Pages for Freedom

Two people standing outside a building with a box labeled "Student Justice Alliance." The building has large windows and a red door. A man wearing a blue sweater is seated on a bench nearby.

A collection of various books displayed on a wooden table, including multiple boxed sets and individually stacked titles, with some books standing and others lying flat. Visible titles include 'Educated,' 'The Catcher in the Rye,' and 'The New Jim Cr

A collection of books on a table, including fantasy series sets and individual books from various genres. Titles like "Educated," "The Catcher in the Rye," "The New Jim Crow," "Dune," and "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" are visible. The books are ar

Collection of books in a cardboard box, including "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger, "The Autobiography of Malcolm X," "Mother Teresa: No Greater Love," "Animal Farm" by George Orwell, "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl, among others

Books in a cardboard box surrounded by wrapped books, on a wooden floor. Some books are unwrapped and visible, while others are wrapping in holiday-themed paper.

Box filled with assorted books, including wrapped presents, featuring titles like 'Artemis Fowl', 'Mockingjay', 'Charlotte's Web', and 'The Outsiders'.

Person in a blue hoodie leaning over a table with a large collection of books displayed in an organized manner. The books include popular titles and box sets across various genres. Window blinds are visible on the right side.

Two people standing next to a big box of wrapped gifts in a garage or driveway.

Two people smiling in front of a garage with a box of books.

Our Pages for Freedom Initiatives

Through our Pages for Freedom initiative, we donate books to those without reliable access to literary materials through building and supporting community libraries or bookshelves in detention centers, correctional facilities, apartment complexes, local businesses, and nonprofit organizations across Maryland.

At the core of our Pages for Freedom initiative is the Chapter Corners Project, which creates safe, literature-centered “third spaces” in everyday community locations. Backed by research linking poverty to limited access to books and lower literacy rates, the Chapter Corners Project seeks to reverse these effects by meeting children where they are and giving them the tools to read, grow, and imagine. Each Chapter Corner offers diverse and inclusive literature to support empathy, civic engagement, and restorative practices— making these spaces not only educational but transformative.

Chapter Corners Project

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📚 Chapter Corners Project

Why it works:

Children living in book deserts— areas with limited access to literary resources— often lack opportunities to engage with books outside of school. Chapter Corners eliminate barriers like transportation and cost by placing books directly in the community.
Research shows that early and frequent exposure to books dramatically improves literacy rates, which in turn contributes to higher academic achievement and long-term economic mobility. When children are surrounded by books, they naturally begin to read, learn, and grow.
Each Chapter Corner features a curated selection of diverse, inclusive, and culturally relevant books that reflect the lived experiences of the communities we serve. These stories foster empathy, broaden perspectives, and spark imagination.

Chapter Corners are the heart of the Pages for Freedom initiative—a network of cozy, safe, and accessible “third spaces” where children can discover books, build literacy skills, and feel seen.

Unlike schools or libraries, Chapter Corners are intentionally placed in high-traffic, everyday community locations: laundromats, apartment complex common rooms, community centers, and other neighborhood hubs. These spaces are designed to meet kids where they already are—no bus ride, permission slip, or library card required.

Open a Chapter Corner

A Simple corner. A powerful Start.

With every Chapter Corner, we’re planting seeds of possibility—one story, one child, one neighborhood at a time. As the network grows, so does our impact.

“Reading shouldn’t be a privilege—it should be a presence.”

We provide books…

At the Student Justice Alliance, we believe access to books is an imperative. That’s why if you’re part of a school, shelter, mutual aid group, detention center, after-school program, or any grassroots initiative working to uplift your community through literacy, we want to support you.

We welcome requests for book donations from individuals or organizations committed to putting books into the hands of people who need them—especially children and teens in marginalized communities.