than one day.
September 26 is the gathering, but the real impact is what happens afterward.
If a child discovers a new interest, if a parent connects with a resource, if an organization meets another organization and develops a partnership, if a young person receives a book and begins seeing themselves differently—that impact continues long after the event ends.
That’s what we’re trying to create.
Our Milwaukee Together We Create 4 Kids Literacy & Empowerment Experience will take place Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 10:00 AM–2:00 PM at North Division High School, 1011 W. Center Street in Milwaukee. The event is free and open to families.
I am incredibly grateful to our founder, planning team, sponsors, partners, presenters, volunteers, and community members who have said yes to this vision. This truly has become a village effort.
We want every young person who walks through those doors to hear one message in many different ways:
Your voice matters. Your story matters. And there is a village willing to invest in what you can become.