Diverse Books for Youth

DREAM is a non-profit mentoring program for youth living in low-income housing in Vermont, Boston, and Philedelphia with the mission of closing the opportunity gap.

This summer, it came to the attention of DREAM's Summer Enrichment Coordinators that the organization's small collection of donated books is not representative of the diverse population of youth served. When youth do not see themselves or others represented in the media and literature they consume, it send the message that they are less valauble than others. This reinforces harmful biases and stereotypes. This is particularly concerning for youth of color, who are much less likely to see themselves represented in books than their white peers.

Through this fundraiser, DREAM hopes to provide books that include underrepresented racial identities, as well as diverse family structures, mental and physical abilities, gender identities, sexual orientations, and religions. We want to show our youth that they are valuable, and foster a culture of compassion.