Literacy Access Initiative

School News Nationwide & Tour for Tolerance

Expanding Literacy Access for Underserved Communities

Bringing books, educational resources, and real-world learning opportunities to students living in book deserts through school partnerships, community programs, and educational outreach.

Partner With Us | Support Literacy

Addressing the Literacy Gap

Many of the communities we serve are considered book deserts, where students and families have limited access to age-appropriate and culturally relevant reading materials outside of school. Economic barriers, limited school library resources, and a lack of nearby community libraries often prevent students from developing strong reading habits.

Without consistent access to books, students face challenges in reading proficiency, academic confidence, and long-term educational success.

School News Nationwide and Tour for Tolerance are committed to closing this gap by bringing books and literacy resources directly to the students and communities that need them most.

Our Literacy Delivery Model

Bringing Books Directly to Students

Our Literacy Access Initiative provides curated collections of educational books through:

Partner with public schools
Community centers and youth programs
Educational outreach events
Classroom and small-group learning environments

Each literacy collection focuses on:

History and social studies
Black history and cultural heritage
Holocaust and human rights education
Leadership and character development
Civic engagement and media literacy
Career awareness and personal growth

Students engage with these materials during educational programs and continue accessing them through partner schools and community locations.

Sustainable Literacy Impact

We are committed to the long-term and responsible use of educational resources.

Books and materials are:

Shared and reused across multiple schools and programs
Maintained for ongoing classroom and community use
Rotated to reach new student populations
Integrated into structured learning activities

This sustainable approach ensures that each book continues to serve students year after year.

Community Partnerships

We collaborate with:

Public schools and school districts
Community and youth organizations
Faith-based institutions
Educational and cultural partners

Together, we expand access to literacy and create environments where curiosity, learning, and academic success can thrive.

Our programs serve thousands of students annually in underserved communities throughout New York City and surrounding areas.

Post-COVID Recovery and Future Expansion

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tour for Tolerance’s mobile operations were suspended as schools and community access were restricted. During this period, we strengthened our educational content, expanded partnerships, and delivered programs directly through schools and community settings.

Today, we’re continuing to grow our literacy outreach through these partnerships and working to restore and expand our mobile learning capabilities.