Advancing Childhood Literacy Through A Social Justice Lens

Recent Happenings

OUR WORK

Redefining Access and Destiny

Literary Adventures

Hosted in conjunction with partner public schools, Literary Adventures empower students to build their own first-time libraries.

Students curate their own library from new, free, engaging and multicultural books that reflect the culturally diverse lives and experiences of their community. Students must be able to see themselves in what they read. That’s why we bring nationally recognized and award winning BIPOC authors and illustrators into schools for extended, immersive experiences.

Literacy Hubs

Another unique element of the Start Lighthouse mission is our focus on reviving defunct library spaces within Title I public schools.

Currently launched at PS 5 Port Morris and PS 214, our hubs operate as permanent “living” literary and learning spaces that bring students, their families, community members, and award-winning authors together. Start Lighthouse’s Literacy Hub offers interactive workshops led by resident authors and illustrators, enables students to build their own home libraries, and develops at-home reading routines by integrating families into the reading journey.

Woke Activists

We reimagine literacy by centering social justice within our curriculum, advocating for the integration of multicultural literature to reflect the culturally diverse lives and experiences within the classroom and community. 

Woke Activists supports teachers in building inclusive learning environments, discussing racism, social justice, and identity in a developmentally appropriate and relevant way.

Our Impact

30,000

Brand-new culturally responsive books distributed for students’ home libraries

5,700

First-time home libraries established for Bronx students

900+

Hours of in-school literacy programming delivered for students and their families

Testimonials

  • Lasting Literacy Culture

    “Start Lighthouse is a family partnership. It is rare and far between to find an organization like theirs. I am overjoyed that Start Lighthouse has opened a Literacy Hub at my school allowing them to support my students every single day and beyond. In just two years, Start Lighthouse has imbued a lasting literacy culture where my students now have a love and joy towards reading. Having access to Start Lighthouse’s programming and services everyday will be transformative for my students as they become tomorrow’s changemakers and activists.”

    -Principal Danielle Keane

  • Lifelong Readers

    “We are facing a national crisis. Illiteracy holds children back at every stage of life. Investing in community-based literacy organizations like Start Lighthouse is critical. Start Lighthouse is paving a strong path forward by revitalizing literacy culture in our community and building home libraries with culturally-responsive literature. A permanent home for Start Lighthouse’s literacy programming will transform the lives of our children as they grow to become lifelong readers.”

    -Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

  • Seeing myself as a character

    “I'm left breathless at the fact that we have a Literacy Hub that provides a joyous environment to me and my peers. I adore the fact that my little sisters can open up a book and find the beauty within their hair. I love hearing “ Me too” and seeing myself as a new character. At some point I was that 5 year old little girl yearning for that diversity and here we are now with such access at our fingertips. This is because of Start Lighthouse."

    -Mariah, Student

Become a Volunteer.

We couldn’t do it without our volunteers.

Join our community of volunteers advancing childhood literacy through a social justice lens. From leading our social justice programming to supporting our youngest readers at our Literacy Hub, you help make it possible.

Volunteer