“What do we need to know and do to better serve the Black and Brown youth of San Francisco this summer?” was the guiding question the library presented to city leaders. With their input and access to 2,500 of the most vulnerable students served by the Community Learning Hubs, SFPL collaborated with the HRC to co-create the Everybody Reads Summer Kit with the goal of providing these student with a robust, creative and culturally affirming literacy boost at the onset of summer break.

HRC Director Dr. Sheryl Davis developed original literacy activities for the Everybody Reads Summer Guide to accompany the 10 BIPOC books selected by SFPL. SFPL staff made 2,500 kits that included culturally affirming books, Everybody Reads Guide, Summer Stride tracker, sketch pad, glue stick, scissors and colored pencils. Kits were delivered to the students before the start of summer. Each week, students had the opportunity to meet each author highlighted in the kit as part of SFPL’s original BIPOC Kidlit series.

SFPL staff assembled and delivered 2,500 Everybody Read Summer Kits to each Community Learning Hub and Ella Hill Hutch Community Center, HRC distribution point. Together SFPL and HRC hosted five trainings for service providers to become familiar with the activities and books to align with the BIPOC KidLit program series. Providers attending these workshops received kits. This pilot paved a new way of being in community and listening to how SFPL can better serve and uplift SF’s Black and Brown youth.