According to Youth Adviser Veronica Irish, the initiative was driven by the students themselves after recognizing a growing need for literacy support throughout the community.

“The kids came up with the idea to place Little Free Libraries throughout Kankakee County because they felt literacy was lacking in both the community and the schools,” Irish explained. “They wanted to provide books for children who may not have books at home while creating opportunities for families to enjoy reading together.”

The Youth Council developed a comprehensive proposal and presented their vision before both the Kankakee School Board and the City Council. Their plan extends beyond simply distributing books. Members are also organizing family literacy nights designed to bring parents and children together through reading, educational activities, and community engagement.

“As a teacher and educator in the school district, I thought creating Little Free Libraries would be a great way to place more free books into homes and schools for people who may not be able to afford books for their children,” said Irish. “The libraries allow children to walk outside their school, grab a book, keep it as long as they’d like, return it, and pick up another one. This will help improve their reading skills and literacy.”

The Youth Council hopes residents will help sustain the initiative by donating books whenever possible and keeping the shelves stocked for future readers.

The literacy campaign is just one of many projects led by the Kankakee County NAACP Youth Council, whose mission is to prepare young people to become leaders and advocates for positive change.

The organization serves as the primary gateway for youth to engage in civil rights activism and leadership development. Its work is grounded in four pillars:

• Leadership Development – Preparing young leaders to serve, organize, and lead with purpose.
• Direct Action & Advocacy – Mobilizing youth voices to drive policy change and social justice.
• Community Education – Informing and empowering communities through awareness and dialogue.
• Historical Legacy of Activism – Honoring the past while shaping the future of the movement.

Looking ahead, the organization plans to continue expanding its literacy programming, hosting additional literacy nights, and launching more educational activities throughout the summer and beyond.

The Council is also finding new ways to amplify youth voices through media. Recently, the Kankakee County NAACP Youth Council launched its first live podcast, broadcast on the organization’s Facebook page. The inaugural episode focused on Mental Health and Bullying, opening meaningful dialogue among youth and community members.

The podcast, which airs twice each month on Sundays, provides a platform for engaging conversations, youth perspectives, community empowerment, and discussions on issues affecting young people.

Supporting the Youth Council alongside Veronica Irish are Co-Youth Advisers, Frances Noble and Nikeda Webb, who continue mentoring students committed to making a lasting impact throughout Kankakee County.

As more Little Free Libraries appear throughout the county, organizers hope every installation becomes more than just a place to exchange books, they hope each one becomes a symbol of opportunity, education, and community investment.

Residents are encouraged to stop by a Little Free Library, pick up a book, donate one if they can, and help ensure every child has access to the joy and lifelong benefits of reading. Together, the Kankakee County NAACP Youth Council believes the community can build a brighter future, one book and one Little Free Library at a time.