PARTNERSHIPS IN LITERACY

At Partnerships in Literacy, our vision is to ensure that every child has access to books that inspire and educate. We focus on rescuing books that are destined for destruction and distributing them to children who are eager to read. Our initiatives include book fairs and giveaways, and book clubs where children can select books that resonate with them. By supporting Partnerships in Literacy, you are helping to create a brighter future for our youth through the power of reading. Join us in our effort to cultivate a love for literature and learning in every child.

Building a Bridge: From Book Deserts to Digital Frontiers

True educational equity isn't just about handing out books; it’s about re-imagining how literacy, culture, and technology live together in our neighborhoods. In the Baltimore area, we aren't just fighting "book deserts", we are preparing our students for a digital economy that moves faster every day.Our mission is to build a living literacy supply chain. We aren't just looking at one piece of the puzzle; we are connecting the dots between physical books and future careers.

Partnerships in Literacy: The Ecosystem in Action

We’ve woven together several distinct threads to create one seamless experience.

Rescue & Ownership:

We start by salvaging over-stock, due to being recycled books and putting them directly into the hands of children. There is a psychological "spark" that happens when a child owns a book rather than just borrowing one.

Gamified Growth: 

By using reading clubs that feel more like a community challenge than a chore, we turn literacy into a shared social, community victory.

The Power of Voice:

We bridge the gap between ancient oral traditions and modern media. Through storytelling and podcasting, students learn that their narrative has value and a global reach.

Technical Mastery (STEAM):

This is where the story meets the lab. We integrate Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math to ensure students aren't just consumers of culture, they are the architects and engineers of it.

The Bottom Line: 

We are taking over-stock, salvageable materials and turning them into "original" technology. 

This framework ensures that a child's journey starts with a rescued book and ends with the technical skills to build their own future.

Nicole A. Johnson

I founded Baltimore Read Aloud after a career in youth development. For many years, I distributed books featuring Black characters to Black children as part of the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools initiative. When I left that work, I learned how hard it can be to find and purchase these books and how few diverse titles are published each year.

As I work to promote and sell diverse books in the Greater Baltimore region, I believe Baltimore Read Aloud can serve as a platform to connect and leverage the resources of a bookstore with programming and advocacy often carried out by nonprofit organizations. My long-term vision is to position Baltimore Read Aloud as a key contributor to local literacy efforts, giving young people in Baltimore City and surrounding communities tools to read and write their own stories.

My specialties include start-up management, urban education and youth development policy analysis, non-profit capacity building, social entrepreneurship, and financial analysis.

The Library of My Own serves as the final, hyper-local stage of the supply chain. These home libraries which operate on an honor system, are a cost-effective and scalable way to place books directly into the hands of children in their own homes. By providing these home libraries with a consistent, curated supply of books from the Book Rescue and overstock distributors, our unified program ensures a reliable flow of relevant, high-quality books in any language or genre. This transforms the mini-libraries from a potentially inconsistent neighborhood amenity into a dependable, well-stocked resource. The program can further enhance these libraries by incorporating creative, engaging designs.

In a world increasingly shaped by digital noise, we reconnect with the most fundamental form of human communication: storytelling. This podcast is dedicated to the belief that narratives are powerful tools for promoting literacy, fostering cultural understanding, and building stronger, more inclusive global communities. Partnerships in Literacy is committed to ensuring equitable access to literature and education for all children, and this series is one way we amplify that mission.

Each episode takes you on a journey across borders and cultures as we feature renowned storytellers, literacy advocates, and educators from around the globe. You'll hear:

• Diverse Narratives: Traditional tales, contemporary stories, and personal anecdotes that reflect the rich tapestry of human experience.
• The Power of Language: Deep dives into how storytelling ignites imagination, accelerates language acquisition, and promotes critical thinking.
• Literacy in Action: Discussions on how communities and organizations are using narrative to bridge educational gaps and empower learners of all ages.

Join us as we explore how a well-told story can not only improve reading and comprehension skills but also cultivate empathy and a lifelong love for literature.