Weekly Media Roundup: January 20, 2016

Lafayette Woman Creates Diverse Library for Youths (Associated Press, Indiana)

Minority children don’t often see themselves represented in children’s books, but one librarian hopes to change that through diversity-focused afterschool and summer learning programs at an innovative new library. Cindy Eberts’ library, known as the Eberts Memorial Library, has collected about 300 books by minority authors and featuring a diverse cast of characters, which play heavily into its academic programs. The afterschool program, run by the Lafayette Urban Ministry (LUM), hopes to both help close the achievement gap and give students a safe space to discuss race-related issues. “Given the many race-related problems in our nation… a place for children to learn about tolerance and diversity, on a regular basis, is a wonderful antidote,” LUM executive director Joe Mincon told the Associated Press.

Study Weighs Youth Service Programs (Corning Leader, New York)

A recent study highlighted the value of Steuben County’s youth service programs, which offer fun activities, nutritious food and academic assistance that students might not otherwise receive. For local afterschool providers, the value of their programs is already obvious. “I think we’re lucky to have the afterschool time programs,” Corning Area Youth Center director Carly Cushing told the Corning Leader. “The work we do serves more children, and that’s really the important thing.” The study, which came out of the Steuben County Youth Bureau, listed four programs as critical to the community: out-of-school time, seasonal recreational activities, youth leadership and empowerment opportunities and substance abuse treatment services.

‘Girls Rock Philly’ Helps Females Find Their Vibe (Philadelphia Daily News, Pennsylvania)

A Philadelphia nonprofit afterschool program is using music to empower young ladies. At Girls Rock Philly, students learn an instrument, form a band and write an original song together, which they perform for their peers at the end of the semester. Throughout the 30-week program, the girls use acting, singing and noise improvisation to become more confident and learn how to manage stress. “Being a young girl in the world is very hard,” program director Diane Foglizzo told the Philadelphia Daily News. “We set up Girls Rock Philly as a way girls could come together instead of tearing themselves down, and as a space to build relationships instead of feeling lost and alone.”

Benefits Work Both Ways as Kids Read to Dogs, Cats (Ventura County Star, California)

Libraries and animal shelters in the Ventura County, CA area are offering programs with dual benefits – nurturing animals while allowing kids who may be struggling at school to improve their reading comprehension. In the Reading to Animals program at the Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center (SPARC), Waggin’ Tales and Bark Buddies at the Simi Valley Library and Paws for Reading at the E.P. Foster Library, kids read books out loud to dogs and cats. The animals are calmed by human voices, helping them get used to people before adoption, and the kids can practice their reading skills in a judgment-free zone. “It gives them confidence to gain a voice,” SPARC volunteer director of educational outreach Denise Ritchie told the Ventura County Star. “They can make a mistake and the dog or cat doesn’t care.”