Welcome to the Little Readers Big Change Initiative!
Join us in centering marginalized voices and creators, providing free literacy tools and free books to little readers, and celebrating storytelling as a powerful tool for change.
Founded by author, activist, and publisher Rebekah Borucki in 2020, the Little Readers Big Change Initiative was born out of a desire to make children's books more inclusive, diverse, and supportive of children's mental health.
Our earliest programs offered free literary tools, virtual workshops, and books to under-resourced schools and communities. Since then, we have expanded our program to address a whole-community approach.
How It Started
The Wheat Penny Press Little Readers Big Change Initiative is dedicated to providing free and affordable books, enriching programming, and financial support for individual creatives, businesses, and organizations in vulnerable communities and economic brackets.
We envision a world where every child sees themselves reflected in the stories they read, recognizes their power to shape the world around them, and thrives in schools and neighborhoods that celebrate their voice, identity, and limitless potential.
The Mission
Literary and Creative Programming
-
We distribute books and critical literacy resources to under-resourced schools and libraries nationwide.
-
An annual workshop for young writers (ages 9-14) to engage with industry experts, develop their writing skills, and get paid to contribute to A Little Writers Big Change Anthology, a hardcover collection of works by our workshop participants.
-
Publishing support and book coaching for marginalized authors.
-
Financial support campaigns for Black-owned independent bookstores.
-
Micro-grants for Black and Brown creators in various media (poetry, visual arts, animation, etc.).
-
Emergency mutual aid for creators
Free books and programming for schools and libraries
Book fair grants so every student can take home a book
Fiscal sponsorship for grassroots, community-led orgs and programs
The Impact
Through strategic partnerships with both local and national organizations, we amplify our reach and expand the impact of our work. These collaborations allow us to bring our resources to a wider audience and ensure that the opportunities we offer create meaningful, lasting change.
We believe big change often starts small- a spark of inspiration, a new perspective gained from a small setback, a bump in the road that leads to a bold new idea. That's why we focus on initiatives that may appear modest but have the power to drive significant, positive transformation.
This commitment to small-scale, high-impact efforts is at the heart of our mission: to build a society where creativity and knowledge thrive, where individuals are empowered, and communities are enriched.
Since our founding in 2020, we have:
Donated over 20,000 books to schools and organizations
Hosted writing workshops for elementary and middle school students
Partnered with community groups to create free book fairs and local literacy-focused events
Raised funds and provided support for Black-woman-owned bookstores across the country
Provided micro-grants ranging from $250 to $2500 to community organizations offering aid in their local areas
