Cultural Well-Being: Honoring Identity & Heritage Through Storytelling

At Read for Joy Inc., we recognize that cultural identity is fundamental to well-being, but Black heritage has been reduced to a footnote for too long. What stories are Black children hearing about themselves? Too often, the narratives presented to them are incomplete, suggesting that Black history begins with slavery or that there was no meaningful history before it. The absence of Black characters in the prescribed literary canon reinforces the harmful idea that Black people exist only in the context of trauma and suffering.

This problem negatively impacts all children and communities. The stories we tell—or fail to tell—shape the way we see ourselves and others.

 

Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop describes books as mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors—mirrors that allow readers to see themselves, windows that provide a view into different experiences, and sliding glass doors that invite them to step into new perspectives. At Read for Joy Inc., we are intentional about bringing these stories to life, ensuring that Black children and families see positive, complete, and affirming reflections of themselves in books.

We understand the power of positive identity and know that cultural literacy transforms books into tools for self-discovery, community-building, and joy. Through our programs and initiatives, we ensure that these stories are not just accessible—but celebrated.

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Social Well-Being: Literacy as a Pathway to Connection, Liberation & Joy

Reading has never been an isolated act in our communities. It has always been a shared experience, a way to connect, affirm identity, and build collective strength. Black communities have long recognized literacy as a means of liberation, self-determination, and joy, using it to nurture voices, strengthen bonds, and reclaim narratives that have been silenced or distorted.

At Read for Joy Inc., we honor this tradition by ensuring that literacy remains a communal experience, one that brings people together, amplifies voices, and creates space for belonging and transformation. Through reading, we cultivate a deeper connection to ourselves and each other, reclaim our stories, and celebrate the boundless joy found in our words.

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Educational Well-Being: Expanding Learning Beyond the Classroom

For so many people, reading has become something they have to do rather than something they want to do. We’ve spoken with children, teens, and adults who have been disengaged from reading—not because they lack interest but because their experiences with books have been shaped by obligation, shame, or exclusion. Many were forced to read books they didn’t connect with, conditioned to see reading as just an academic task or embarrassed when they struggled during their early reading journey. These experiences didn’t inspire a love for reading—they made it feel like a burden.

At Read for Joy Inc., we are changing that narrative. Through intentional access to stories that reflect identity, spark curiosity, and honor the joy of learning, we help people see reading as a tool for growth, connection, and transformation. Our approach doesn’t just build readers—it creates lifelong storytellers, critical thinkers, and changemakers who understand the power of their own voices.

Through our book giveaways, community read-alouds, and literacy-based events, we ensure that learning doesn’t stop in the classroom—it thrives wherever there is access, representation, and joy. Our vision is a world where communities thrive through the power of literature, where stories connect, inspire, and equip people to shape their own futures.

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