Penn GSE alum get books into the hands of young readers
Rina Madhani (center) shares books from her Start Lighthouse nonprofit with children in the Bronx. (Photo by Celeste Sloman)
Growing up the child of immigrant parents from India, alum Rina Madhani first learned Hindi and Gujrati at home. It was only in the public schools of Chicago, she said, that she mastered English — thanks in part to the school librarian.
“When I was in third grade, she helped shape my trajectory,” said Madhani, who lives in Manhattan, “helped me discover books and really become a proficient reader.”
Perhaps, then, it’s no surprise that the former AmeriCorps reading interventionist and classroom teacher cofounded Start Lighthouse. The New York City-based nonprofit, primarily serving the Bronx, provides multicultural books to children, revitalizes defunct public-school libraries, and brings diverse authors and illustrators into classrooms.
“In a world where knowledge is power,” Madhani said, “every child must have access to quality educational resources regardless of race or ZIP code.”
