From February through April, my Giving Back Initiative will support an impactful and innovative organization called Barbershop Books. A few months back, I heard a Ted Radio Hour, which spurred me to do a bit of research after the show (not terribly uncommon for the Ted Radio Hour!). This episode, School of Life, was about exploring “life lessons that teach us far more than any textbook.” Part three featured Alvin Irby, an educator, author, comedian and founder of the intuitive-upon-reflection, brilliantly modeled organization that captured me in an instant. Barbershop Books’ mission is this:

“Help Black boys ages 4-8 to identify as readers by connecting fun books to a male-centered space and by involving Black men in boys' early reading experiences.”

So how does Barbershop Books do this?

Irby came up with his idea, while watching one of his first-grade students in the Bronx squirm impatiently at a local barbershop. Irby kept wishing he’d had a book to lend the boy, which naturally led to the thought, someone should put books for kids at the barbershop… This idea, coupled with Irby’s impressive background in education and leadership, transformed into his nationally recognized organization.

Barbershop Books offers early literacy training to barbers while placing engaging children’s books into barbershops. Formerly antsy boys can read funny books while hanging at the barbershop! This may sound simple, but the thought behind it is well-researched and effective—which is why it’s so exciting and promising. Reading is power and when there is a stark reading gap among race or gender (see # 2 below), this inequity can follow these individuals for the rest of their lives. Barbershop Books is making progress to close the reading inequity gap, and in so doing, empower these boys for the rest of their lives. Here’s how: