The Read in Color program is gearing up for an exciting new wave of activity! We’re thrilled to kick off our fourth cohort cycle. Read on to meet the organizations bringing Read in Color to their communities as part of our fall cohort.
Hopeful Heartbreakers — Arlington, TX
Hopeful Heartbreakers Literary Donations & Charities (HHB) is committed to promoting literacy and increasing access to diverse books for underserved youth. Through our participation in the Read in Color initiative, we aim to amplify voices and stories that reflect the rich diversity of our communities. By partnering with Little Free Library, we strive to foster a love of reading while ensuring that children and families have access to culturally relevant literature that inspires, educates, and empowers.
Renaissance West Community Initiative — Charlotte, NC
Renaissance West Community Initiative (RWCI) is a place-based cradle-to-career community located in west Charlotte. RWCI is focused on providing programming to residents in the Little Rock Apartments and Residences at Renaissance West around community health and wellness; workforce development; and educational advancement. A key pillar of this programming is ensuring that the youngest residents have access to high-quality early childhood education who then move into the Renaissance West STEAM Academy (RWSA), a pre-k to grade age school. The goals of RWCI are to promote educational achievement and upward mobility from birth to career.
Peaslee Neighborhood Center — Cincinnati, OH
Peaslee Neighborhood Center is a community hub in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, which in recent decades has experienced rapid gentrification. In a community where residents often feel change happens without considering or consulting them, Peaslee stands as an anchor against erasure and an advocate for agency. Our mission emphasizes participatory education, in which learners are given a voice in decision-making about curriculum and activities. In our creative expression programming we value intentional representation, and strive to use media that depicts and affirms the identities of our participants. We are excited to bring Read in Color content to our community to help amplify the message that Over-the-Rhine is not just for wealthy/white folks, but for everyone.
Learn more about Read in Color, and see where we’ve placed Little Free Libraries through the program in the past. Donate today! When you donate, you help us provide libraries to communities like these.