Defending the Right to Read & Empowering the Next Generation
April 17, 2025
The Literacy Crisis: Why We Must Act Now
The fight for literacy has never been more urgent. In the 2023–2024 school year alone, over 10,000 books were banned from public schools across the U.S.—nearly triple the number from the previous year.
These bans disproportionately target books featuring LGBTQ+ characters, people of color, and themes of race and identity, depriving students of the opportunity to see themselves in the stories they read.
At the same time, 54% of adults in the U.S. now read below a sixth-grade level, and literacy rates are declining at an alarming pace. With funding cuts threatening programs like ours, we must take action to protect students' right to read, learn, and grow.
Announcing: "Liberate Literacy!" 2025 Annual Benefit
On May 6, 2025, we invite you to join us at the Edison Ballroom in New York City for "Liberate Literacy!", Behind the Book's annual benefit and the official launch of our four-year campaign to raise $1 million.
This campaign will ensure that we continue providing diverse books, literacy programs, and crucial educator training despite growing financial challenges.
This year's benefit will honor:
✨ Council Member Yusef Salaam – Co-author of *Punching the Air* and advocate for justice and youth empowerment
✨ Ibi Zoboi – Award-winning author and champion for diverse storytelling in children's literature
✨ The National Coalition Against Censorship – A leading organization fighting for the freedom to read and express ideas
How You Can Help:
💡Donate – Every dollar supports young readers and literacy programs.
💡Spread the Word – Share our mission using #LiberateLiteracy.
💡Attend the Benefit – Celebrate with us and help make an impact!
🎟 Reserve your tickets now at https://lnkd.in/eeGibhWa
All School Programs: Bringing Books to Life
We’re thrilled to announce our upcoming All School Programs, bringing powerful stories into classrooms across New York:
📅 March 25th – JHS 185 | *A Little Bit Super*, Brian Young
📅 March 28th – Thurgood Marshall Academy | *Punching the Air*, Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam
📅 May 5th – PS 4 | *She Persisted Around the World*, Chelsea Clinton
📅 May 5th – PS 125 | *She Persisted Around the World*, Chelsea Clinton
💡What is an All-School Program?
Behind the Book designs a custom curriculum and trains educators to implement it across multiple classrooms. Each program culminates in an author-led assembly, giving students the unique opportunity to engage directly with the writer behind the story. In School Year 26, we are rebranding our All School Programs to “Teacher-Led Programs.” We think this name more accurately reflects our goals to empower and partner with classroom teachers.
NEW: Professional Development for Educators
This spring, we are launching our Professional Development Program to empower educators with intrinsic motivation strategies proven to inspire students to read and write. Through evidence-based methods, teachers will learn how to:
- ✅ Increase students' motivation to read independently
- ✅ Use culturally responsive teaching to make reading more meaningful
- ✅ Foster critical thinking and storytelling skills in the classroom
For more details on professional development opportunities, contact us at info@behindthebook.org.
Together, we can defend the right to read, inspire young minds, and create a more literate future. Thank you for standing with us in this fight for literacy and educational equity!
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