Weekly Media Roundup: August 5, 2015

Mailman’s Appeal to Get a Boy Books Goes Viral: Do We Need Better Access to Reading Programs? (Christian Science Monitor)

Low-income students like 12-year-old Matthew Flores often have trouble accessing books during the summer, but thanks to one man, Matthew now has enough books to last him the entire year. When Matthew told his mailman Ron Lynch that he couldn’t afford to take a bus to the library and instead resorted to fishing through a junk mail bin to find something to read, Lynch posted an appeal on Facebook to get Matthew some more appropriate reading material. In just a few days, Matthew received more than 500 books, according to the Christian Science Monitor. “If it weren’t for him I probably wouldn’t have any books right now,” Matthew said. “I’m just super happy.” He plans to read every book and donate them once he’s finished so other kids like him can keep up their reading over the summer.

Charlotte Photographer Stumps for Students’ “Inked” Exhibition (Charlotte Observer, North Carolina)

A five-year-old youth-led afterschool photography project might finally get its day in the sun thanks to the dedication of its instructor. In 2010, Mark Pendergrass taught a portrait photography class to Charlotte high school students at the YMCA, culminating in a project called “Inked: The Story Behind the Art,” featuring portraits and stories of Charlotte residents with tattoos. The project was never exhibited due to unfortunate changes in the afterschool program’s funding, but Pendergrass is now raising money to display the photos in galleries, tattoo shops and venues around the city. “This is a great opportunity for youth art to receive recognition and inspire others enduring hardships to focus on their passions,” Kevin Mitchell, a project participant turned professional photographer, told the Charlotte Observer.

Lowell Students Get the Scoop on Summer Reading (Lowell Sun, Massachusetts)

The Summer Learning Collaborative by United Way is incorporating fun literacy initiatives into Lowell summer programs to try and tackle summer learning loss – and the summer heat. Students throughout the city will get an ice cream party at the end of the summer to celebrate all the reading progress they’ve made, and one school is awarding kids one water balloon for every four books they read to hurl at a staff member of their choice. “The curriculum incorporates everything right into physical education, arts and crafts,” Community Teamwork, Inc. School Age Site coordinator Lina Iacopucci told the Lowell Sun. “They’re learning as they’re going, they’re not even realizing that it’s happening.”

412 Build’s Business Is Training Teen Entrepreneurs (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pennsylvania)

A five-week summer program is giving teenagers the chance to pitch their entrepreneurial ideas to executives at Google and other influential companies. 412 Build gives teens instruction in prototyping, market research, financial planning, urban design, welding, woodworking and 3D printing, all leading up to a culminating group project meant to improve the community. The goal is to reach students who might not have the resources or connections to have their ideas see the light of day. “We have students who don’t get these kinds of opportunities,” summer instructor Steve Fortunato told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “They get so many resources and so much networking. It’s awesome how excited they are to be here every day.”