Mercer County Prosecutor Takes Aim At Illiteracy

Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri is targeting illiteracy in his fight against crime.

Onofri said he learned from a recent meeting with award-winning children’s author Lisa Funari-Willever that while suburban homes average 17 books, there is only one book for every 100 children in the inner cities, the Trentonian reports.

Onofri told the newspaper the city will be working with Project READ and the Nikki Fifth Foundation to ensure better access to books for inner city youths.

“When the leading cause of death among urban males between the ages of 18 and 25 is homicide, we have a serious problem,” Onofri told the newspaper. “We have to reach young people early. We have to go into the elementary, middle and high schools. We have to spread the message that senseless violence is just that: senseless.”

Read more at trentonian.com.