Read Across Jamaica Project 2024

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve successfully made it to Jamaica! Our dedicated team in New Jersey sorted and packed an impressive 1250 books for the Read Across Jamaica Project.

Follow along with our journey on GrassROOTS’ Instagram @grassrootsfound to gain deeper insights into our process and witness our impactful work in action.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to JetBlue and the exceptional team at Newark Airport, as well as Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, Icema Gibbs, for their invaluable support in making this mission possible.

We extend our gratitude to the National Education Trust (NET), Kingston Booksellers and Latoya West-Blackwood for their assistance in ensuring that the books are properly processed and secured for distribution.

Special appreciation goes to our team of volunteers: Sonia Fergus, Sherille Raymond, Scott Dias, Lisa Maxwell, Kai Raymond, Chanell Griffith, Jonathan Breitman, and Ronald Raymond, whose dedication and hard work behind the scenes made the collection and sorting of over 1000 books a reality.

We continue to be inspired by Marley Dias, whose vision sparked this international movement.

Stay tuned throughout the week as we share insights into the logistics, costs, and processes involved in our mission. This is just the beginning.

Over the next three years we will be employing an intervention study: Youth Literacy and Crime Study. Our initiative aims to transform communities by promoting literacy and providing opportunities for youth engagement. We will implement a comprehensive intervention that encompasses book distribution, literary activities, and community engagement initiatives. Our goal is not only to increase access to books but also to foster a culture of reading and learning that empowers youth and reduces crime rates. Our initiative includes donating diverse books to youth, public libraries, and homes. Additionally, we’ll be hosting regular literary community conversations and events to foster literary engagement. To ensure that these spaces are inviting for youth, we’ll be redeveloping library infrastructure by investing in reading spaces through technology and aesthetic enhancements.

Thank you for being a part of our journey towards promoting literacy and empowering communities.