How they are participating

The Friends of the Dallas Public Library and D Magazine were awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for the production of a Big Read program for Dallas. With volunteer efforts from D Academy, a civic-minded leadership group underwritten by D Magazine Partners, this public-private citywide campaign will be conducted to encourage the people of Dallas to read a book together. For a city of sprawl, challenged in its public school system, we believe this program—one city, one book—will be a powerful experience.
The title we selected from a list of 31 stipulated by the NEA was Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. He describes an unthinkable future—a world without books. We will be supplying free copies of the book to all 21,600 ninth and tenth graders in DISD and creating programming in arts, dance, theater, and robotics to augment the reading experience. We're also measuring the impact of various methods of teaching (through curriculum versus an after-school program) in two feeder programs.
We ask you to join us and make a cash contribution now. Just $5 will buy one DISD student a book. That’s all it takes.
So how will we measure our success? We will deem our efforts worthwhile if we convert one student into a reader, believing that literacy is not something to preach, but the result of a powerful reading experience. We keep that student in our hearts at all times, while we raise funds, secure partnerships, and create awareness about the program. If, as an adjunct, we spur conversations about books, and create more community in Dallas, all the better.
Read with us!