MEET THE TEAM

In the fall of 2018, three friends sat around a kitchen table talking about what it would take to increase opportunities for kids in New York City. Their research into the growing literacy crisis revealed a striking truth: children who grow up in homes filled with books tend to have better life outcomes. Yet, not all kids have that privilege. Many children live in "book deserts," where books are scarce, limiting their ability to develop a love for reading. By missing out on reading, they miss out on a whole lot more. They miss out on the joy and comfort that books bring. They miss out on the knowledge to which they might otherwise be exposed. Compared to their peers, they are less school-ready, have less sophisticated vocabulary, and ultimately have less opportunity in life.

These friends decided to do something about this problem and Brooklyn Book Bodega was born.