Diverse Books Initiative

DREAM is a non-profit mentoring program for youths in low-income housing in the Burlington, Boston, and Philly areas. The mission of DREAM is to close the opportunity gap. This summer, it came to the attention of those serving with the program that we do not have diverse representation of individuals in the books that we have to offer to the diverse children that participate in DREAM. This is a serious issue when we consider that both what our youth see and don't see in books can reinforce racial biases and keep youth from being exposed to differences, hindering them from developing compassion for others. It is especially imperative that we provide books that positively depict the identities of our youth of color, who are much less likely to see themselves represented in books when compared to white youth. 

With this fundraiser, we are hoping to provide more books that include underrepresented racial identities, as well as diverse family structures, mental and physical abilities, gender identities, sexual orientations, and religions.