Trenton Schools celebrate literacy through love and access
First-grader Trinity from Paul Robeson School in Trenton pauses at a table filled with colorful books. Her eyes scan the titles—then lower. “I really love these books,” she whispers, “but I don’t have any money to buy them.” When told they’re free, her eyes widen like pools of light. She beams. “I can have as many as I want?”
That moment of joy captures the heart of Trenton’s Literacy Day—a celebration of reading, community, and hope.
At schools across Trenton, educators, families, and community partners came together to make literacy come alive. At Paul Robeson Elementary, hundreds of free books were distributed through Book Smiles, a nonprofit founded by Larry Abrams in Pennsauken, NJ.
Meanwhile, Farah Parker, school counselor at Monument School, welcomed guests from across the city to read aloud to students as part of the district’s Kindness Through Literacy initiative. One volunteer, Dolores Bryant from the NJ Children’s Home Society, shared her joy: “Reading to these children fills me up. Their excitement reminds me why books matter—they open imagination and possibility.”
Back at Robeson, principal Michael Hodnicki emphasized the broader goal: “We want to get as many books as possible into the hands of our students and families. When parents see how powerful reading can be, it changes futures.” Literacy specialist Nicole Gresko is building on that vision, planning a bilingual “Book Nook” so children can grab stories to take home—thanks to the generosity of Book Smiles.
These events reflect the ACCESS Model’s mission to improve learning environments, support teacher leadership, and strengthen school–community relationships through collaboration. Through the partnership of the NJEA ACCESS Model and the Trenton Education Association, teachers and school leaders in Trenton are modeling how literacy can connect classrooms to the wider community, transforming reading into an act of empowerment.
Through shared reading, teachers are cultivating curiosity, confidence, and creativity—while also leading the way in trauma-informed, healing-centered education. The approach reminds families and educators alike that literacy is not just academic; it’s relational. It’s how communities grow strong.
Books like The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, read aloud at Monument School, helped students see themselves in stories of belonging and courage. One student reflected that they “could see themselves in Angelina’s story.” These moments affirm what ACCESS partner schools believe: books are mirrors, windows, and bridges. They help children—and adults—heal, connect, and dream together.
As one teacher observed, “Reading gives our students the language to name what they feel and imagine who they can become.”
Across Trenton, literacy is becoming more than a lesson—it’s a lifeline. With each book shared, circle formed, and story told, schools are nurturing belonging, imagination, and hope—proving that when a community reads together, it rises together.