beyond the bookshelf community library reading program

Beyond the Bookshelf is a program co-sponsored by readBlacknblog. The mission is to promote African American literature, engage young readers(ages 5–10), and support emerging Black authors by making reading exciting, accessible, and fundamental again within our communities.

Literacy is a launchpad. Yet across the U.S., too many children from underserved communities are being grounded before they can even take off.  Reading is often neglected in many children’s homes and transitional settings, not due to a lack of potential, but access, engagement, and culturally relevant materials. Many of the youth we serve have read fewer than five books in their entire lives. Without an organized literacy program or books that reflect their interests, these young readers are left behind academically, emotionally, and developmentally.

To directly address this gap, EmpowHer Enterprises launched the Beyond the Bookshelf Reading Passport initiative—an innovative literacy program designed to foster a love of reading, increase reading volume and comprehension, and expose children to diverse genres and career pathways.

Each participant receives a personalized Reading Passport featuring a unique ID page and visa” categories.  Over a structured period, participants aim to complete a set number of books across the categories. After each book, youth meet with a program coordinator who facilitates a brief comprehension check before awarding a stamp on the corresponding visa page—providing both accountability and encouragement. The final page includes a surprise incentive for completing the journey.

This program is especially critical for foster-involved and system-impacted youth who often experience educational instability. By embedding literacy into a culturally responsive, structured, and interactive format, Beyond the Bookshelf offers a rare and necessary opportunity for personal transformation through reading.

The Need: A Literacy Crisis with Lifelong Consequences

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only 35% of fourth graders nationwide are reading at or above a proficient level. In New Jersey, that figure improves only slightly to 38%—meaning over 60% of children are reading below grade level in a state known for its educational access (NCES, 2022)【source: National Center for Education Statistics】.

For children involved in the foster care system, the outlook is even more concerning:

• Only 54% of foster youth graduate high school by age 18 (National Working Group on Foster Care and Education).
   
• Students in foster care are twice as likely to have repeated a grade and are significantly more likely to be placed in special education programs (U.S. Department of Education, 2016).

• According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only 18% of Black fourth-graders and 20% of Hispanic fourth-graders read at grade level (2019).
   
• Low literacy is strongly correlated with future poverty, incarceration, and unemployment. According to ProLiteracy, 43% of adults with low literacy live in poverty, and 70% of incarcerated adults cannot read above a fourth-grade level.
   

Without intervention, illiteracy locks children into cycles of dependence, disempowerment, and diminished opportunity. It impacts not just academic performance, but emotional well-being, decision-making, and their perceived sense of purpose. When a child believes they are “not a reader,” they often internalize the idea that they are also not a leader, creator, or learner.

We aren’t just teaching kids to read. We’re teaching them to believe in their voice, their imagination, and their future.   We don't just read to kids — we bring books to life. We merge literacy with fun, sparking imagination, emotional connection, and a desire to keep reading long after we leave.

Over time, this program will help close the literacy gap among marginalized youth by:

• Improving foundational reading skills critical for academic success.
• Strengthening emotional intelligence through story-driven learning.
• Building a positive association between literacy and joy, creating life-long readers.
• Inspire a love of reading among youth in the community.
• Elevate black & brown voices and stories through children’s literature.
• Create spaces where new authors can introduce their books to the public.
• Reinforce the importance of literacy ahead of the new school year.
• Increase reading and spelling scores.
• Strengthen connections between families and local libraries.
   

Long-Term Systemic Change:
Higher literacy rates among underserved youth correlate with increased elementary and high school graduation rates, stronger workforce participation, and reduced generational poverty — all aligned with EmpowHer’s broader mission of dismantling generational barriers.

Your donation will help us continue our mission and support our community. Every dollar counts and will make a difference in the lives of those we serve.