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Prime Time is seeking partner organizations to help get boxes of books and learning supplies into the hands of 700 Louisiana families.

Prime Time Boxes, an initiative of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH), are modeled after the award-winning Prime Time family engagement and literacy programs currently taking place across Louisiana. Prime Time programs focus on humanities-based content, quality children’s literature, open-ended questioning techniques, collective learning strategies, and a respect of diverse perspectives.

Prime Time Boxes are designed to be take-home versions of these Prime Time programs. Each box contains a set of books, literacy extension supplies, and a Grown-Up Guide, which serves as a handbook for parents to guide their children through discussion of the important themes found within the books.

“Prime Time Boxes create a valuable and accessible entry point for families, children, and the organizations, libraries, and public schools that work with and for them across the state,” said Shelley Stocker, LEH vice president of education programs. “We are focused on providing high-quality children’s books and humanities experiences, while empowering caregivers and building their confidence as their children’s first and primary educators.”

Prime Time partners with nonprofit organizations, such as schools, libraries, and community service organizations which serve as distribution hubs to get the boxes into the hands of local families. The boxes are free for organizations and for the families who receive them. Thanks to support from the Community Foundation of North Louisiana, Prime Time will distribute 200 boxes to families in North Louisiana. Another 500 boxes will be distributed throughout the rest of the state, thanks to support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Organizations interested in applying to distribute boxes can do so online. The deadline to apply is March 3.

Selected organizations will distribute boxes containing books in the Prime Time Of, By, and For the People series, which seeks to deepen families’ engagement with the principles of American democracy. The books in the series, such as “We Came to America” by Faith Ringgold and “Grace for President” by Kelly DiPucchio and LeUyen Pham, discuss topics surrounding citizenship, voting, democratic participation, and civic responsibility. Using children’s books as a jumping off point, Prime Time invites families to engage in the humanities and inspires the budding humanists in our state’s youngest citizens.

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