COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

LITERACY FOR INCARCERATED TEENS
Brooklyn, NY · EIN 800281475 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · NTEE I43 · Crime & Legal-Related · Micro (<$100K) · literacyforincarceratedteens.org
revenue
$26K
expenses
$50K
net assets
$16K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

To work with teachers librarians volunteers and other staff who serve New Yorks incarcerated and detained youth as well as host agencies to improve students ability and desire to read. Working in collaboration we aim to motivate all students to adopt a literate lifestyle. We accomplish these objectives through the establishment of excellent school libraries implementing high quality library programming hosting special library events and offering professional development opportunities.

profile · synthesized from sources

Literacy for Incarcerated Teens (LIT) works to end illiteracy among New York's incarcerated and detained youth by establishing school libraries and promoting reading. The organization partners with juvenile detention facilities and educational programs to provide books, library resources, and literacy programming. LIT focuses on improving reading skills and fostering a love of reading among justice-involved youth across New York State.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Artists and Authors Series
Brings established and emerging authors and artists into juvenile facilities to interact with youth, discuss their work, and inspire reading and self-expression
Book Donation Initiative
Provides new books to state-run facilities such as Brookwood Secure and Finger Lakes Facility, with 600 books donated to Brookwood alone
School Library Development
Establishes and maintains school libraries in Passages Academy locations and juvenile detention centers by providing books, shelves, audio-visual equipment, and automated catalog systems
activities · 3 groups

What they do

  • Prison and Jail Literacy Support 3 activities
    • Establish and equip school libraries in juvenile justice facilities
      Establishes school libraries in juvenile detention centers, non-secure facilities, and residential schools serving court-involved youth by providing physical infrastructure such as shelves, desks, and furniture, and equipping them with curriculum-approved books and library media. This includes creating libraries at all eight Passages Academy locations in collaboration with the NYC Department of Education.
    • Provide literacy resources and programming for incarcerated youth
      Provides ongoing literacy programming tailored to the reading levels of incarcerated youth, including curated book collections, author visits with peer-led discussions, and distribution of personalized books. Supports library collections to acquire books at three times the rate of state and city funding allocations.
    • Support professional development and information sharing for library staff
      Provides professional development opportunities for staff serving incarcerated youth and supports cross-facility collaboration through initiatives like an e-newsletter for library professionals.
  • Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
    • Host special library and enrichment events
      Organizes special events such as author visits, artist engagements, and guest-led activities including former Harlem Globetrotter Jeffery Dollison discussing his book and teaching basketball skills, as well as student trips to performances at the New Victory Theater.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Advocate for youth literacy through data and awareness
      Raises awareness about the connection between youth incarceration and low literacy by citing data such as 96% of youth in DJJ custody and over 60% in OCFS custody reading below grade level.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$26K
Contributions & grants$26K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$52
expenses
Total expenses$50K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$49K
balance sheet
Total assets$16K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$16K
4 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue +22.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 4
  • Angela Carstensen — Boardmember
  • Dana Lehrman — Boardmember
  • Elizabeth Dreier — Boardmentber
  • Laura Nurse — Boardmember
relationships · 34

Who they work with

  • American Library Association Network — Multiple board members are active in the American Library Association, indicating organizational alignment and participation in professional library networks.
  • Assurant Foundation Funder — Provided financial support for literacy programs for court-involved teens.
  • City and State agency stakeholders Partner — Collaborates with agencies invested in juvenile justice and education to support literacy programs.
  • Cowles Charitable Trust Funder — Provided financial support for literacy programs for court-involved teens.
  • David & Minnie Berk Foundation Funder — Provided financial support for literacy programs for court-involved teens.
  • Glickenhaus Foundation Funder — Provided financial support for literacy programs for court-involved teens.
  • Grace Church School Partner — Board member Melissa T. Smith is Head Librarian at Grace Church School, suggesting institutional connection or resource sharing in educational programming.
  • Helping Hearts Foundation Funder — Provided financial support for literacy programs for court-involved teens.
  • Herman Goldman Foundation Funder — Provided financial support for literacy programs for court-involved teens.
  • LIT Partner — Provided funding or in-kind support enabling the distribution of magnetic poetry tile sets to NSP and NSD houses.
  • Laura B. Vogler Foundation Funder — Provided financial support for literacy programs for court-involved teens.
  • Mary Duke Biddle Foundation Funder — Provided financial support for literacy programs for court-involved teens.
  • NYC Administration for Children's Services Government — Recognized LIT’s contributions to juvenile justice facilities under its oversight.
  • New Victory Theater Partner — Partnered to provide incarcerated teens access to theatrical performances.
  • New York City Department of Education Government — Board member Mary Lou Deligio volunteers with the NYC Department of Education, particularly within District 79 which serves alternative and secure detention schools.
  • New York City Department of Education Partner — Collaborates with LIT to support school libraries in Passages Academy and juvenile detention centers.
  • New York City Department of Juvenile Justice Government — Source of data on youth literacy levels and population served; indicates alignment with LIT's target population.
  • New York Public Library Partner — Board members have professional ties and prior employment at the New York Public Library, indicating collaboration or shared expertise in library services for youth.
  • Nonprofit Aid Visualizer Partner — Literacy For Incarcerated Teens was featured in the Nonprofit Aid Visualizer's NAVi for Hunger & Homelessness initiative.
  • Office of Children and Family Services Government — Reports literacy assessments of youth in custody, indicating overlap with LIT's service population.
  • Office of Children and Family Services Partner — Partnership to support literacy programming and school library collections at Brookwood residential facility and other OCFS-operated residential settings in upstate New York.
  • Office of Children and Family Services (NYS) Government — LIT delivers book donations and services to juvenile facilities operated by OCFS.
  • Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) Government — State agency whose residential facilities are supported by LIT's library and literacy programs.
  • Passages Academy Partner — LIT has established libraries and provided programming across all eight Passages Academy locations.
  • Passages Academy – Crossroads Partner — Partnered to deliver author visits and book distribution programs to incarcerated students.
  • Passages Academy-Horizon Partner — Site for literacy and youth engagement programs with incarcerated teens.
  • Passages Academy-Horizon Partner — Site for program activities and student engagement
  • Prisoners’ Reading Encouragement Project Partner — Provided nonprofit sponsorship for LIT from 2003 until 2009.
  • The Bookworm Box Partner — Donated $30,000 to support literacy programs for incarcerated teens.
  • Tiger Baron Foundation Funder — Provided financial support for literacy programs for court-involved teens.
+ 4 more
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Based Volunteer Model for Relational Trust
    methodology: community-based_volunteer_model
    By using a community-based volunteer model, we strengthen program impact because local volunteers bring authentic relationships and sustained commitment that enhance trust and engagement among incarcerated teens.
  • Differentiated Programming for Inclusive Engagement
    methodology: differentiated-literacy-programming
    By tailoring literacy content to individual reading levels, we improve literacy outcomes because relevance and accessibility reduce frustration and increase confidence, leading to sustained participation.
  • Engagement Through Inspiration and Role Models
    methodology: inspiration-based literacy engagement
    By connecting incarcerated teens with authors, artists, and public figures, we foster engagement with reading and literacy because direct interaction with admired individuals increases motivation and personal investment in learning.
  • Literacy for Identity Transformation and Rehabilitation
    methodology: literacy-for-identity-and-rehabilitation
    By providing access to reading and literacy development, we support incarcerated youth in reshaping their identities because engaging with stories and knowledge fosters self-worth, new perspectives, and a sense of future possibility, which supports desistance from crime.
  • Physical Access as Literacy Catalyst
    methodology: physical-library-access-as-literacy-motivation
    By establishing physical libraries in youth facilities, we increase literacy engagement because visible, accessible, and dedicated reading spaces signal value and invite sustained interaction with books.