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The “Read, Learn, Achieve Initiative” is funded in part by a grant from The Community Foundation of South Alabama. It consists of three programs by the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama: the Blue Roof Library Trail, Let’s Read Mobile, and the Gulf Coast Children’s Book Festival.
Across South Alabama there is a low reading proficiency in children and a lack of interest in reading for fun. Rosa Monteiro, Director of Academic Success at Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama (BGCSA) has an approach to literacy that gets more books into the hands of youth and families. BGCSA has a collection of little libraries called the Blue Roof Library Trail, with over 30 small libraries in our area.
There are also Blue Roof Reading Spots placed in local clinics, barbershops and courthouses—any place families might need to wait. Youth can read those books onsite aloud to another person waiting or the barber cutting their hair.
The Blue Roof libraries can be sponsored by companies or organizations. and decorated as the sponsor likes so they feel a sense of ownership and a connection to the community. It is $100 for a reading spot $150 to sponsor a library. To sponsor a library, call 251.432.1235 or email rmonteiro@bgcsouthal.org.
The Blue Roof Library Trail is part of the BGSCA “Read, Learn, Achieve Initiative.” As part of this initiative, Rosa Monteiro led the establishment of the Gulf Coast Children’s Book Festival in 2019, where over 4,000 youth visited. The initiative also includes Let’s Read Mobile, our storytime video program of popular children’s books read aloud by community volunteers. See the playlist on YouTube.
Children can also learn more about reading at the BGCSA Gulf Coast Children’s Book Festival. This free event features author interviews, book spotlights, and free book givaways for your entire class! Established in 2019, the goal of the Gulf Coast Children’s Book Festival is to get books into the hands of young readers and inspire a life-long love of reading.
BGCSA’s mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.