We envision a future where all children identify as readers and enjoy learning.

Our mission is to inspire Black boys and other vulnerable children to read for fun through child-centered, culturally responsive, and community-based programming and content.

VALUES

Child-Centered

We embrace the possibilities, strengths, and interests of children.

Leadership

We empower individuals and communities to expand learning opportunities.

Fun

We inspire and model the joy of lifelong reading.

Collaboration

We partner with diverse community stakeholders to create systemic change.

Innovation

We develop unique, compelling, and transformational content and programs.

Excellence

We pursue measured impacts and organizational efficiencies that support long-term sustainability.

The Challenge

Today, more than 82% of Black male 4th grade students in the U.S. are not proficient in reading. Low reading achievement among Black boys today will produce Black men who are ill-prepared to compete in the workforce of tomorrow.

Relevant Content and Effective Instruction

The early literacy content, experiences, and instruction to which many Black boys have access do not reflect their reading preferences, individual learning needs, or Science of Reading (SOR) best practices.

Relevant Reading Role Models

Around 70% of public school elementary teachers in the U.S are white and a majority of Black boys are raised by single mothers. A lack of Black male reading role models in school and at home contributes to decreased reading motivation and has led many Black boys not to identify as readers.

Collectively, these and other challenges build barriers to reading success for Black boys.

Scholastic’s Kids and Family Reading Report shows that 62% of kids want to read funny books, yet popular book lists for Black boys contain few, if any, laugh-out-loud titles.

Our Theory of Change

Early, positive, and culturally meaningful reading experiences cultivate children’s reading identity. When children identify as readers, they read for fun and perform better in reading.

Team

We’re committed to helping the babies read!

Alvin Irby

Alvin Irby
Founder & Executive Director

Amy Mercado

Interim Chief Operating Officer

Melody Castillo

Programs Coordinator

Lindsay Shepard

Communications & Development Coordinator

Dr. Angela Crumdy

Angela Crumdy
Philadelphia Program Coordinator

Board of Directors

All organizational affiliations and titles are listed for identification purposes only.

All individuals serve in their personal capacity and not as a representative of their employer.

Roland Kennedy, Jr.

Will Bifulco

Jalen Alexander

Farhad Asghar

Deborah Embaie

Heidi L. Hamiltion

Michael James

Michael Kaplan

Mark Lowe

Quentin Martin

Adrian Mayse

Sophie Pauze

Laurence Welch

William Pugh

Dr. Shirley Smith

Meet our founder, Alvin Irby

Alvin Irby a passionate early childhood educator with experience working in a variety educational settings including traditional, independent, and charter schools as well as nonprofits providing out-of-school time programming. Alvin Irby holds a M.S in Childhood Education from Bank Street College of Education, a MPA from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service, and a BA in Sociology from Grinnell College.

Irby’s popular TED Talk has been viewed over 1 million times.