In 2023, Puerto Rico's literacy rate ranked at 15%. After Hurricane Maria, over 200 schools were closed down. I feel like there isn't enough attention to this issue, and nobody with a big enough voice to do anything is talking about it. Growing up in Brooklyn, which has a higher literacy rate than Puerto Rico, I only learned to read after my second year in third grade. I can't imagine how dire the situation is in Puerto Rico, where all of my family lives.

So I started the Free Voice Library Project to get Little Free Libraries everywhere I can. So far, my brothers and I have built two in Dorado, Puerto Rico, and we're working on a third!

We receive donated books, build the little libraries, and place the books inside! I also publish coloring books. This helps us give kids access to books so they can learn to read, and helps us make a difference on the island.