It started with her own personal struggle. Chrishawndra Matthews was determined for her then 3-year-old son Derrick to learn how to read. But she noticed the lack of reading and language programs within Cleveland that could help her son grow as an early learner.
“I’m raising a Black son, so I understand the school-to-prison pipeline and how learning and educational achievement gaps can shape his life path and future,” she says.
She would drive as far as the Lee Road branch of Heights Libraries and Shaker Heights Public Library to help enhance his reading abilities, but wondered about the others who could benefit from these programs in her Glenville community.
“I didn’t mind driving my son to suburban libraries to help enhance his reading abilities,” Matthews says. “But I thought about those other moms that may not know about the resources in the surrounding suburbs or may not have transportation to reach those resources.”
In 2017, she decided to take a small step. Matthews, who owns her own cleaning business, began purchasing books with her own money and started a nonprofit. Through Literacy in the H.O.O.D. (Helping Out Our Disenfranchised), she distributes books to children, families and caregivers in low-income Cleveland neighborhoods with the goal of getting parents and kids to read together for a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes a day.
According to a report from the Cuyahoga County Literacy Needs Assessment from Case Western Reserve University, 66% of Cleveland residents are functionally illiterate, while two out of three children in Cleveland don’t have any books at home.
As the organization enters its third year, her mission is to ensure books are accessible for all kids and families in Cleveland. In the last 18 months, she has passed out 60,000 books, which she acquires through a mix of donations, used book sales and grant money.
“For me, it wasn’t about the numbers or a pat on the back,” Matthews says. “It was about doing something in the now and taking on something as bad as our literacy rate in Cleveland. People have access to free books to encourage a change in these statistics.”
Matthews is often angered by the disparities of reading resources for inner city children and families. It’s this drive to create a positive difference that moves her forward.
“This means parents can’t read RTA bus schedules, fill out a job or rental application,” Matthews says. “I can’t battle our city’s illiteracy rates alone, but I can invest in the minds of children one book at a time.”
Matthews and her son, who is now 9, often find ways to collaborate with the city and her neighbors. Over the last year, she has partnered with the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts twice a month to pass out 600-750 books per event to people who are being served. Matthews also created initiatives such as Books & Cuts, where children get a fresh haircut and a free book.
Since the pandemic, she has found new creative ways to provide books to the community. Matthews has created pop-up venues in churches and boutiques in Larchmere. Through her website and social media, she has continued to share why it’s important to continue prioritizing reading while learning at home.
“If a child is able to read, we are setting them on a path to become a lifelong learner,” she says. “But what I can do is make sure they have access to free books. Things like that put a fire underneath my feet and help me decide that I can make a difference.”
Click here to meet more do-gooders, find out how you can help your community and read the rest of our "Do Good" package.
