About:

 

Books and Black Youth (BABY) started in May of 2017, as a way to counteract the prison to school pipeline by giving black youth an opportunity to build on their literacy skills. 

 

The group has two Co-Executive Directors: Irving Allen and Kiera Hereford.

 

The main goal said Allen  is “to encourage reading, [and] to provide access to reading.”

The group took a break for a few months until they received a grant. Since August 2017, they have had an event once a month.

 

BABY partners with local service industry providers, so that youth from ages five to 17 are given free services for reading. The group pays for the services, while also promoting the business before the event.

 

Monthly events vary from place to place. Once children are finished reading, the books are left behind, so that other children can have an opportunity to read.

 

The majority of the books selected are either written by or feature black people, allowing the children to enhance their literacy while teaching them history and culture. These books are either donated or bought by the nonprofit.

 

“We are encouraging that kids be able to see themselves in the material that they are reading,” Allen said. “That is an important part in developing a love for reading.”

 

BABY currently has six staff members working on volunteer coordination, social media work, fundraising, writing for grants and more.

 

However, BABY is not only helpful for black youth, but for adults that are seeking help. Every event has handouts with recommendations for adults that would like to receive a specific type of assistance.

 

Currently, BABY has more volunteers than children; therefore, no more volunteers are needed. Instead, it is best to bring your children out to enjoy.

 

Volunteers are trained by Reading Connection, so they know what is the most effective way to read to children and help them learn. Allen said the Reading Connection has granted many opportunities for students to learn about nonprofit work, such as managing and building a budget and coordinating volunteers and events.

 

“We have been pretty successful,” Allen said.

 

Though the group started meeting at barber shops, hair and nail salons, they have wanted to branch out to other places.

 

In the future, they hope to have larger events and reading clubs that build off the work they are doing. They hope to have other community groups table during their events. Allen said the staff has a string of ideas they want to include, such as music programs and cooking programs.

 

For more information about monthly literacy events, go to their Facebook page listed above. The group is always looking for monetary donations as well, which can be paid at https://www.youcaring.com/babyouthprogramparticipants-948251