According to the US Department of Education, more than 85 percent of black fourth-grade boys aren't proficient in reading. What kind of reading experiences should we be creating to ensure that all children read well? In a talk that will make you rethink how we teach, educator and author Alvin Irby explains the reading challenges that many black children face -- and tells us what culturally competent educators do to help all children identify as readers.

Alvin Irby: How to inspire every child to be a lifelong reader

How to inspire every child to be a lifelong reader

Educator, comedian, social entrepreneur, author

Barbershop Books, an innovative program, transforms barber shops into reading spaces, making literacy relevant for black boys.

Empowering kids to say 'I'm a reader' reshapes their identity and approach to learning, breaking the cycle of educational disparity.

Barbershop books transform common community spaces into learning hubs, fostering reading among black boys and shaping positive identities.