MJD to receive grant for new literacy project

SACRAMENTO- In August 2020, the Black Child Legacy Campaign Lead in Arden Arcade announced a new cycle of community mini grants.

After seeing how the pandemic created catastrophe in the American education system, MJD's Founder & Chief Consultant Me'Lisa James was bursting with ideas for how to reengage youth and the community in education.

As it stands, only 30-40% of youth in Sacramento are proficient in reading. This information was reported in 2018 from a study on Literacy in Sacramento County. From this study and research the Community Literacy Map of Sacramento County was created.

In 2020, learning was limited, and worse, many community education organizations and nonprofits that focused on literacy closed their doors for good. Leaving the community to fend for themselves.

More often than not, community organizations in cities that receive the most funding are state and national organizations. Although their methods are proven, it prevents further development and reliance on organizations at the local level. In 2020, cities have recognized the importance of funding local organizations. To help fill the gap, MJD created a program plan for literacy to help provide free books to the community. It is called MJ's Goodreads & Traveling Library!

MJ's Goodreads & Traveling Library will provide free books, school outreach, and occasional after school reading circle events in public spaces to support youth of all ages and parents.

***Note: Events & School outreach will not be provided until the health crisis has ended.

The goal is to help families build up their home libraries for reading practice and to show youth that reading is fun. Too often reading becomes a competition in schools or an avenue for students to be bullied or embarrassed by peers and teachers. This should not be so. Additionally, there is a shortage of teachers of color in schools. Youth need to see positive role models, who match their cultural backgrounds, in education spaces to believe they can be successful in schooling. MJD is happy to be contributing to help change this educational narrative.

"Sometimes people believe if you are not going to help hundreds or thousands of people, there is no point in planning. But I believe that every great program and organization had to start somewhere. More often with founders who had no seed funding. Yet, today they are thriving. If they allowed naysayers or comparisons into their mind they would never have moved forward with their ideas. I am not afraid to start small and build. I am extremely grateful to be a legacy grantee!" - Me'Lisa James, MJD.