Teton Literacy Center and the University of Wyoming’s new Literacy Research Center and Clinic want to hear from you.

The two centers are working to create a partnership. Input given during a community discussion today will help staff members chart their course, said Valley Peters, executive director of Teton Literacy Center.

The discussion is set for 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Teton Literacy Center, located in the Flat Creek Business Center off High School Road. There’s no need to register.

Guest speakers Kay Persichitte, dean of UW’s College of Education, and George Kamberelis, Wyoming excellence chair in literacy education at the university, will talk briefly about the university’s new center and offer insights about trends in literacy, Peters said.

Parents, educators, people who work with children and anyone else interested in the well-being of the community should attend the discussion, Peters said.

“It’s a great opportunity for them to hear what the concerns are about providing our kids with this critical piece of their education,” Peters said.

It’s important to establish a part-nership with the university so the two centers can share resources and in- formation, Peters said.

The event is intended to provide a forum for asking questions and sharing experiences, she said. Staff members also want to hear what the public’s needs are.

Reading is the cornerstone of academic success and central to a child’s overall health, she said.

“Reading enables us to connect with other people. It allows us to express ideas, to be part of a community and different cultures,” Peters said. “It’s a window into the world, and it teaches us about how to think, how to learn. That critical thinking piece is paramount to really having a functioning society.”