Start Lighthouse

Exciting news from Start Lighthouse’s Literacy Hub at PS 214! Last week, we had the honor of hosting Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose unwavering support, including securing federal funding, has elevated PS 214 to become our second thriving Literacy Hub in the Bronx. This hub is dedicated to offering students enriching daily literacy programs and the opportunity to cultivate their own home libraries. During her visit, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez actively engaged in an interactive reading session that helped deepen our students’ comprehension. She also explored our vibrant Literacy Hub and fostered meaningful conversations about the impactful ways we can bring about positive change in our communities. Her visit was a powerful celebration of literacy, education, and community empowerment at PS 214! Photo Credits: Nicole Millman Photos

Since 2020, Start Lighthouse has been dedicated to reimagining literacy access for students in underserved communities. What began during the pandemic has grown into a movement—bringing the power of books, stories, and learning to thousands of children across New York City. In just four years, we’ve: - Opened our third Literacy Hub at P.S. 161. - Partnered with 8 Title I public schools, reaching 5,700 students with critical literacy support. - Provided over 42,000 multicultural books, helping students build home libraries that reflect their identities and aspirations. - Delivered more than 900 hours of programming and hosted 78 in-person author workshops, connecting students to the magic of storytelling. - Transformed underutilized libraries into vibrant hubs of possibility and creativity. At Start Lighthouse, we believe that future readers start as readers. Every book opened, every story shared, and every space reimagined is a step toward brighter futures. As we enter Year 5, we are committed to expanding our reach and ensuring that every child has access to the tools and opportunities they need to thrive. This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to be a lighthouse for students who need it most. Your support helps guide them toward a love of reading and a future filled with possibility. Donate today and help us continue this vital work: https://lnkd.in/eSqKFjJ3 Together, we can light the way for the next generation of readers.

This month, we had the pleasure of hosting our incredible board member, Carl Lennertz, for a whirlwind day—visiting all three of Start Lighthouse’s literacy hubs in just one day! Carl has been such an important part of Start Lighthouse’s growth and vision, and it was wonderful to show him the impact of his support up close. He started the day observing a parent workshop at our newest literacy hub, where families learned how to build a love of reading at home. From there, he spent time with our team—the amazing group that makes this work possible every day. One of the most special moments was during the home library shopping experiences. Carl jumped right in, helping students choose books and sharing thoughtful recommendations. Seeing him connect with the kids and share in their excitement was truly heartwarming. Visiting all three hubs in a single day is no small effort, and it reflects Carl’s genuine commitment to the work we’re doing together. Thank you, Carl, for your belief in our mission, your encouragement, and your constant support.

We are incredibly grateful to both the PA Foundation and PA Consulting for their generosity and ongoing support this year, which has helped to enhance our programming at Start Lighthouse’s literacy hubs. This partnership has enabled us to continue offering personalized literacy instruction, author workshops, and opportunities for students to engage with culturally relevant literature. As we continue to deepen our collaboration, it has been wonderful to see how the PA Consulting team has engaged with both our staff and students, helping us expand the impact of our work this year. We were thrilled to host the PA Consulting New York-based team at our third literacy hub. During their visit, they generously volunteered their time, reading with students in small groups, participating in an immersive comprehension activity, and engaging directly with our students to help enhance their understanding of the texts. Additionally, Deborah Karmin Rose, our Director of Programming, led a Lunch and learn with the PA team. She facilitated an engaging session about how our students evaluate books and deepen their comprehension. This interactive activity gave the PA team a deeper understanding of our approach to literature instruction and the impact of our work with students. Lastly, a big thank you to Nora Hernández García and the PA Consulting team for organizing a Career Panel. Employees from across the country shared invaluable career advice and guidance with our middle school students, inspiring them to think about their future possibilities. We were fortunate to have Gloria Cox, Cedric Delmy, Kaede Gordon, and Jorge A. from PA Consulting volunteer their time for the panel. Their insights gave our students valuable perspectives on various career paths. Thank you to both PA Foundation and PA Consulting for your continued support, for making such a positive impact on our students' literacy development, and for exposing them to a world of possibilities that will inspire their future aspirations!

Thank you so much to Mukund Padmanabhan and the Guru Krupa Foundation Inc for their incredible support of Start Lighthouse. Mukund visited our 3rd Literacy Hub, and seeing him connect with our students and team was such a meaningful moment. Since last year, Mukund has become an essential part of our journey, supporting us as we grow and deepen our impact. His belief in our mission has allowed us to establish Literacy Hubs and build home libraries for our students, putting books and literacy resources directly in the hands of children and families. We were thrilled to have him witness our wonderful site coordinator, Savannah Price, in action, inspiring and engaging our students. Mukund, thank you for your generosity, belief in our work, and dedication to creating a brighter future for our community. We’re truly grateful to have you as part of the Start Lighthouse family.

Celebrating four years of Start Lighthouse was truly a magical experience. This anniversary brought us together with our students, their families, and an incredible community of partners who have walked alongside us in this journey. Through their support, we’re building brighter futures in the Bronx, one book and one student at a time. With three full-time literacy hubs now in place, a dedicated team of six full-time staff, and more than 2,100 students reached through our hubs each day—plus an additional 3,000 through our year-round programs—we are seeing the impact that true community investment can create. This growth and the literacy opportunities it represents are a testament to the unwavering commitment of our partners and supporters. We were honored to recognize a group of remarkable individuals whose dedication has been instrumental to our work: Akash Mahajan of TD, Gemma Rogers of PA Foundation, Alex Rivera of The Bronxer, Alana Bibergal of PS 161, and Lizette Serrano of Scholastic. Each has played a vital role in helping us build and sustain the spaces where our students can discover the power of literacy. And, of course, a heartfelt thank you to our student ambassadors—Leo, Vida, and Melanie—whose love for reading and learning lights up our hubs every day. They remind us why this work matters and inspire us to continue pushing forward.

We were thrilled to welcome TD to Start Lighthouse’s third literacy hub, located at PS 161! This unique hub serves two distinct schools: PS 161 and P17. During their visit, the TD team had the incredible opportunity to work closely with our students from P17, engaging them in small-group reading exercises. These activities provided tailored literacy support to our students just before they embarked on their first home library shopping experience of the year—an empowering event that helps build lifelong readers. Thank you to Bridgette Lara, Marcus Gonzales, Tran L. Huynh, Vanessa B. R., Kadean Bruce-Miller ,MBA, and Ayana Pascall from TD for dedicating their time and enthusiasm to making this experience meaningful for our students. Your hands-on support brought so much joy and inspiration to the day. TD’s investment in Start Lighthouse, including an integral capacity-building grant this year, has enabled us to expand our reach and impact. This support allows us to strengthen our infrastructure, serve more students, and provide vital resources that foster a love for reading across our community. Our partnership with TD aligns perfectly with Start Lighthouse’s mission to make literacy accessible to all students, regardless of their background. We’re grateful for TD’s commitment to community empowerment and literacy, and we look forward to growing together in our shared mission to uplift future generations through education and access. Thank you, TD, for helping us illuminate new paths for our students!

We had an incredible celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month with the inspiring ✨Susie Jaramillo! Susie led a bilingual workshop at our Literacy Hub at PS 214, engaging students, families, and caregivers in a vibrant experience that brought language, culture, and storytelling to life. These workshops are transformative experiences that foster confidence, community, and a lifelong love of reading. Each child left with a new book to add to their home library and meaningful memories to share. A heartfelt thank you to Ms. Zapata, Principal DeJesus, and the entire PS 214 leadership team for their invaluable partnership in making moments like these possible.

Thank you to Dr. Roberto Padilla, Superintendent of District 7, for joining us at Start Lighthouse’s 4-year anniversary celebration! Your unwavering support means so much as we work together to close the literacy gap and empower young readers across District 7. Our partnership with District 7 has been instrumental, and we’re fortunate to have such a dedicated ally. Our Director of Programming, Deborah Karmin Rose, is an active District 7 Literacy Council member and collaborates closely with Dr. Padilla and his team, helping us build a stronger foundation for our students' futures each day. Thank you, Dr. Padilla, for your leadership and for recognizing our mission. We look forward to continuing this meaningful work together and creating lasting impact in District 7.

Start Lighthouse is thrilled to welcome Prannoy Nambiar to our Young Professionals Council (YPC)! As a leadership committee, the YPC brings together talented young leaders who are committed to furthering our mission of empowering communities through literacy and education. Prannoy currently serves as Lead Product Manager at Audible, where he develops innovative products in educational media and entertainment. He holds an M.B.A. from the Yale School of Management and an M.S. in Education from Johns Hopkins University. A former teacher with a deep belief in collaborative learning, Prannoy shared, “Start Lighthouse’s emphasis on community engagement and service-driven impact aligns perfectly with my vision for change. I’m excited to contribute to their work and help equip the next generation to pursue their dreams.” We’re excited to have Prannoy on board and can’t wait to see the positive impact he’ll bring to our community!