Students Get Visit From Newark Leaders On ‘Black Men Read Day’

NEWARK, NJ — Several community leaders in Newark recently visited a local elementary school to help inspire a love for literature as part of “Black Men Read Day.”

Last month, organizers with the United Way of Greater Newark and The University of Chicago's "My Very Own Library" program (MVOL) spearheaded an event for children at Camden Elementary School. Standing in front of a classroom of eager students, several prominent community members took turns reading from books, including Mayor Ras Baraka, MVOL national director Duane Davis, Newark municipal council members Dupre Kelly and Patrick Council, and author Robert Constant.

It was a way to spread the joy of reading – while also helping to dispel stereotypes, according to Karen Leach-Toomer, the United Way of Greater Newark’s director of MVOL Newark.

“It was important to launch this initiative at a school led by an African American male principal,” Leach-Toomer said.

Camden Elementary is one of Newark Board of Education’s MVOL schools, and currently has Samuel Garrison at its helm as principal.

Camden Elementary School wasn’t the only one in the U.S. to celebrate Black Men Read Day. Similar events also took place at several other MVOL locations around the country and the Dominican Republic, the United Way of Greater Newark noted.

The Oct. 20 event is one of the latest efforts of MVOL, a University of Chicago elementary education initiative that was launched several years ago in Newark by Anne Feeley and former mayor-turned U.S. senator, Cory Booker. The program provides free books to children in the Newark Public School District. It began in six schools, and is now in every Newark Board of Education elementary school.

Twice during the school year, children receive several free books through a Scholastic book fair. Schools also have access to both in-person and virtual author visits, and receive grants for family literacy events.

“My Very Own Library has long been a staunch supporter of the Newark Public Schools, as evidenced by their commitment to providing free books to every student in participating schools over the years,” Superintendent León said. “And the opportunity to be read to by Black male leaders will help them expand their vocabulary and develop essential communication and social skills that are key to being successful in life.”

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