Perspective | What 3,500 neighbors and 15,363 books taught us
On Saturday, July 18, more than 3,500 neighbors filled Durham Central Park for our annual Summer Block Party — and in just three hours, children harvested 15,363 books to take home and keep forever. Let me put that number in perspective. Stacked one on top of another, those books would rise more than 600 feet into the sky — nearly twice the height of the Statue of Liberty.
But of course, that’s not where they are.
They’re on nightstands and bookshelves, in backpacks, and home libraries all across our community. One mom told me, as her young son hugged a cherished new find, that he sleeps with his favorite book under his pillow every single night.
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Here is the moment I haven’t stopped thinking about. At one point during the afternoon, I watched three children: one, still in a stroller, completely absorbed in a book; two others who had simply plopped themselves down on the ground, books open in their laps. Around them, thousands of people were talking, laughing, moving, celebrating.
None of it mattered. They couldn’t wait. They had stories to discover.
This is what the Block Party tells us, year after year: Children do not need to be persuaded to read. When they have books they chose, books that reflect who they are, books that are theirs to keep, kids reach for reading naturally, joyfully, eagerly. This is the promise of universal book ownership, and on one hot July afternoon, we watched it come to life 15,363 times.
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We are living through a moment when scarcity, fear, and division often dominate our attention. But the Block Party reminds me that we hold a bigger, better, more humane story.
On July 18, volunteers gave their time with boundless enthusiasm. Partners showed up with resources, entertainment, and open arms. Families left with arms full of books and hearts full of possibility. And children reminded us — simply by opening their books before they’d even left the park — what matters most.
Yes, we are helping families build home libraries. And we are also demonstrating, over and over again, what becomes possible when we lead with abundance instead of scarcity, with hope instead of fear.
To everyone who made this celebration possible — our volunteers, our community partners, our generous supporters, and every family who joined us — thank you for making this vision real, at the Block Party and every day.