The Leaders Readers Network

The Leaders Readers Network is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to quality education and literacy for all students. Through our mission and projects, we are driving change for students in low-income communities by providing culturally relevant books, leadership training, and mentorship opportunities to share a love for reading at underfunded schools.

The Leaders Readers Network’s projects are essential to supporting our mission of equalizing access to quality education. Working hand in hand with students, teachers, and community members, TLRN is able to provide students from all backgrounds the opportunity to fall in love with reading and harness their educational potential. With leadership and literacy initiatives at the forefront of our projects, we are able to create impactful change in the communities we serve. 

Literacy Fellowship

The Leaders Readers Network’s Literacy Fellowship was established in 2019 to improve literacy experiences for students in traditionally marginalized communities. Our fellows actively work in their schools and communities to provide diverse and culturally relevant books for students at high need campuses across the United States.  Each year, we conduct a national search for educators and librarians who are dedicated to ensuring literacy is at the hallmark of each student’s success. Our literacy fellows receive free professional development, a diverse classroom library, literacy enrichment activities, and brand new books for students 4 times a year.

Through the Literacy Fellowship, educators and librarians:

• Activate classrooms to serve their community with literacy based service projects 
• Receive free service projects to implement on National Days of Service: 9/11, MLK Day, and Global Youth Service Day
• Engage older students to mentor younger students with monthly read aloud experiences 
• Participate in reading campaigns to provide a local Title 1 elementary school brand new books

Student Ambassadors Project (Youth Development)

The Leaders Readers Network’s Student Ambassador Project was established in 2014 to empower students (ages 13 – 24) to harness their leadership skills and take an active role in addressing the systemic inequities in education faced by traditionally marginalized communities. Student ambassadors educate others about the unequal access to and opportunity in education, while learning how to collaborate with community members to address these inequities and improve literacy outcomes. Student ambassadors organize service projects, provide underfunded schools with books and school supplies, and become valuable advocates for education equity in their communities.

Through the Student Ambassador Project, students:

• Learn to identify community resources that reach traditionally marginalized communities
• Provide students with books and school supplies at underfunded schools
• Develop leadership skills through project development, management, and execution
• Earn community service hours toward the President’s Volunteer Service Award