Book deserts: Turning the page on the Bronx’s literacy problem

The Bronx is home to 1.4 million people – a population bigger than most American cities – but only houses two full-time bookstores. This makes it a book desert. But Bronxites are working to close the literacy gap in their borough. 

Saraciea Fennell, a book publicist raised in the Bronx, noticed authors rarely ever came to the Bronx for literacy events. She tells In Depth how she changed that by starting The Bronx is Reading Festival. Bronx native Gregory Hernandez shares his findings from his film “1.5 Million.” The documentary explores what led to the borough’s low literacy levels and how community members are working to boost literacy. Professor Susan Neuman, an early literacy expert at New York University, shares how better funding could bolster literacy rates.

Host/Producer: Jill Webb

Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe

Additional Production Assistance: Dempsey Pillot

Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood