By Tia Major
Literacy has always been more than reading words on a page. For Literacy Connection, Inc., literacy is about identity, access, empowerment, and community values deeply rooted in the organization’s mission as a Black-founded and Black-led nonprofit serving families across Broward County.
Founded with the belief that strong readers are nurtured not only in classrooms but within families and communities, Literacy Connection, Inc. has spent more than a decade creating innovative, culturally responsive programming that meets children and families where they are. Today, the organization’s work is centered around three major program areas designed to strengthen literacy outcomes, family engagement, and community connection.
OPERATION: R.E.A.D. Literacy Initiative — Bringing Literacy to Life
The flagship OPERATION: R.E.A.D. Literacy Initiative serves as the foundation of Literacy Connection’s programming and is delivered through two primary components: after-school programming and community outreach.
Through after-school programming, children engage in structured, literacy-based activities that support reading comprehension, vocabulary development, creative expression, and confidence-building. These sessions integrate literature with hands-on activities that connect reading to all disciplines, including STEAM, making learning both engaging and meaningful.
The community outreach component extends learning beyond school walls, reaching children and families through schools, parks and recreation programs, community events, and faith-based spaces. A cornerstone of this outreach is the Black Church Book Tour, a culturally responsive initiative that partners with churches to serve Black and Brown children and families in trusted community environments.
At each outreach experience, children participate in engaging, literature-based activities that celebrate stories reflecting their lived experiences and cultural heritage. Most importantly, every child receives a free book to take home which helps to build personal libraries and reinforce reading as a valued and accessible part of everyday life. To date, Literacy Connection, Inc. has distributed more than 21,000 books, ensuring access to stories that educate, inspire, and uplift.
It Takes a Village Family Workshops — Strengthening Families, Empowering Parents
Recognizing that literacy thrives when families are supported, Literacy Connection’s third major program area is the “It Takes a Village” Family Literacy Workshop series. These workshops are designed to empower parents and caregivers with the knowledge, confidence, and practical strategies needed to support learning at home.
Through interactive sessions, families gain tools that build parent self-efficacy, strengthen home–school–community partnerships, and deepen the parent–child bond through shared literacy experiences. The workshops emphasize that parents are their child’s first and most influential teachers and that everyday moments like reading together, talking, and exploring stories can have a lasting impact.
Honoring the Past, Investing in the Future
During Black History Month, Literacy Connection, Inc. stands as a powerful example of how Black leadership, cultural knowledge, and community-centered solutions can create lasting educational impact. Through the OPERATION: R.E.A.D. Literacy Initiative encompassing after-school programming and community outreach and the “It Takes a Village” Family Workshops, the organization continues to uplift families, celebrate identity, and expand access to opportunity.
As Literacy Connection looks toward the future, its work remains grounded in a simple yet powerful truth: when children are surrounded by stories that reflect who they are, supported by families who believe in them, and nurtured by a community that shows up, literacy becomes a legacy.
For more information about this organization:
Contact: Tia Major, Ed.D.
(754) 779-2495
(754) 422-7009
http://www.literacyconnect.org
https://www.facebook.com/LiteracyConnectionInc
https://www.instagram.com/literacyconnectioninc.
