A mission powered by a simple idea.
Change Jackson and children’s lives — one page at a time.
Let’s Turn the Page—Together
Join the advisory board and founders of Books for Jackson’s Children in making a real and lasting difference where it is needed most.
As citizens who have long focused on public education and civil rights in Mississippi, we’ve come to understand a hard truth: waiting on government programs doesn’t move the needle fast enough. When we learned of Dolly Parton’s brilliant initiative, “Imagination Library,” we knew it was exactly what Jackson needed: a simple, affordable solution that anyone could participate in.
We urge you to consider the profound difference a contribution to Books for Jackson’s Children can make—not just for an individual child, but for the entire community. Let’s invest in the future of both Jackson and Mississippi, one book and one child at a time.
ADVISORY BOARD
Benita Burt
Jackson Urban League, Former President & CEO
Jackson Chamber of Commerce, President
Jackson Public School District, Board Member
Brooke Collins Floyd
People’s Advocacy Institute, Jackson, Programs Director
Stewpot Community Services, Former Director of Children’s Services
Jackson Public School District, Former Teacher
Jeanne Middleton Hairston
Millsaps College Department of Education, Former Chair
Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools, Former National Director
Jackson Public School District, Board Member and Former President
Stephanie Parkinson
Nationwide Early Tutoring, Executive Director,
Tutoring Talent
Formerly worked with
Teach For America,
Mississippi
Judy Wiener
Parents for Public Schools,
Co-Founder
Jackson Library Friends, Board Member
Community Foundation for Mississippi, Board Member
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Early reading between the ages of one and five is not just a personal milestone—it is a community investment with lifelong impact, particularly in underserved and minority communities.
J. Brad Pigott
President, Books for Jackson’s Children
Margaret Scheppke Pigott
Vice-President
Keyana Hawthorne
Secretary, Books for Jackson’s Children
WHY EARLY LITERACY MATTERS
The years between ages one and five are absolutely critical for childhood brain development. These early years lay the foundation for vocabulary growth, comprehension, critical thinking, and social-emotional skills.
Yet, children in low-income families are at a severe disadvantage: by age three, they’ve heard 30 million fewer words than their more affluent peers. This “word gap” leads to an achievement gap—before they’ve even started kindergarten.
The Ripple Effect: What’s Good for One Child is Good for the Whole Community
- Children who are read to regularly are 74% more likely to perform well by third grade.
- Third-grade reading proficiency doubles the chances of ranking in the top 25% on national assessments.
- A child reading on grade level by third grade is 4x more likely to graduate high school.
Graduation is more than a milestone. It reduces the risk of incarceration, unemployment, and early parenthood—factors that often trap families in generational cycles of poverty. - Investing in early childhood literacy is not an act of charity but a strategy for building safer, stronger, and more equitable communities.
- Early childhood literacy programs equip the next generation with vital social, cognitive, and emotional skills while establishing a foundation for success later in life, such as better employment opportunities and healthier, more stable families. This leads to a future of stronger economic development for their overall neighborhoods.
- Other positives for children and families participating in early literacy include lower crime rates and fewer teenage pregnancies.
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Challenges We Must Face—And Overcome
Many areas in Mississippi, especially West Jackson, face major barriers:
- Scarcity of quality pre-K programs
- Underpaid and under-trained early educators
- Prohibitively high childcare costs
These obstacles affect more than just kids—they also limit parents’ ability to work, stifle economic mobility, and weaken our future workforce.
We must remember: education isn’t just about academics. It’s also about developing emotional intelligence, social awareness, and resilience—all of which begin in early childhood.
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You Can Help. Here’s How.
We are actively seeking donors, sponsors, volunteers, and community champions to help us expand our reach and impact. Your support allows us to:
- Fund book deliveries to families at no cost
- Close the word gap before it begins
- Invest in our community’s long-term well-being
Whether it’s a one-time gift or an ongoing partnership, your involvement makes a lasting difference.