Believe Lab ribbon-cutting begins journey of discovery for Bel-Nor students
The project aims to enhance reading proficiency through offering students more representation in literature.
On Tuesday morning, Bel-Nor Elementary School was transformed into a fantasy land for young readers. Vines clung to the walls, flowers hung from the ceiling and a battery-powered butterfly flapped its wings in the light of a nearby window.
For Bel-Nor students, it was only the beginning of a journey of imagination and discovery.
The decorations, as well as the ribbon-cutting ceremony that took place Tuesday, announced the unveiling of a Believe Project Literacy Lab at the school. The Believe Labs are an initiative by the St. Louis Black Authors of Children’s Literature aimed at enhancing reading proficiency among elementary students.
The room includes dozens of children’s books and a mural on the wall features multiple children reading. Ninety percent of the characters or authors featured in the reading space are people of color.
The Network is a longtime supporter of the Believe Projects, and CEO Neosha Franklin said the Network is proud of the partnership.
“Investing in early literacy initiatives like this is crucial for shaping the future of our children and community,” Franklin said. “We firmly believe that early investments in culturally inclusive literacy resources create pathways to brighter futures, and we are thrilled to see the positive impact this project will have on the community.”
Included in the Bel-Nor mural is former Network employee Tammi Heim (second from left in the image above). Heim saw the Believe Labs featured on the local news and mentioned this project to the Network team. Heim passed away in 2023, but her spirit lives on through the Believe Lab, encouraging and inspiring the children of the community.
The lab is designed to improve reading proficiency, especially in students in grades K-3. Research shows that students who are not strong readers in third grade are four times more likely to drop out of school.
“Representation in literature matters because children need to see themselves as important elements of a story,” said Julius B. Anthony, president of St. Louis Black Authors of Children’s Literature and The Believe Projects. “The Believe Projects gives children an opportunity to have access to books that reflect their everyday life, and they get to meet the people who write books for them. These are the transformational experiences that ignite the much-needed behaviors, interest and excitement that lead children to becoming successful readers.”
This marks the second Literacy Lab in the Normandy Schools Collaborative (NSC), following the successful launch of the first lab at Barack Obama Elementary in 2022. More labs in the NSC are in the works.
Franklin spoke at the ribbon-cutting event about how when she was a child, she didn’t see much representation of herself in the books she read. Franklin has made an effort to buy her daughters books where they can see themselves in the characters, including Matthew A. Cherry’s “Hair Love.” She hopes this Believe Project Literacy Lab makes it easier for Bel-Nor students to have the same experience.
“Through literature, I’m able to teach my daughters the value of reading and the importance of loving their own self-identity,” Franklin said. “Through this project, I know we can teach so many children in this community the same lessons, and we thank you all for being here as we start that journey here at Bel-Nor School.”
