Nonprofit striving for diversity during Black History Month

A Black History Month initiative spearheaded by a nonprofit organization out of New York will also be touching down right here in the Pittsburgh area. Hindi’s Libraries, a nonprofit based out of Long Island, collects new and gently used books for other nonprofit groups that support children in need or in low-income communities. The nonprofit has shipped to all 50 states and overseas, ensuring children everywhere are able to pick up a book. “We formed in memory of Dr. Hindi Krinsky, who was a colleague of mine, who passed away very suddenly in August of 2018 after complications of her Crohn’s disease,” said Leslie Gang, co-founder of Hindi’s Libraries. Gang said for the month of February, the organization is shipping out roughly 7,000 children’s books that include diverse characters. “We received thousands of books from Disney publishing world wide featuring characters of colors and with the support of DHL eCommerce Solutions, they'll be shipping out those books on our behalf to families across the country,” Gang told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. “With these initiatives, we're able to reach out and communicate directly with families, parents and teachers who are looking for one book or two books featuring characters of color.” Today’s top headlines from WTAESouthbound I-79 down to one lane at work zone near the I-279 interchangeVictim in Point Breeze-area crash dies after more than a week in ICUEast Palestine resident concerned about well water odor following train derailmentSouth Allegheny Middle School Reading Interventionist, Jennifer Wachs has been receiving books from Hindi’s Libraries for the past five years. “Like clockwork, they send them to us, they come in the mail. It's like Christmas morning when we get them,” said Wachs.Wachs said the mood will be the exact same as February’s shipment comes in.“Several years ago, I had an opportunity to meet an author, who happened to be Filipina-American. She was living in the deep south and would go to her library, she fell in love with her library, and it became very apparent to her that the characters were not like her,” Wachs told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. “That became my love affair with characters that had different diversities, cultures, and backgrounds, so that became a passion of mine: bringing books to students with characters who are like them. As a reader, we need to make connections so students, readers (and) learners see people who are just like them.”Pittsburgh’s Action News 4’s Tori Yorgey sat down with five students ranging from grades eight through 10 to discuss diversity amongst books.“Whenever you include characters that are not only like you but represent you, dress like you, act like you, it gives kids a way to enhance themselves and be more OK with not being the standard, or just like everyone else,” said Ronnie Acire, a freshman at South Allegheny High School.“I think it definitely raises the voices of minorities that aren't heard and how kids and people can see 'Oh that kid looks like me, or that kid's like me,’” said Elliot Bellamy, an eighth grade student at South Allegheny Middle School. Their young minds also dove in to how impactful, they think it would be, for young children to see diverse characters in pages. “I think books introduced at youth would really avoid a lot of ignorance. I feel like ignorance is what pulls a lot of people apart, but ignorance can be fixed. It's a problem that can be solved,” said Trinity Jackson, a sophomore at South Allegheny High School. “You'll read a book and she describes this maybe black or Latina character that dresses a certain way or does certain things, and as a little kid, you'll see someone like that in real life and you'll be like 'that's normal' there's not as many questions and ignorance.” “Books serve as a memory to families; you want to know it's going to a new home that will make the old memory. We love that we can form that partnership to get those books to those people in need,” said Gang. Gang said each week the nonprofit ships out roughly 30 to 40 boxes, with each box costing between $25 to $30. If you’d like to request books, learn more or support Hindi’s Libraries, you can do so by clicking here.