Interview with Jennifer Smith, Executive Director of Books Are Wings

Learn how one organization is tackling child literacy rates in Rhode Island by providing free books to children in need. In this Spotlight Interview, Dina from the Rhode Island Wave newspaper sits down with Jennifer Smith, the Executive Director of Books Are Wings, to discuss the critical mission of putting books into the hands of children and fostering a lifelong love of reading. This interview offers a deep dive into the impactful work of Books Are Wings, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving child literacy. Jennifer Smith explains why access to books is crucial for a child's development, revealing the startling statistic that 61% of low-income households have no books at all. She discusses how Books Are Wings addresses this by distributing approximately 60,000 gently used books annually to children in Providence, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, and Central Falls. Throughout the conversation, Jennifer highlights the link between early reading proficiency and future academic success, noting that children not meeting reading expectations by third grade are four times less likely to graduate high school. She outlines the various programs run by Books Are Wings, such as "Books All Year," and explains how schools and community organizations can partner with them. The interview also covers how individuals and companies can contribute, whether through donating gently used books, running a book drive, purchasing from their Amazon wish list, or providing financial support. Finally, Jennifer shares exciting details about their annual fundraiser, "Bowling for Books," a fun community event designed to raise funds for their literacy programs. This conversation is a must-watch for anyone passionate about education, community service, and making a tangible difference in the lives of children. SUPPORT BOOKS ARE WINGS Learn more about how you can support child literacy in Rhode Island, donate books, or volunteer your time by visiting their website. ➡️ Website: https://www.booksarewings.org/ CONNECT WITH US Stay up to date with our latest interviews and stories. ➡️ Rhode Island Wave: rhodeislandwave.com