we help balance the narrative
why we exist
#BrownTeensRead is a literacy program that promotes reading, writing, social and cultural awareness among teens of color.
Good readers are great writers! But, brown teens admittedly don’t do enough of either. As a result, many students of color become seniors in high school who cannot read or write well or simply hate reading!
As a solution, through our teacher book clubs and literary-themed social events, we support, track, and improve the reading habits of brown teens by reading together, holding one another accountable for our teaching practices, and challenging one another to read with our students in and out of school. This way, we close the achievement gap while keeping teens educated, entertained, culturally alert, creative, and safe.
Good readers are great writers! But, brown teens admittedly don’t do enough of either. As a result, many students of color become seniors in high school who cannot read or write well or simply hate reading!
As a solution, through our teacher book clubs and literary-themed social events, we support, track, and improve the reading habits of brown teens by reading together, holding one another accountable for our teaching practices, and challenging one another to read with our students in and out of school. This way, we close the achievement gap while keeping teens educated, entertained, culturally alert, creative, and safe.
equity
In vulnerable populations, teens of color often do not have opportunities to experience the fullness of life: vacations, beaches, travel, culture, mountains and skyscrapers. But, they can experience all that and more through books!
To help teens of color garner some of life's adventures, our book clubs and literary social events provide opportunities for teens of color to experience the world through imagination.
Our events will expose teens of color to literary micro-experiences that can change their lives through reading, writing, speaking, thinking and creating! And, when teens read and write well, they build artistic, social, cultural and professional skills well!
To help teens of color garner some of life's adventures, our book clubs and literary social events provide opportunities for teens of color to experience the world through imagination.
Our events will expose teens of color to literary micro-experiences that can change their lives through reading, writing, speaking, thinking and creating! And, when teens read and write well, they build artistic, social, cultural and professional skills well!
the literacy activist
The mission of #BrownTeensRead is being led by literacy activist, high school English teacher, literary commentator and freelance writer, delmetria millener. Born and raised in Louisiana, millener understands the historical and cultural impact that literacy can have on teens. She grew up with books as her refuge and a mom-librarian who consistently read to her, with her, and encouraged her to read all the books she could.
Now, as an English teacher, millener also recognizes that teens have become disconnected from the generational pride that reading, writing, social and cultural literacy fostered, especially considering movements like the Harlem Renaissance, MEChA and the Native American Renaissance, that allowed communities to gain control over the representation of their culture through art, music and literacy.
This disconnection is not without consequence. Over the last 60 years, there has been a systemic decline in literacy, and brown teens are leading the statistics. This decline in literacy threatens our cultural, professional and social positions. As a solution, #BTR aims to take a practical approach to alleviating the problem by using book clubs and literary-themed social events to reconnect teens to literacy. Connect with delmetria to talk books, teens, writing, skating or get involved!
Now, as an English teacher, millener also recognizes that teens have become disconnected from the generational pride that reading, writing, social and cultural literacy fostered, especially considering movements like the Harlem Renaissance, MEChA and the Native American Renaissance, that allowed communities to gain control over the representation of their culture through art, music and literacy.
This disconnection is not without consequence. Over the last 60 years, there has been a systemic decline in literacy, and brown teens are leading the statistics. This decline in literacy threatens our cultural, professional and social positions. As a solution, #BTR aims to take a practical approach to alleviating the problem by using book clubs and literary-themed social events to reconnect teens to literacy. Connect with delmetria to talk books, teens, writing, skating or get involved!
