Men of Color Read mentors inspire a love for reading among young students while building community connections.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A group of community leaders is working to make reading “cool” for local students.
Men of Color Read, an organization founded by Jon Covington, brings volunteers into elementary schools to read to children and inspire a love for books.
“Men of Color Read is an organization we created several years ago where we go into elementary schools, our focus is K through third grade, and as simple as it sounds, read to kids on a regular basis to make reading cool and to encourage them to love reading,” said Covington.
Covington said the idea came from his own childhood in Muskegon, where the Hackley Library was an “oasis of opportunity.” He promised himself that one day, he’d make sure other kids had the same chance to discover the world through books.
The program first launched in Los Angeles, later expanded to Muskegon and six years ago began at Martin Luther King Leadership Academy in Grand Rapids.
“Our sixth year starts today. The time flew by, and it’s grown and more and more and more men from the community find out about the organization, and they come and volunteer on a regular basis,” Covington said.
The mentors represent a wide range of ages and professions, from college students to bankers, engineers, nurses and authors. For many, the experience is just as meaningful for them as it is for the kids.
“I legitimately feel like I’m a better human in being in it,” said Victor Holt, a financial center manager at Fifth Third Bank and Men of Color Read mentor. “It just reminds you of where you came from, how far you’ve gone.”
Organizers say the program’s impact goes beyond reading skills. It builds mentorship, representation and community connections that benefit both students and adults.