Orlando Chapter launches BBOB Reading Nook
 
September 27, 2008 - the Orlando Chapter joined our national initiative to encourage reading among boys living in urban communities.
  
 

The Orlando Chapter of Mocha Moms, Inc., a national support organization for stay-at-home mothers of color, and The National Institute for Literacy, a federal agency, have launched an innovative partnership to boost children’s literacy skills, and they are turning to local barbershops to kick off their new effort.  The project is called Boys Booked on Barbershops (B-BOB). 
 
On September 27, 2008 at 2pm., the Orlando chapter of Mocha Moms unveiled a reading nook at Tony's Downtown Barbershop, 420 S. Tampa Ave, Orlando, FL., complete with more than 100 books donated by Scholastic Books for boys & girls and free publications for parents that support the development of reading and other literacy skills at home. The new book nook is part of Boys Booked on Barbershops (B-BOB), a growing national initiative launched in 2004 that takes advantage of naturally occurring opportunities in the community to foster a love of reading. B-BOB reading nooks have debuted in more than 100 barbershops across the country.  Because of generous donations by  members of our chapter, we were able to do two additional book nooks at Paradise Hair & Braids, 808 Ivy Lane in Orlando & Lee Lee Cutz and Design, 756 Elkcam Blvd. in Deltona, FL.

Here is a quote from the chapter's Community Service Chairperson, Baiyina Khalil, a few weeks after the launch, "I have received calls from Tony and Joe raving about the book nooks. Their clients are reading when they come in, checking books out and returning them for another, referring others to their barbershops because they provide opportunities for everyone to read more. We were responsible for increasing literacy on our community. Our one event/initiative will have a continuous positive affect within our community for years to come.  Great job, Mochas!"  

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