2025 Winner: Barbershop Books
Barbershop Books’ mission is to inspire Black boys and other vulnerable children to read for fun through child-centered, culturally responsive, and community-based programming and content. They help organizations implement early literacy programs with curated books in neighborhood barbershops, offer virtual literacy programs with male reading role models, and a free e-library featuring works by authors of color.
What does Barbershop Books do?
What social challenge are they addressing?
Literacy is a fundamental skill that shapes lifelong learning and economic mobility, yet millions of children worldwide struggle to achieve basic proficiency. In the U.S., this challenge disproportionately affects Black boys and other vulnerable children in low-income communities. According to the National Assessment of Education Progress, more than 82% of Black male 4th grade students are not proficient in reading, with long-term consequences for academic success and economic opportunity. Children who do not read proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school, perpetuating cycles of poverty.
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Systemic inequities, such as underfunded schools, limited access to quality reading materials, and socioeconomic stressors, exacerbate these challenges, while the absence of culturally responsive content and positive reading role models leads to disengagement and negative attitudes toward reading. Without urgent intervention, low literacy rates among Black boys today will result in future generations of Black men who are underprepared for the workforce, deepening racial and economic disparities.
What is their solution?
Barbershop Books addresses the root causes of literacy disparities by creating environments where children feel seen, valued, and supported. They transform barbershops into literacy hubs, empowering barbers as reading role models, and providing resources that address both the social-emotional and academic aspects of literacy development. They use multimedia and emerging technologies to generate actionable, strengths-based insights that accelerate reading growth for PK-5 learners, especially those experiencing poverty.
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Barbershop Books trains barbers on creating literacy-friendly environments and equips them with skills to engage children in reading. Additionally, it works with teen facilitators (ages 16-18) to lead programs like Reading So Lit, creating a mentorship pipeline while promoting literacy. These trainers then work with local stakeholders, such as libraries and community organizations, to amplify the program’s reach.
What is their impact?
By focusing on both breadth and depth of impact, Barbershop Books ensures measurable, meaningful, and sustained improvements in early literacy outcomes for the populations it serves. 93% of children reported finding reading fun after completing the program and 85% identified as readers.
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The presence of Barbershop Books led to a 60% increase in families spending time engaging with books and 82% of parents more confident selecting books for their children to read at home. The Reading So Lit platform has documented over 5,000 hours of engagement, with 85% of participants showing improvements in reading comprehension scores. Regional collaborations such as its partnership with Las Vegas libraries and the NFL resulted in 10 barbershops being equipped with books, leading to a 35% increase in family literacy engagement activities in the area.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
How is Barbershop Books aligned with the Lipman Family Prize’s four key criteria?
Leadership
Barbershop Books is the first of its kind community-based model committed to addressing literacy disparities with culturally responsive solutions. Their focus on creating positive reading experiences and developing a strong reading identity among children by leveraging local barbershops as an informal learnings place is an exemplary model for improving literacy outcomes.
Impact
Barbershop Books has served over 15,000 children annually through its network of over 260 barbershops. They address literacy disparities among Black boys in a way that fosters their social-emotional connection to reading, supported by both qualitative and quantitative evidence.
Innovation
Unlike traditional literacy programs, Barbershop Books is innovative in its approach to integrating culturally responsive pedagogy with community-based engagement. Its novel Reading So Lit platform addresses literacy in an emotionally resonant and scalable way.
Transferability
Barbershop Books contributes valuable insights to the broader social impact sector by documenting and sharing lessons learned through white papers and partnerships. Core elements of its model, such as its train-the-trainer approach and focus on family and community engagement, are adaptable to other demographics and geographies.
