Student launches Little Viking Reading Room

Kesha Williams
August 19, 2015

Jahkira Bennett, an intern with ECSU’s Community Development Program, found a great way to merge her passion to assist children with her assignment as an intern. Last year, Community Development Program coordinator Morris Autry decided to purchase iPads and Kindles that would benefit kids at the Boys and Girls Club. The goal was to promote literacy in the community. A grant from The Dollar General Literacy Foundation provided the $4,000 funding. Jahkira Bennett became an intern just in time to take that literacy project further. She decided to create a reading room for kids to access while visiting the Boys and Girls Club, now located in the 300 block of North Road Street. With support from Mr. Autry, professors in her Social Work degree program, her peers and family, Bennett conducted book drives from Fall 2014 through the Spring 2015 semester. Her efforts paid off. The book drives exceeded her goal of collecting 500 books. &quotThis was a great experience! It was a wonderful feeling to see the children excited about the development of the Little Viking Reading Room to give back to this community, and to be a blessing to the children,&quot Bennett said. &quotBy providing these students with these books, I believe that was the best way to promote reading, stimulate young minds, and hopefully create some future ECSU Vikings.&quot Bennett credits the partnership with the Boys and Girls Club for providing her with the opportunity to become a social worker!