Start Lighthouse 2020

As we look to 2021, we are committed to redistributing book wealth and helping children in the South Bronx community grow their libraries. Since launching our fundraising campaign on Giving Tuesday, we've raised $2,740. Your contribution and support make our work possible. We're continuing our efforts to raise $3,500 by January 4.

Start Lighthouse was founded by a team of passionate and dedicated individuals who envision a community where literacy and destiny are not defined by a zip code. Start Lighthouse supports life-long literacy through a two-generational approach. We create access through customized literacy kits, literacy programming with a racial justice lens, and fundamental community workshops for families. 
 

Customized Literacy Kits: Our customized literacy kits are designed to build students’ home libraries and foster their sense of ownership. We provide books that are inclusive, diverse, and culturally responsive. It is so important for students to have access to stories that reaffirm their respective identities and stories. Along with the books, we include bilingual comprehension guides and reflective activities that correspond with each of the books.

Little Woke Activists: Start Lighthouse’s “Little Woke Activists” cultivates a safe space for students to join together to stand up against injustice. We begin by teaching students how multifaceted their own identities are so that they can begin building relationships and creating connections between themselves.

Mentorship Panels: We host monthly workshops for families pertaining to literacy and empowerment within the community. Through our online workshops, families are provided an opportunity to learn more about a particular topic from community members.    

We are New Yorkers. The Bronx is a major Borough of New York and yet is often forgotten. Despite being located in one of the most expensive cities in the nation, it is one of the poorest districts in the Nation. We want to provide support for the residents of the South Bronx, New Yorkers.

We aim to redistribute book wealth and help those children in the South Bronx community grow their libraries and provide their caregivers with the skills set and tools to strengthen their own community. We aim to help our communities and for many in the South Bronx who view books as a luxury item, we hope to bridge that discrepancy.