The Phoenix Chapter of The Links, Incorporated is deeply committed to placing books in the hands and homes of young learners while inspiring a love of reading. The Phoenix Links’ A Book of My Own book ownership program builds upon a simple yet fundamental principle; if you provide children opportunities to select and own books to call their own, they will become engaged readers and learners.
The Phoenix Chapter of The Links, Incorporated proudly partners with national children’s literacy giants – Reading is Fundamental and Scholastic Books to expand opportunities for the children of Bernard Black Elementary School within the Roosevelt Elementary School District in South Phoenix to own books, to become more motivated to read and to engage the community in creating a culture of literacy within under-served communities in Greater Phoenix.
2015
A Book of My Own is established at Bernard Black Elementary School
670
K-8 grade students enrolled in the 2018-2019 academic year
99.6%
students eligible for federal free or reduced-priced school lunch program
A Book of My Own is presented twice annually at Bernard Black Elementary School providing the entire student by the opportunity to “shop” for and take home to add to their home book collection and enjoy through the years.
Regardless of reading frequency or children's ages, the majority of kids agree their favorite books are the ones that they have picked out themselves. The findings of a 2017 report conducted by Scholastic revealed that there is a big divide in book ownership among families. The average home has 104 kids’ books—but that number jumps to 127 books in households with an income over $100,000 and falls to 69 books for families making less than $35,000.
A similar discrepancy exists among Latinos and African Americans.
Average number of Children’s books in the homes of Hispanic families
Average number of children’s books in the homes of African American families
Hispanic student enrollment
African American student enrollment
Percentage of kids and parents who agree…
Reading fiction and nonfiction is a way to help
me/my child understand the world.
“The child with access to reading is a child better prepared to navigate the challenges of an unpredictable future."
Richard Robinson, Scholastic CEO and Chairman.
Source: Scholastic, Kids & Family Reading Report: 7th Edition
An investment in the future.
Preparing the next generation of STEM leaders
The Links STEM-READY program is the strategic vision of The Links, Incorporated and the National Society of Black Engineers to lead the U.S. to graduate 10,000 Black Engineers annually, with bachelor’s degrees, by 2025. The LINKS-NSBE Jr. Chapters are developing and implementing specific goals in accordance with The LINKS-STEM-READY Program.
