Literacy is more than a skill where Geraldine Bard is concerned. It’s a lifeline. As co-founder of Project Flight, Bard has spent decades working to ensure every child has access to books that match their reading level. “Literacy is a social justice issue,” Bard said. “It’s the key to opportunity, dignity, and freedom.” 

Project Flight began with a simple but powerful mission to reduce intergenerational poverty by putting books into the hands of children and families. Through partnerships with schools, libraries, and community organizations, the initiative has distributed over 3 million books and helped establish more than 1,100 libraries. 

Bard’s work is grounded in research. She points out that 70% of incarcerated individuals read at or below a fourth-grade level, and 85% of juveniles in court are struggling readers. “Reading failure is linked to poverty, violence, and crime,” she explained. “But access to books can change that trajectory.” 

One story that stands out is Alicia, a young girl from a high-poverty neighborhood. Her school lacked books, and her classmates couldn’t read at grade level. Within 48 hours of hearing from Alicia’s teacher, Project Flight delivered 100 books to every classroom. By year’s end, the school’s reading scores had improved. 

Bard believes that reading strengthens the brain, builds empathy, and improves long-term health. “When we read, we don’t just lift words, but we also lift ideas, cultures, and possibilities.” 

For Bard, literacy empowers individuals to be their best. And through Project Flight’s work, children across Appalachia and beyond are discovering the joy of reading—and the hope it brings. 

Listen to more of Bard’s story on The Mountain Spirit podcast: https://www.wearecap.org/podcast