the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paterson NJ, Paterson Reads, is a community collaboration of the Paterson Alliance, with the Paterson Education Fund that, supports Superintendent Eileen Shafers’ call for improved student achievement. Focused specifically on reading on grade level by 3rd grade,Paterson Reads aligns community resources to improve summer learning, increase early learning and improve attendance by reducing chronic absenteeism.
Paterson Reads has also partnered with the Paterson Public Library summer reading program, and Bookends Bookstore of Ridgewood reaching countless Paterson children with books, reading circles and literacy activities. Over 20 agencies are involved in providing enhanced reading opportunities using the national Collaborative Summer Library Program. This summer’s (2020) theme is “Imagine Your Story”. Next summer’s slogan will be “Tails and Tales”.
Bookends Bookstore, Paterson Public Schools & Paterson Reads Present: Summer Reading Book Bundles to Benefit Paterson Public School Students K-8th
GIVE A CHILD IN PATERSON the GIFT OF SUMMER READING.
Donate books to a child in the grade of your choice by
clicking on the link www.book-ends.com
First – bravo, Bookends – doing something positive for those most in need!
And HEY, BLM marchers , listen up – here’s a CRAZY IDEA!
Photos of Ridgewood’s CBD/BLM marchers posted on this blog seem to show that most of them are relatively young. I would wager that many are not far removed from or are still attending some form of higher education.
And surely someone, somewhere, knows the identities of the de facto or actual recognized leaders of this group.
SO – how about contacting these “leaders” and suggest to them that they and their cohorts don’t just “talk the talk” in Ridgewood’s CBD. They should start to actually “walk the walk” – and aim to achieve a positive result for Black Lives that should Matter.
How, you ask? Simple! Go to Bookends and/or to Paterson and put some time and effort into this project. The least these folks could do is to help sort, bundle, and maybe deliver the books. At best they could volunteer to sit with a young Patersonian ”reader-to-be” on a regular basis and help him or her become a better reader.
This would be “putting their muscle where their mouth is…”. It would be far more productive long-term than marching and shouting, would have a more positive result for those clearly in need, and would even look good on a resume or CV (if these things even exist nowadays!)
Just think of it – no one could pooh-pooh this type of activity, and it would go a long way in displaying that these folks truly believe that Black Lives Matter!
Hey, BLM marchers – the ball is in your court!