Legacy Family Center

1099Legacy Family Center?s Let?s Read Together program engaged youth ages 10?17 as literacy mentors for their younger siblings (ages 5?9), fostering early reading skills, vocabulary development, and a love of books through sessions held at home, in libraries, and in the community. In 2024, stipends were provided to youth mentors, and the program served 45 children in Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center. Parents reported the sibling-centered design reduced barriers and strengthened family bonds, while youth mentors gained confidence and pride in supporting their siblings? literacy growth.

Legacy Family Center?s Youth & Children?s Book Distribution Program provided 600 children and youth (birth to age 17) with culturally relevant literature to build home libraries and foster a love of reading. Partnering with West African churches, mosques, and community organizations, as well as offering direct home delivery, LFC expanded access to books across schools, community centers, and homes. Families expressed gratitude for the accessibility and cultural resonance of the books, with many children creating their own home reading spaces.