Initiative

Project Ready: Reimagining Equity and Access for Diverse Youth

Project Ready provides a series of free, online professional development modules for school and public youth services librarians, library administrators, and others interested in improving their knowledge about race and racism, racial equity, and culturally sustaining pedagogy. The primary focus of the Project READY curriculum is on improving relationships with, services to, and resources for youth of color and Native youth.

Home Pathways Action Map Project Ready: Reimagining Equity and Access for Diverse Youth

Fast Facts

Relevant Actions Action 1.3, Action 1.4, Action 3.7
State or Local?

State
Counties

All
Lead Agency

School of Information and Library Science at UNC Chapel Hill
Type of Agency

Higher Education Institution
Racial Equity Lens
  • The curriculum builds on and highlights the scholarship of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian American scholars in the fields of education and library science.
  • The curriculum  helps educators and librarians develop an understanding of the foundations of race and racism in the United States, its systemic nature, and how it impacts BIPOC  youth and families.
  • The curriculum provides an equity lens through which practitioners (educators & librarians) can assess and improve programs and services for BIPOC youth and their families.
Community Voice
  • The curriculum contains a module on youth voice and agency.
  • The curriculum contains a module on building relationships with the community.
Impact
  • The curriculum has been utilized by numerous State Library agencies, school districts, public libraries, and individuals across the United States. It has been accessed by 111,000 people in the past year.
  • The curriculum has resulted in changes to public and school library systems and services to better serve BIPOC youth. It has been highlighted in conference presentations at the state and national level, practitioner journals, and professional books.
Next Steps
  • The curriculum will be continually updated to reflect advances in scholarly understanding of issues related to equity and inclusion, and emerging innovations in professional practice.
Primary Partners
  • North Carolina Central University School of Library and Information Sciences
  • Wake County Public School System – Library Media Services
Primary Funders
  • Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) – federal grant
Contact

Sandra Hughes-Hassell

Active Counties