Everybody Reads! Social Justice Summer Reading Program to Support Academic Success

• In Event: 30.036 - Community and University Partnerships to Enhance the Academic Success and Well-Being of African American Youth

Abstract

Objective. Summer learning loss can account for up to 50% of the academic achievement gap. Given the importance of summer for student success, programs are needed that can support students continued engagement in academic activities outside of the school year. While many reading programs exist, frequently they are focused solely on the student. However scholars have long recognized when a student’s family is invested in their academic success, the young person is likely to do much better. Programs that can provide summer academic enrichment, and that include caregivers will be best positioned to provide the tools, support, and resources to help young people continue to thrive during summer months. This paper will discuss the development of the summer reading program, and illuminate how a community and university partnership enhances the success of the program.

Perspective / Theoretical Framework. The Everybody Reads! program was developed to support African American students success over the summer, and includes a specific focus on engaging caregivers in the program. The program is additionally unique in that the focus of the reading program is on social justice. African American youth are acutely aware of injustice, and indeed experience injustices everyday. Stories have long been identified as a way to contribute to building young people’s resilience.

Program Activities. The program requires children be read to once a week. The book list was compiled especially for families in the identified community, and has the theme: “Making History – Past, Present & Future”. Examples of books included Salt in His Shoes by Deloris Jordan with Roslyn M. Jordan and The Secret Olivia Told Me, By N. Joy. Discussion ideas and questions were provided for each of the books on the reading list to facilitate discussion between the child and their caregivers, and highlight a social justice theme.

After the caregivers read to their children, they complete a card and submit it to the program staff. Families are also expected to participate in at least 4 gatherings that are held over the summer and hosted by the community center. The gatherings included hosted lunches, dinners or activities, such as bowling, skating or other field trips. Families that completed the weekly reflections received various gifts ranging from Safeway gift cards to tickets to the movies, as incentives to participate. The aim of the program was not simply to increase reading over the summer, but also to actively support child and caregiver engagement with each other and with members of the community.

Scholarly Significance. African American youth are challenged with having to learn to navigate the social injustices that are present just because of the color of their skin, a reality that often places additional burdens on their academic pursuits. The Everybody Reads! program provides an example of a community and university partnership that supports students academic growth over the summer, while also facilitating conversations on social justice and promoting positive youth identity. The community centers explicit effort to include families further enhances the positive impact of this program on youth.

Authors

• Sheryl Evans Davis, San Francisco Human Rights Commission

• Helen Maniates, University of San Francisco