LITERATURE FOR ALL OF US

SINCE 1997, LITERATURE FOR ALL OF US HAS GROWN FROM A SINGLE BOOK GROUP OF LOW-INCOME TEENAGE MOMS TO SERVING OVER 700 PARTICIPANTS FROM A DIVERSITY OF BACKGROUNDS-OVER 9,000 PARTICIPANTS TO DATE. WE NOW SERVE 30 BOOK GROUPS IN 15 SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS AND WORK TRAINING PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS PROGRAMS FOR INCARCERATED YOUTH, PREGNANT AND PARENTING TEENS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS, AND MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY. THIS YEAR, PARTICIPANTS WROTE MORE THAN 1,700 POEMS AND RECEIVED NEARLY 2,500 BOOKS-INCLUDING MORE THAN 400 CHILDREN'S BOOKS-BUILDING IN-HOME LIBRARIES ACROSS CHICAGO.LITERATURE FOR ALL OF US ENGAGES ITS PARTICIPANTS IN WEEKLY BOOK GROUPS THAT ENGAGE IN CULTURALLY-RELEVANT TEXTS WITH THOUGHTFUL DIALOGUE AND POETIC RESPONSE. WE USE TRAUMA-INFORMED CURRICULAR AND METHODS THAT CREATE A SAFE AND INTIMATE SPACE FOR BOOK GROUP PARTICIPANTS TO SHARE THEIR STORIES AND PERSPECTIVES. IN RECENT YEARS, PARTICIPANTS HAVE REPORTED THE BOOK GROUP INCREASED THEIR SELF-ESTEEM, THEIR DESIRE TO STAY IN SCHOOL, AND THEIR CONNECTIONS TO PEERS. WE OPEN WORLDS BY OPENING BOOKS. WE IMPROVE READING COMPREHENSION AND CRITICAL THINKING: OUR ACTIVE APPROACH TO READING AND DISCUSSION ENGAGES YOUNG PEOPLE, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, AND THOSE STRUGGLING WITH LOW LITERACY. WITHIN THE SAFETY OF THE BOOK GROUP CIRCLE, PARTICIPANTS READ AND DISCUSS LITERATURE WITH CONFIDENCE. THEY ANALYZE CHARACTERS AND THEMES, SHARE THEIR IDEAS AND OPINIONS, AND RELATE THE TEXTS TO THEIR OWN LIVES.WE BUILD RESILIENCE: OUR TRAUMA-INFORMED MODEL DRAWS FROM BEST PRACTICES IN TRADITIONAL TALK THERAPY TO FOSTER CONNECTION, SELF-EXPLORATION, AND HEALING. USING LITERATURE, PARTICIPANTS REFLECT ON TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE IN A WAY THAT ENGAGES BOTH THE THINKING AND FEELING PARTS OF THEIR BRAINS, ALLOWING NEW PERSPECTIVES AND INSIGHTS. THEY RE-FRAME THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE IN WAYS THAT DISRUPT HARMFUL NARRATIVES, AND DEVELOP A GREATER SENSE OF POWER AND AGENCY IN SHARING AND EXPLORING THEIR PERSONAL STORIES.WE IMPROVE FAMILY LITERACY: THROUGH OUR EMPOWERING PARENTS, INSPIRING CHILDREN (E.P.I.C.) PROGRAM, WE EDUCATE PREGNANT AND PARENTING TEENS ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF READING TO THEIR CHILDREN TO ENCOURAGE BONDING AND EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY. WE HELP BUILD PERSONAL LIBRARIES OF QUALITY CHILDREN'S LITERATURE, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR READING TIME AT HOME. WE EQUIP PARTICIPANTS WITH THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO BE THEIR CHILDREN'S FIRST AND MOST INFLUENTIAL TEACHER.