The spirit of community was alive and thriving at the Books & Treats Literacy Celebration, held on Halloween at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center.
Hosted by the Institute of Research for Social Justice in Action (IRSJA) in collaboration with One Hood WENS, the City of Birmingham’s Office of Community Safety Initiatives, and the Birmingham Parks and Recreation Department, the event brought together more than 400 residents for a day filled with fun, family, and reading — proving that when one hood wins, everybody wins.
While the event looked and felt like a joyful Halloween celebration, it carried a deeper mission: to promote literacy as a pathway to peace. The Books & Treats initiative is part of Birmingham’s broader violence reduction strategy, rooted in the belief that real safety begins with education, connection, and opportunity.
A Movement Rooted in Healing and Hope
The Books & Treats celebration builds on the success of the Rise Up Birmingham Initiative, a summer partnership between IRSJA and Miles College that engaged local youth, students, and community members in leadership development, healing, and workforce readiness.
That collaboration continues to grow — blending public safety, education, and social justice into a unified effort to make Birmingham safer and stronger. At the event, Miles College students joined community volunteers to lead interactive reading activities alongside the beloved Miles Golden Bears mascot. Author Aisha Hall brought her storybook character Larry the Lending Lion to life, teaching children about financial literacy in a fun, memorable way.
Local firefighters and police officers also joined the celebration, dancing, reading, and connecting with youth — helping build trust between community members and law enforcement through joy and shared experience. Families enjoyed food, music, games, giveaways, and creative literacy stations that transformed reading into a celebration of imagination and empowerment.
Addressing Literacy as a Safety Issue
According to local data, approximately 58% of adults in Central Alabama need improved reading and writing skills, and only 54% of Birmingham’s third-grade students are reading at grade level.
Research consistently shows that education is one of the strongest protective factors against violence and incarceration. By centering literacy in their community engagement strategy, IRSJA and its partners aren’t just distributing books — they’re building bridges to brighter, safer futures.
“I was blown away yesterday just by the community support and spirit,” said Dr. Jamila T. Davis, Executive Director of the Institute of Research for Social Justice in Action. “I was happy to show kids that while we celebrate and have a good time, we can make reading a fundamental part of it. When children learn to read, they also learn to dream — and that’s how we build safer communities from the inside out.”
Uche Bean, Director of Community Safety Initiatives, said:
“The City of Birmingham has charged our office to lead the work of reducing violence — and community initiatives like this are a key part of that. Books & Treats represents what real safety looks like: neighbors connecting, kids smiling, families engaging, and communities learning together. This is prevention in action.”
A Vision for What’s Next
The Books & Treats Literacy Celebration is more than a one-day event — it’s part of a growing ecosystem of programs designed to reduce violence through education, healing, and
empowerment.
IRSJA, the City of Birmingham, and their community partners plan to continue this work through more literacy-based family events and youth-led initiatives throughout the year.
Together, these efforts are rewriting Birmingham’s story — one book, one child, one community at a time.
