The Fight for Literacy

With most school districts coming to a close in May, it is critical for students to retain knowledge and skills learned in the school year, during the summer months.

Throughout May, we had the pleasure of welcoming more than 20 new barbershops to the program thanks to supporters, just like you. The summer heat is on; let’s keep the momentum going and increase out-of-school reading time for young boys of color across the country!
BARBERSHOP BOOKS IN THE MEDIA
Delaware First Media

Word is spreading throughout Wilmington, Delaware how Wilmington Public Library partnered with Barbershop Books and equipped 20 local barbershops with shelves of fun, culturally relevant books. Read more
#WILMTODAY

Barbershop Books’ book shelves arrived just in time for summer, thanks to our new collaboration with the city of Wilmington. View here
Fox2 Detroit

Here’s how we are increasing out-of-school reading among young Black boys in Detroit! View here
Dad to the Bone Podcast

Did you catch the most recent podcast that featured Barbershop Books? The kickoff in Detroit at Michigan Barber School was a success and Days of Wayne Network documented the event. Listen here
PROGRAM NEWS

Detroit, Michigan

Great Start Readiness Program in Michigan partnered with Barbershop Books to bring 20 reading spaces to Wayne County, Michigan. Local community leaders, including representatives from Detroit Public Schools joined in the inauguration.
Patterson, New Jersey

Guess who is not on a cell phone or watching TV? This aspiring young reader was one of the first young customers to choose a book at La Formula Barbershop in Patterson, N.J. thanks to the sponsorship from Dax Hair Products.
Washington, DC

Mr. McDowell is proud to sponsor Next Level Cuts in Washington, DC. His nephew is a barber at Next Level Cuts, with three young boys of his own.
Tucson, AZ

Tommie is a native of Tucson and says the Barbershop Books program is a blessing! He can’t wait for the school year to end so he can welcome the aspiring young readers into his shop. Tommie’s sponsor, Joel Harris of Joel Harris Design is so excited to bring Barbershop Books to Tommie’s Barber and Beauty.
Every year, the wonderful employees at Penguin Random House raise money for a charity through the company’s global walk. Barbershop Books was selected as the charity of choice in 2019! We thank all of the participants who are fundraising for the walk on June 14th and helping to nurture young readers. Check it out!

1.  We invite you to subscribe to the “Irby Review” for a monthly review of interesting education articles dealing with early literacy, child development, and Black male achievement by Barbershop Books founder Alvin Irby.  Subscribe now. 

2. For book recs, helpful tips, more ed commentary, visit Barbershop Books’ Blog.

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