Our Program.
Applications for the 2021-2022 program year are now open! Our program is open to all high school students in Metro-Detroit and runs from September 2021 to May 2022.
Are you a high school student interested in reading books written by diverse authors and centered on Black and Brown narratives? Are you looking for one-on-one mentorship and college prep? Are you interested in leadership development and learning how to actively make a sustainable impact within your community?
If you answered yes to any of the previous questions, the Rooted in Reading book club is for you. Our program welcomes all young people excited to grow through reading, mentorship, and community service.
Whether you're already an avid reader or would like to read more, we would love to have you! This space is for you. We firmly believe that every young person has the power to be the author of their own story. Our program aims to cultivate our readers into transformative leaders.
Application Deadline: June 15, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.
Learn More.
Watch the video below to learn more about our program from our team.
Our Program at a Glance.
Book Club.
Our book club seeks to empower Black and Brown youth through the power of literature. Representation is important in literature which is why it is imperative that we foster a space that shares the diverse stories and narratives of the youth we work with. Our book club runs throughout the school year and is split between two semesters.
Mentorship.
Our mentorship component is integrated into our program to guide and support high school students in preparation for college and beyond. Students will receive one-on-one mentorship throughout the year as well as enriching opportunities that will prepare them for college and higher education.
Community Service.
Our organization is founded upon the principle of serving our underserved communities. Our service learning component empowers our students to identify a need within their community and organize a project to sustainably address the issue.
FAQs
What is the Rooted in Reading Book Club?
The Rooted in Reading Book Club program seeks to empower high school students in the city of Detroit and surrounding areas through literature. We aim to create a safe space that inspires a love for reading in our youth while providing both mentorship and service learning to help our youth become active change makers and leaders within their community.
How are books selected?
Our team curates a diverse array of 8 books that feature representative characters for our mentees. Participating students have the opportunity to contribute to the curated list to ensure that all books are representative of the youth we work with.
How can I support the program?
We’re so grateful to the members of our community who take the time to support the work that we do and the youth that we serve. You can support this program by making a donation to cover the cost of a student’s semester or full-year (two semesters) of the program.
Who can participate?
Our book club is open to all high school students, grades 9-12, in Metro-Detroit. If you do not fit within this age group but would still enjoy reading along with us, you can find our 2021-2022 reading list here and participate with our month-to-month reads via Instagram!
How often do you take new students?
Applications to join our book club open each year in early May. Our goal is to instill a love for reading and community service in as many young people as possible while setting them on the pathway to success via one-on-one mentorship.
How are meetings held?
Book club meetings are held twice a month via Zoom web conferencing due to the nature of the global health crisis as well as to ensure that youth across our communities have access to participating in the program via phone, tablet, or computer without worrying about transportation.
Questions?
Do you have questions about our book club program? Drop us a line and we’ll get back to you within two business days.