$60K grant helps make Pottstown school libraries more diverse

POTTSTOWN — The Foundation for Pottstown Education was recently awarded a $60,330 grant from the Exton-based Justamere Foundation to enable the purchase of a diverse collection of books for all six Pottstown School District libraries.

This grant will provide more than 2,700 books underscoring the commitment to fostering inclusivity and representation within the Pottstown School District.

Foundation Executive Director Joe Rusiewicz teamed up with the four district librarians, Kristen Ellis, Andrea Roberts, Ted Freese and Nikki Alutius to prepare the grant-seeking funds to purchase the books. Pottstown School District’s minority enrollment is 68.6 percent and 68.8 percent of the student population is economically disadvantaged.

But prior to the new collection of books, only 30 percent of the books in the libraries were considered diverse and only 4 percent were published since 2018.

One of Justamere Foundation’s areas of focus is childhood literacy. According to their Foundation website: “Reading is essential. Fostering a love of reading and learning opens so many doors as children grow up. We support organizations with programs that focus on education and literacy resources for children in underserved areas.”

The grant was submitted and awarded to the Foundation for Pottstown Education in January. Since then, the librarians have been busy unpacking, cataloging and shelving the 2,758 books that were provided.

And the students’ reaction? Kyle, a Barth third grader responded” This character looks like me and he runs fast too!”

Barth fourth grader, Kira said, “It is interesting because Chinese New Year is different than ours and I’d like to learn about it.”

“I love these books! This one is my favorite because it is when she got her first hijab,” said Kyla, a Barth fourth grader.

The acquisition of diverse literature is a crucial step toward creating inclusive learning spaces where all students feel valued and represented. By offering access to books that feature characters, themes and narratives from diverse backgrounds, the Pottstown School District Libraries can play a pivotal role in promoting empathy, understanding, and cultural appreciation among the students.

“It’s no surprise that reading is foundational to future prosperity. If you can show a kid a better world, one that they can see themselves in, you’ve opened up a door in their mind that allows unfathomable possibilities,” said Justamere Foundation President Lori Cushman.

The mission of the Foundation for Pottstown Education is to raise funds for and support life-changing educational opportunities for the students and teachers in the Pottstown School District promoting the enhancement of our community.

Visit www.foundationpottstowned.org for more information about the Foundation for Pottstown Education. You can also follow FPE on Facebook.