TUCSON, Ariz. — Celebrating culture and embedding reading in the process that's the goal of a month-long African American read-in event happening across the nation and Tucson Unified is participating.
The event is the country's first and oldest event dedicated to diversity in literature.
On Tuesday, Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo reading to third graders at Erickson Elementary School.
The book is about Ruby Bridges and her place in history helping to desegregate schools.
Some of the students have heard these stories before, but for some it's brand new.
TUSD African American students services director Jimmy Hart said "It's always exciting to see the student's faces when they learn about something they don't know. They're sponges. They're taking in all the information, and it's amazing, they're just excited to have individuals come in to our schools from the community and read to them, and to learn something new.
50 community members and educators have read at TUSD schools since February began they hope to raise that number to 100 by the end of the month.
The district has been participating in the read-in for at least 8 years.
