Black Lives Matter.

Three words we’re choosing to focus on here at Book’em. To our Black community members  - we see you, we hear you, and we will continue to fight beside you. 

Thirty-one years ago, Book’em began with the mission of promoting literacy in our community of Nashville.  While we are extremely proud of the work that we’ve done, we recognize an opportunity to grow and improve. The murder of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and so many others has caused our staff and board members to reflect on the ways injustice, hate, and racism continue to exist within our society. We believe that education and literacy can be used as a tool of liberation by confronting and dismantling systemic racism. We commit to making the intentional effort of evaluating our programs and operations to build a more anti-racist organization. It is our deepest hope that Nashville’s children of color know what it feels like to succeed, live freely and without fear, and feel loved by their community. 

It is imperative that this work be ongoing, and we hope that you will join us in these difficult but necessary conversations. We are committed to doing our part, and we are committed to continued action. 

Listening. Learning. Growing.

 BLM, 

Melissa and the Book’em Team