This summer I had the opportunity to represent my high school, Bullis School, at the HOBY Youth leadership conference. Click here for more information about HOBY. It was there that I really understood the importance of making change in the community. As I result, I decided to start this community service project this summer to provide free culturally responsive books and audiobooks to children in need and for children who are struggling readers. This is important to me because as a child I never liked to read and hear a lot of students express the same belief. During middle school audio books helped me and eventually I saw the importance of reading. Now, it is important for me to work with children to help them see the importance of reading at a young age. I believe that having access to audio books and having access to books that are culturally responsive could help children who struggle with reading but don't know why. I also believe that both things could also help children who don't like to read find joy in reading.
My Ask: I have partnered with Excel Academy for Girls a public school in Washington DC to provide resources for the girls that struggle with reading. Click here to learn more about Excel Academy the only all girls public DCPS school. Would you donate to this cause? Any amount will make a difference!
I frequently use audio books like those found in Learning Ally to listen to books. Learning Ally has developed a library of audio books for school age children with Dyslexia or other reading challenges like anxiety. They offer access to culturally relevant books and provide books required by most schools, without waiting for the library audiobooks to become available. I would like children who struggle with reading to have the access to these programs. Learning Ally has agreed to match each license that we purchase with a license.
- Book Drives: I would like to raise money so that children can have access to Learning Ally and beautiful children's books from Sankofa book store.
- Reading Workshops: I would like to serve as a role model and go to EXCEL Academy, along with others friends who want to be a part of the reading circle, and share my story and read to them on my days off from school. My mentor and I will also prepare reading resources for parents.
- Author visits: I would like to plan to have authors visit the school to share their stories with parents and children.
