About the Project
For more than 50 years, Walden has been dedicated to offering the resources, tools, and educational opportunities people need to make a difference—not only in their own lives, but in their communities as well.
But in order to make this a reality for all, change is necessary:
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65% of fourth graders and 66% of eighth graders are not reading proficiently.1
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More than 43 million adults in the U.S. possess low literacy skills.2
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Children of parents with low literacy skills have a 72% chance of being at the lowest reading levels themselves.3
As part of our Mobilize for Good initiative, Walden Community Libraries are designed to promote literacy and educational access and take education to where it’s needed most by offering a free book exchange to communities in need.
The Walden Community Libraries in Action
Each library includes a wide range of books, with a particular focus on those that highlight diverse voices and promote discussions and understanding of empathy, equity, inclusion, and social justice. That’s why we created Walden Community Libraries—it’s our way to bring books to communities where early childhood literacy resources are lacking.
Donate a Book to a Community in Need
Principal Kelly Carideo reads to Beechfield Elementary students from a Walden Community Library book.
Beechfield Elementary Middle School
301 S. Beechfield Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21229
Our first Walden Community Library is a resource for the more than 500 preK through eighth grade students and their families at this western Baltimore public school. “Money and socioeconomics should not be the reason students can’t have access to what they need and deserve,” says Kelly Carideo, principal of Beechfield Elementary/Middle School.
Send a book to the Walden Community Library at Beechfield Elementary/Middle School.
See their Amazon wish list.
The dedicated staff at the Grady Burn Treatment and Care Center Unit.
Grady Burn Treatment and Care Center Unit
Grady Memorial Hospital
80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE
Atlanta, GA 30303
The Grady Burn Treatment and Care Center Unit is Atlanta’s only comprehensive burn center, caring for 3,500 adult and pediatric burn patients each year. The Walden Community Library is located in the family room.
Send a book to the Walden Community Library at Grady Burn Treatment and Care Center Unit
See their Amazon wish list.
A young reader at the Oxford Home for Children.
Oxford Home for Children
600 College Street
Oxford, NC 27565
The Oxford Home for Children, a state-licensed and nationally accredited home offers residential care services to children and families as well as independent living programs to young adults who are separated from their families due to issues such as homelessness, substance abuse, and incarceration. The Walden Community Library is located in the home’s recreation center.
Send a book to the Walden Community Library at the Oxford Home for Children.
See their Amazon wish list.
Rose Valley Elementary School
9800 Jacqueline Drive
Fort Washington, MD 20744
Walden EdS graduate and school principal, Dr. Sharon Porter, is focused on improving student outcomes for her P-5 students. The latest Walden Community Library will provide access to books on diversity, equity and inclusion and serve the students and Prince George’s community.
Send a book to the Walden Community Library at the Rose Valley Elementary School.
See their Amazon wish list.
Related Initiatives: Talks for Good
In an effort to raise awareness of the urgent challenges educators are facing during the ongoing pandemic, our recent Talks for Good series includes four virtual talks focused on educational equity and access viewed through the lens of the COVID-19 crisis
Listen to our guest panel discuss educational inequity in school districts across the country, as well as how the pandemic has further exposed challenges facing minority and at-risk students.
Join a panel of experts as they discuss the challenges and benefits of advancing a diverse K–12 learning curriculum and teacher workforce.
Our expert panel discusses how parents, educators, and communities can better support students feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing, and emergency remote education.
Whatever your question is, we’ve got you covered.
Walden’s Enrollment Specialists are trained to help you research, plan, and get started on your academic journey. We can:
- Find the right program option for you.
- Explore scholarships and financial aid.
- Identify prior credits that may transfer.
- Explain the application process
- And more!
1 Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Retrieved August 2021.
2 Source: Adult Literacy in the United States, National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved August 2021.
3 Source: Adult Education Facts That Demand Priority Attention, National Council for Adult Learning. Retrieved August 2021.