The Living Room - Once Upon a Connection: Using Storytelling to Build Strong Readers

Burst into Books celebrates diversity through books, authors, and storytellers from all walks of life. Their mission is to inspire young readers to discover the magic of books, share their own stories, explore meaningful conversations, and—most importantly—have fun along the way! Come learn more about it, led by Founder Jurema Gorham

Three Metrics of Success for Burst Into Books:

1. Youth Served & Program Participation: Number of children/youth served (by age/grade), attendance rates, and repeat participation across programs (storytime, workshops, tutoring, events).
2. Literacy Growth Outcomes: Measurable improvement in reading skills (e.g., pre/post reading assessments, increased reading levels, improved comprehension, writing samples, and literacy confidence surveys).
3. Family & Community Engagement: Number of families engaged through literacy nights and community events, volunteer participation, community partnerships formed, and satisfaction/feedback ratings from parents/guardians.