CHICAGO - Sept. 8, 2020 - When COVID-19 threatened to disrupt a new initiative to boost reading confidence among boys, the founder who created the youth empowerment project was undaunted.

Brilliant Brown Boys Book Club, a nonprofit targeting boys ages 7 to 10 in Chicago with access to culturally relevant books with positive black characters in a fun environment, had initially planned to meet at Bessie Coleman Library in the Woodlawn community area. Each month, an accomplished "Brilliant Brown Man" would serve as a guest storyteller and engage the boys while reading one of the club's featured books.

The first storyteller was Donald Brumfield, cast member of the VH-1 television show "Black Ink Crew: Chicago."

Then COVID-19 hit and the organization was forced to make some tough decisions when they could no longer meet in person at the library amid the pandemic.

Unrelenting in their mission, they chose the best solution they had: They went online, using zoom to share virtual book reviews. While they can't meet in person, their book discussions continue online, where they'll use Zoom to hold monthly reviews facilitated by Donald Bailey and Andre Russell, who encourage the boys to discuss a book's plot, characters and setting and then open the floor to literary commentary, lively debate, and self-expression.

Now, as the world slowly reopens during the pandemic, the club is launching this fall with a fresh cohort of boys and a new initiative called "Fades, Fros, & Books." The program will set up mini reading stations in partnering barbershops, allowing the club to reach even more boys who will read during their visit to the barber.

According to organization founder Chez Smith, Brilliant Brown Boys Book Club was created to cultivate a passion for reading among the next generation of leaders of color in Chicago.

"It's so important for our boys to see themselves in the books that they read," Smith said. "Our goal is for them to simultaneously overcome the dread some boys feel about reading while helping them find their voices, share their opinions in a safe and encouraging space."

The club also introduced a new reading log for boys to keep track of the books they've read. The log, titled "Brilliant Brown Boys Book Club Reading Log: Read to Lead!" is now available in paperback format at Amazon.

Boys can sign up to participate in the Brilliant Brown Boys Book Club by contacting the group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Brilliantbrownboys.

Learn more about the Brilliant Brown Boys Book Club at www.brilliantbrownboysbookclub.com. Follow the club on Facebook (@Brilliantbrownboys), Instagram (@brilliantbrownboysbookclub), and Twitter (@BrilliantBrown6).

Contact
Chez Smith
brilliantbrownclub@gmail.com