Black Dot Leadership Academy
Put the right books in young hands. Every month.
Every contribution joins with others to purchase, prepare and place carefully selected books with young people ages 7–17 throughout DeKalb County.
Before the world tells them who they are
A child cannot place themselves inside a history they have never received.
Many families are working hard to meet immediate household needs. After housing, food, utilities and other necessities are paid, purchasing additional books may not always be possible. That should not determine whether a young person encounters stories that strengthen identity, deepen understanding and expand what they believe is possible.
“As Vice Chair of the Lithonia Housing Authority, I see how often families must make hard choices between immediate household needs and the things they still want for their children. Parents should not be blamed because the money for additional books is not there. Our responsibility is to organize another path so the right books can still reach their children.”Kazemde Ajamu
How the work moves
From community support to a young reader.
Select
Choose meaningful books for the month’s age group and community.
Build Together
Gifts of every size become part of a shared monthly goal.
Prepare
Akoma Coffee & Books purchases, receives and prepares the books.
Place
Confirmed community relationships help the books reach young readers.
Where the books can go
Relationships already exist. The campaign helps us activate them.
Each month’s destination will be confirmed before distribution. Planned pathways include:
Monthly distributions will also help build toward a larger community youth book giveaway fair or festival.
Every gift becomes part of the giveaway
Give what you can. Help keep the books moving.
Choose a suggested amount or enter the amount that is right for you.
Contributions support the complete work of selecting, purchasing, preparing and distributing books, including the people, technology and community coordination required to sustain the program.
One purpose. Distinct responsibilities.
Black Dot Leadership Academy leads. Akoma helps move the books.
Black Dot Leadership Academy leads the youth literacy campaign. Akoma Coffee & Books provides the bookselling knowledge, purchasing and fulfillment support. Community distribution relationships connect the work to young people across DeKalb County.