Kappa Alpha Psi and Room to Read: Building a nation of readers

Room to Read’s mission to nurture foundational learning skills in children has found a powerful ally in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc ®, a historically Black fraternity with more than 260,000 members and 721 chapters worldwide.

At the heart of this partnership is Kappa Alpha Psi’s Hands-on-Books program, through which fraternity members regularly visit schools across the country to distribute books and lead engaging read-aloud sessions.

This program introduces Black male role models into classrooms and shares a rich collection of engaging storybooks, including many original Room to Read titles. Most books feature Black authors as well as Black characters from around the world. Together, we are offering the kind of representation that is essential for helping children see their worth and imagine new possibilities. 

Kappa Alpha Psi helps fuel a growing impact across the U.S. 

In the past year, Kappa brothers have continued to demonstrate their commitment to literacy through a series of read-aloud events. Organized in collaboration with local Kappa chapters, these sessions have benefited more than 5,000 children so far in historically under-resourced cities across the U.S., with our first international read-aloud planned in the Dominican Republic in December 2025.

These read-alouds provide more than just a story time experience: they build community connections, encourage dialogue and help young students see themselves reflected in the mentors who stand before them. 

Kappa Alpha Psi's National Day of Reading: A milestone for literacy and representation 

One of the most significant achievements of this partnership came on January 24, 2025, when Kappa Alpha Psi hosted its inaugural National Day of Reading in collaboration with Room to Read. During this ambitious day of service:

• More than 1,000 fraternity members participated
• Kappa brothers read to more than 23,000 children
• 1,285 classrooms were reached
• More than 2,400 books were distributed 

The National Day of Reading events reflect the fraternity’s deep alignment with Room to Read’s mission. They also demonstrate the power of collective action: What began as a goal to engage 50 chapters grew into a nationwide movement involving 181 chapters.

Educators and students alike responded enthusiastically. One principal shared:

“This meaningful event highlighted the importance of literacy and the joy of reading while fostering a love for books among our young learners. We are grateful to Kappa Alpha Psi for their dedication to education and for making this day so memorable for our scholars.”

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Room to Read’s broader U.S. work: A shared vision 

Sixty-five percent of U.S. fourth graders are not reading at grade level, according to the U.S. National Center for Education Statistics , and 61 percent of low-income families have no books in their home for children. And the Cooperative Children’s Book Center reports that 83 percent of existing children’s books are about White characters, animals and things.

Kappa Alpha Psi’s partnership strengthens Room to Read’s efforts to address these critical challenges and equip children with the literacy education they need to succeed.

Room to Read’s U.S. work includes: 

1. Increasing children’s access to a variety of books 
   Room to Read has distributed over 43 million books globally, including 640,000 in the U.S., offering inclusive, engaging titles in five languages that reflect diverse experiences. Our growing collection of 83 U.S. titles features empowering stories that help children see themselves and the world in new ways, covering themes such as peace and equality, housing insecurity, Afghan immigrant and refugee experiences, STEAM-related careers, Haitian-Kreyól narratives, and the child welfare system. Next up will be a collection that will increase Indigenous representation in children’s literature through stories that authentically depict Indigenous children and adolescents.
   
   
2. Igniting a love of reading beyond the classroom
   Room to Read now offers an after-school read-aloud initiative called Spark, designed to assist adults in nurturing a passion for reading and cultivating literacy skills in children. And our summer program, called SPLASH (Structured Phonics and Literacy Activities for Summer Hours), provides six weeks of engaging lessons to prevent summer learning loss. SPLASH has boosted participants’ reading skills dramatically, with 80 percent of participating children improving in alphabet tasks and 50 percent in decoding, in just six weeks.
   
   
3. Building essential life skills with real-world role models
   Room to Read’s She Creates Change initiative provides highly engaging multimedia materials designed to support adolescents, especially girls, as they build essential life skills like decision-making, resilience and leadership. This powerful series shares the true stories of six courageous girls from around the world who have overcome challenges and created positive change in their communities, offering relatable role models and inspiration for young people everywhere, including in the U.S. 
   
   

our impact in the U.S.

Working together with Kappa Alpha Psi to build a strong foundation for learning 

The partnership between Kappa Alpha Psi and Room to Read shows what's possible when communities come together for literacy. By bringing books and positive role models into classrooms, together we are helping children discover the joy of reading, encouraging them to see that their voices and dreams matter. 

We invite you to join us in building a future where every child has the opportunity to read, learn and succeed. Click here to support this vital work.