Our History

Literature for All of Us is a nationally recognized and award-winning organization. Initiated in 1996 as a volunteer effort led by Executive Director Karen Thomson, Literature for All of Us connects young people to their strengths through literature, engaging them in book groups where they read and discuss books and write poetry.

Literature for All of Us has cultivated significant collaborative relationships with alternative schools, agencies serving pregnant and parenting teens, and after-school programs to expand the scope and reach of its important mission and to share the creative spirit of young people. Since our first book group for teen mothers in 1996, we have facilitated 183 book groups, reaching over 5,300 young people.

After almost exclusively serving teen mothers and other girls for almost 10 years, the agency branched out and piloted its first program for boys in 2006. Book groups for boys now represent 20% of all current programs.

Literature for All of Us has been recognized as making a significant contribution to improving the lives of young people who have limited resources, opportunities, and exposure to the arts and humanities. In 2005, the agency received the national Coming Up Taller award from the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. This prestigious honor recognizes outstanding after-school programming for youth in the arts and humanities. Literature for All of Us was one of only 15 agencies nationwide to receive the award.

In response to the demand for replicating the program in other municipalities, in 2000 Literature for All of Us initiated training workshops for prospective book group leaders. To date, we have trained 119 individuals in using our model throughout Illinois, and also in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Toronto, Canada – thereby reaching hundreds more young people with this nurturing literacy program.