NCLA Con 2025

In efforts to build a sustainable partnership between Winston-Salem's Crossnore Communities for Children, Wake Forest University's (WFU) Z. Smith Reynolds (ZSR) Library is welcoming new students to Anderson Academy, Crossnore's public charter school opening in August 2025 with the Welcome! Back to School Project. The event consists of two components: a book drive establishing start-up classroom libraries and a back to school event promoting fellowship among students and teachers. This project was made possible by grant funding and institutional commitments to cultivating community partnerships. Anderson Academy's 2025 enrollment model includes K-4 students in the foster care system and who have experienced some form of abuse or adversity. The curriculum takes a holistic approach to trauma-informed care and commits to building safe and dependable environments for this inherently unique student body. Anderson will not have a media center in its first years of operation, so this project will make a significant impact to the potential literacy development for new students. The International Literacy Association recommends school libraries provide a minimum of 20 books per child for both in-class and at-home use. Grant funding and an accompanying book drive is intended to provide 500 books amounting to nearly 25% of the recommended number of books in Anderson classroom libraries before the first day of classes. The project will culminate with a Welcome! Back to School party celebrating new students, administrators, and faculty with food, activities, and gifts. During the party, students will not only be introduced to their classroom libraries, they will also receive a new backpack to start their school year. The party will take place at Anderson Academy prior to the first day of classes and provide a great opportunity to connect students with teachers in an informal and festive format. Several partnerships and funding opportunities are making the project possible. First the ZSR Innovation Grant and the WFU Center for Literacy Engagement's (CLE) Diverse Book Grant are funding the purchase of 250 books as well as party supplies and giveaways. Second, ZSR employees and WFU student organizations are donating books as outlined by an age- and culturally-appropriate book title list developed by WFU's children's librarian. Donation choices are facilitated by local and independent bookseller Squarespace store development with discounted purchasing options. Lastly, employees can donate cash through Venmo or PayPal applications. Beyond building a relationship with our nextdoor neighbor, the intent with this project is to create multidisciplinary partnership opportunities between Anderson Academy, ZSR, and ultimately WFU. Potential future engagement endeavors can include instructional sessions, student mentoring and tutoring programs, and campus and library tours all in the effort to support ZSR's commitment to literacy development, Crossnore's mission to facilitate healthy futures for children and families, and WFU's guiding philosophy of "pro humanite". This panel session intends to include key partners from ZSR, Anderson Academy, and WFU responsible for the project's success. By the time of this session, specific project outcomes will be available including book drive and student participation metrics.