The Read in Color program is gearing up for an exciting new wave of activity! We’re thrilled to kick off our third cohort cycle. Read on to meet the organizations bringing Read in Color to their communities as part of our spring cohort.
Under the Umbrella Bookstore — Salt Lake City, UT
Under the Umbrella is a queer bookstore in Salt Lake City, Utah, that centers and uplifts the stories and voices of LGBTQIA2S+ people, with an emphasis on QTBIPOC writers. Access to these stories is vital for building empathy, and every reader deserves to see themselves reflected on the pages of the books they read! We are excited to partner with Little Free Library and the Read in Color Initiative to expand access to diverse and marginalized voices to those in our city who need them most.
Global Shapers Philadelphia — Philadelphia, PA
The Philadelphia Global Shapers are a group of young volunteers who implement projects to drive positive social and environmental outcomes in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. We are part of the Global Shapers Initiative, an international network of young people advancing specific objectives through dialogue and action. One of our core objectives is Creating Inclusive Communities, which we are excited to progress through the Read in Color program. We believe books can be a powerful means of providing representation and empowering community members with new ways of understanding and empathizing with others, as well as knowledge to advance their own forms of grassroots change. We take inspiration from another chapter of the Global Shapers community which established 18 diverse little free libraries in Orlando, Florida.
HYPE Freedom School – Houston, TX
HYPE Freedom School, Inc. empowers underserved communities by fostering educational opportunities and personal development through culturally responsive, literacy-based programming and community engagement. Serving K-12 scholars in Houston’s Sunnyside, South Park, and other underserved areas, HYPE addresses systemic educational inequities and summer learning loss through high quality programs.
Our six-week culturally affirming literacy program combats summer learning loss, with scholars gaining up to a year of reading achievement. Year-round support extends this impact, offering academic, social-emotional development, and family empowerment workshops. Utilizing Trust-Based Relational Interventions (TBRI), HYPE creates safe spaces where scholars can heal, grow, and thrive. By partnering with families, schools, and community organizations, we close educational equity gaps and inspire a lifelong love for learning, ensuring every scholar is empowered for the classroom—and for life!
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.