Our Blog

Frederick Douglass once said, “Once you learn to read, you will forever be free.” It is a quote that, in so few words, has a lot on its mind, and remains a forever thought-provoking statement. Not just within the backdrop of Black History Month or past and present civil rights movements, but in a far broader context: children, how they are exposed to literature, and what they take away. Starting in 2016, the Baltimore Ravens partnered with the Maryland Book Bank and set out w

Often, when we celebrate Black History Month, we reflect on the past. We acknowledge that any societal progress for the rights of Black people stands on the shoulders of giants who have paved the way. When I first began writing this blog, I researched some of those giants to learn about some Black figures from Maryland who may not be so well-known. There’s Frances Ellen Watkins Harper , born in Baltimore in 1825 and the first African-American woman to publish a short story. W

As of 2019, more than 67 million people in the United States speak a language other than English at home. Spanish accounts for 62% of that group, making it the most commonly spoken non-English language in the country. Maryland reflects this national trend. According to recent data from the Migration Policy Institute, a substantial share of Maryland’s children (those between the ages of 5-17) speak Spanish at home. While many of them feel confident speaking English, over 35,0