"Fueling Imagination through Partnerships."
"Fueling Imagination through Partnerships."
About Partnerships in Literacy
Our Mission
Fostering a love for reading, promoting diverse stories, and ensuring all children have access to books and learning resources.
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Our Vision
Learn. Create. Connect. A unified path to local empowerment.
Our Literacy Movement
Building Bridges Through Literacy
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 and Dundalk areas, 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 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-stocked, 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.
Our Book Rescue
Support Literacy: Rescue & Distribute Books
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.
Baltimore Read Aloud Bus
Explore the Power of Reading with Baltimore Read Aloud
About
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.
A Library of My Own
Building Literacy Together
The Library of My Own serves as the final, hyper-local stage of the supply chain. These book-sharing boxes, 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. 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, such as the thematically decorated and audio-enhanced libraries pioneered by the Wichita Public Library.
Storytellers Book Festival for Children
Join us at the Storytellers Book Festival for Children—a lively celebration that sparks imagination! Featuring engaging performances, hands-on activities, and cultural stories from Africa, it's a must-attend for families and children eager to explore the joy of reading and storytelling.
Learn more about this enriching experience.
The Traveling Storytellers
Meet the Traveling Griots: Stories in Motion
In West African tradition, a Griot is more than just a storyteller—they are the keepers of history, the guardians of culture, and the heartbeat of the community. The Traveling Griots carry this legacy forward, bringing the magic of oral tradition directly to your doorstep.
Whether it’s a vibrant summer camp, a quiet library corner, a bustling senior center, or a local church event, our storytellers bridge the gap between generations. We don't just tell stories; we build a unified ecosystem where literacy, personal narrative, and modern skills meet to empower every listener.
Where We Find You
We believe inspiration should be mobile. You’ll find the Traveling Griots at:
- Schools & After-School Programs: Sparking a lifelong love for reading and rhythm.
- Recreation & Senior Centers: Connecting the wisdom of the past with the energy of the present.
- Libraries & Churches: Building community through shared values and heritage.
- Summer Camps & Special Events: Turning any gathering into an unforgettable experience.
The Traveling Griots: Carrying our culture, sharing our skills, and empowering our community—one story at a time.
Our Super Stars Reading Club
Join Today!
The "Reading Superstars Club" is a simple and effective program designed to encourage and reward reading. Here's how it works:
- Children read books and write a short book report. This promotes comprehension and critical thinking skills.
- They submit the report to Partnerships in Literacy. Our team reviews the reports and awards points based on the quality and effort demonstrated.
- Points are issued in the form of a scannable QR code or unique digital coupon. This provides a secure and easy way for participants to track their rewards.
- Children and their families visit your store to redeem their points for discounts. This incentivizes a direct visit to your physical or online store.
Empower Reading Through Community Partnerships
Robotics Education
Creative STEAM Learning
Creative STEAM Learning
A robotics program is an educational initiative that teaches participants how to design, build, and program robots. It's a multidisciplinary field that combines elements of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Creative STEAM Learning
Creative STEAM Learning
Creative STEAM Learning
A STEAM educational program is a learning approach that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics as a foundation for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking. It expands upon the well-known STEM model by integrating the arts, including visual arts, music, design, and humanities, to foster creative problem-solving and innovation. The goal is to teach students how to think critically and apply their knowledge in imaginative ways to address real-world challenges.
Theater Engagement
Creative STEAM Learning
Theater Engagement
Interactive theater is a performance style that breaks the "fourth wall," inviting audience members to directly engage with performers, influence the plot, or participate in the action. It moves beyond passive viewing by creating an immersive, often improvisational, environment where spectators may become active characters
Global Stories for Literacy
Cultivating Literacy Through Global Stories
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.
What to Expect
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.
Contact Us
Visit Us in Baltimore!
If you have questions about the opportunities available to you in our programs, such as the African Griot Book Fair for Children, Partnerships in Literacy, or the Reading Superstars Club, feel free to send us a message. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Partnerships in Literacy
Pembrooke Blvd, Baltimore, MD
Hours
Open today | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm |
