Newton Teen Selected by Harold Grinspoon Foundation to Lead Reading Program

In an effort to engage children ages 9 to 11 in reading books about Jewish traditions and values, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF) has created an online, social networking experience that encourages children to engage with each other, express their ideas, and communicate through a variety of multi-media channels, many of which are of their own creation.

For the past nine years, HGF has gifted more than five million Jewish books to children ages six months to eight years across North America through the PJ Library program. A study showed that the introduction of these books into homes, and the creation of a reason for parents to read books about Jewish traditions to their children, resulted in whole families becoming more engaged with Judaism within their communities.

The PJ Our Way pilot program was designed as an extension of PJ Library to give older readers this same foundation, while providing them with ownership over the material and the ability to express their opinions online. PJ Our Way has appointed youth leaders to start online conversations about the books. A teen leader has been appointed in Newton.

Abigail Richmond, 14, of Newton, has been selected by HGF to help lead the national PJ Our Way Design Team. As a teen leader, Richmond will serve as the mediator between the adults directing the group and the youth members, helping lead conversations about Jewish children’s books nationwide. Richmond is a published writer and will help with the design of creative projects for the team.

PJ Our Way launched this fall in 10 cities, including Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, Boston’s North Shore, Seattle, Silicon Valley, St. Louis and Brooklyn.

PJ Our Way allows participants to select one of four books every month, giving them more choice on their journey toward being life-long readers while introducing them to Jewish ideas. What makes this program unique is its online discussion portal which lives on the PJ Our Way website, www.pjourway.org. Here PJ Our Way participants can create book trailers, videos, quizzes, author interviews, and other media to communicate with peers about the books.

“We’ve thought a great deal about how to engage older readers by giving them more say in what they read and then giving them creative platforms to talk to their peers about the books,” said PJ Our Way Director Catriella Freedman. “The PJ Our Way website provides a safe environment in which participants can discuss topics, outline themes and recommend books to friends.”

As a teen leader for the national PJ Our Way Design Team, Richmond will have early access to books of her choice to read and create content-based dialogue, including videos and reviews, through the PJ Our Way online portal. She will work with the other 10 national PJ Our Way Design Team members to interview authors, participate in workshops and generate discussions about the books.

The PJ Our Way program is supported by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation based in Agawam, Mass. Sign-up at www.pjourway.org.