Cultured Books and Keep St. Pete Lit are two outstanding local organizations. The literary institutions have partnered to create beautiful WORD Book Boxes for south St. Pete neighborhoods.
What is a WORD Book Box?
ADVERTISEMENT
These artfully designed and hand painted boxes have been distributed across four locations in the Sunshine City, and each is brimming with culturally inclusive books for kids.
Prolific artist/muralist Zulu Painter helped beautify each of the four boxes ahead of their grand reveal.
ADVERTISEMENT
READ: Keep St. Pete Lit launches creative writing classes with Academy Prep
Where can you find a WORD Book Box?
- Thomas ‘Jet’ Jackson Recreation Center, 1000 28th Street South
- Community Health Centers of Pinellas at Johnnie Ruth Clarke, 1344 22nd Street South
- Jordan Park Apartments, 1245 Jordan Park Street South
- Child’s Park Recreation, 4301 13th Avenue South
The goal is to improve literacy rates, instill pride of self, and promote a scholarly culture within the children living in south St. Petersburg neighborhoods.
Local book lover’s like Blue Birds Book Bus provided ample donations for the initiative.
This program represents a partnership between the WORD! Initiative, a collective of Black Women dedicated to organizing real discussions and transformative experiences through Arts & Culture and Keep St Pete Lit! which celebrates and promotes greater St. Petersburg’s literary community – past, present and future – through arts, education and events with a literary twist.
https://www.facebook.com/WORDBookBox/photos/a.562636624600421/571154570415293/?type=3&theater
READ: Keep St. Pete Lit to launch HQ in Warehouse Arts District
To keep money in the local community all new books are purchased through Cultured Books, a pop-up children’s bookstore, with a mission to foster self love and broaden world views. It is a woman owned, African-American St. Pete bookstore.
AARP-Tampa Bay and J Crayton Pruitt Foundation have sponsored the initiative.
ADVERTISEMENT
