Black Star Line Literacy Bus aims to expand access to books in underserved Baltimore neighborhoods

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BALTIMORE, Md. — East Baltimore publisher and community advocate Tia Hamilton has launched the Black Star Line Literacy Bus, a mobile literacy and empowerment project designed to bring books and reading programs to neighborhoods with limited access to educational resources. The bus will visit schools, shelters, housing complexes, hospitals and juvenile facilities across the city.

East Baltimore Advocate Launches Mobile Literacy and Empowerment Hub, Black Star Line Literacy Bus

Hamilton, who owns Urban Reads Bookstore, said the project seeks to address long‑standing literacy gaps by delivering culturally relevant books and community‑based programming directly to residents. A GoFundMe campaign has been created to support the effort, and donations will fund books, fuel, maintenance, printed materials and stipends for youth and returning‑citizen leaders involved in the work.

Addressing Literacy Disparities

Literacy advocates note that access to books remains uneven across Baltimore.

National data shows 76% of incarcerated individuals are illiterate, a statistic that Hamilton cites as evidence of the need for early and consistent reading support. She describes the project as part of a broader push toward “reparative literacy,” a framework that emphasizes cultural relevance, community connection and long‑term educational equity.

The initiative draws inspiration from Marcus Garvey’s Black Star Line and Baltimore’s former civic identity as “The City That Reads.” Hamilton said the bus aims to revive that legacy by meeting families where they live and offering consistent literacy engagement.

Black Star Line Literacy Bus: Programming and Community Outreach

The Black Star Line Literacy Bus will operate as a mobile learning hub. According to project organizers, the bus will:

• Distribute literacy kits, reentry resources and books by Black authors and justice‑focused writers.
• Hire and mentor formerly incarcerated staff and youth ambassadors.
• Conduct weekly book giveaways in Baltimore communities.
• Allow youth participants to select a second book to donate to a juvenile facility, accompanied by a handwritten note.
• Host read‑alouds, writing workshops, pop‑up learning stations and family reading pledge activities.

Organizers say the model is designed to increase book ownership, strengthen daily reading habits and create leadership opportunities for individuals who have been historically excluded from educational and economic pathways.

Funding and Next Steps

The newly launched GoFundMe campaign will serve as the primary fundraising channel for the project. Donations will help expand the bus’s weekly outreach schedule, increase book distribution and support operational needs.

Hamilton said the initiative reflects a long‑term commitment to literacy access in Baltimore.

“Millions of children have never owned a book,” she said. “We want to ensure that families have consistent opportunities to read, learn and connect.”