The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Sustainable Community Project to Promote Early Language and Literacy Development in Native Communities will develop a comprehensive, community-based and sustainable program to achieve the ultimate goal of improving young children's early literacy in two rural American Indian communities in Arizona. The two communities that this project will serve are the Navajo Nation Communities near Sanders, AZ (including the Navajo Chapters of Nahata Dziil, Wide Ruins, Pine Springs, and Houck) and the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation (which includes, but is not limited to, San Carlos, Peridot, and Bylas). We are focusing on literacy as it is one of the most pressing needs in Arizona. In 2017, the scores for Arizona fourth graders on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) were lower than those in 34 states and higher than those in only two (US Department of Education, 2017). American Indian children face the greatest need in Arizona with only 10% of them demonstrating proficiency on the 4th grade NAEP, compared to 60% of Asian, 46% of white, 20% of black, and 18% of Hispanic 4th graders (US Department of Education, 2017).We will develop and deliver research-based components and coordinated culturally responsive programming to improve caregivers' use of practices that promote early literacy such as increasing the amount of time caregivers spend reading with young children, improving the quality of caregivers' book reading practices, and increasing the use of non-book reading activities that promote early literacy. We will also provide community members with professional development in order to enhance community capacity to sustain high quality culturally responsive early literacy programming. This project will facilitate rural prosperity and economic development. Early literacy skills are important building blocks for learning to read, which in turn is crucial for school achievement, graduation and finding meaningful employment.