One of Austin’s social impact leaders has created a book club to help families delve into conversations about justice and race.
Ripple Reads is a subscription-based service founded by Kelli Mason, a partner at Notley, where she focuses on creating and supporting innovative ideas to advance racial justice.
Notley, an Austin-based impact investment group, is funding the launch of Ripple Reads.
Ripple Reads’ overarching mission is to move the needle.
“Our vision is that the next generation will dismantle racism once and for all,” Mason said. “That’s lofty, but we see a community right now that is craving practical support of this vision, and we know we aren’t in this alone.”
The daughter of a Black mother and a white father, Mason said that she remembers as a child “receiving the message that everyone is equal and skin color doesn’t matter. It was a very ‘colorblind’ approach that was popular at the time and remains a sort of ‘safe’ approach for many parents, particularly white parents. Unfortunately, as you get even a little bit older, you start to pick up on messages being shared in the media, overheard conversations, or various interactions, that reflect the truth that our society is not color blind.”
People “do a disservice to our kids, and the world, when we pretend that race and racism don’t exist,” Mason said. “Recognizing and challenging racism starts one honest, difficult conversation at a time. Through Ripple Reads, we are making those difficult conversations easier, and we are preparing our community’s children to be effective allies along the path toward racial justice.”
Ripple Reads, which is shipping its first selection, “Amazing Grace,” has partnered with Dr. Keffrelyn Brown and Dr. Anthony Brown, co-directors of the Center for Innovation in Race, Teaching, and Curriculum at the University of Texas’ College of Education. They are curating book selections and creating discussion guides for families.
“It is important that children learn about race when they are young. Planting these seeds early will cultivate fearless, justice-minded adults who recognize racism and will address it squarely without ignorance, shame, or fear,” Keffrelyn Brown said in a news release. “We are confident that the Ripple Reads approach of introducing a new book and set of discussion questions each month will help families plant those seeds.”
Subscriptions cost $19.95 per delivery arriving every other month. Each delivery includes one hardback picture book as well as a family guide with key themes and discussion questions related to the book, a magazine with interviews and other content, challenges to help children incorporate the lessons they learn and surprises such as sticker sheets or small novelty toys.
Scholarships are available through a fund launched and supported by Kendra Scott and managed through Friends of the Children.
“In addition to Notley providing the seed capital, both Kendra Scott and Bank of America have provided financial support to make sure that we’re able to provide Ripple Reads to families that couldn’t otherwise afford the bi-monthly subscription,” Mason said. “We’ve kept rates low … but recognize that even that low price point is inaccessible to families living in poverty.”
