Back by popular demand, the EDI Fellows have done their first Hackathon of the year. Aligned with our EDI values of citizenship and adaptability, the EDI Fellows spent a day just before Thanksgiving creating personalized book enclosures, which will house a personalized selection of books for students at Tidewater Park Elementary, Norfolk, VA.   

The Literacy Fellows developed the idea of a book drive and personalized book delivery as a way to help out the students they normally work with after school once a week on reading and writing skills.  With COVID-19 restrictions, the Literacy Fellows are hoping to encourage their students to keep developing their skills by gifting them with a personalized selection of books for their age group and in a personalized enclosure. This is where the EDI Fellows came into to help.   

The EDI Fellows constructed some of the personalized book enclosures. Similar to a cardboard box, these book enclosures are made of cardboard and wrap around a few books, using Velcro to secure the top of it.  It feels like opening a present every time with the thoughtful addition of Velcro.   

The EDI Fellows had a blast and started branching out to design their own nets, the professional term to describe the plan or blueprint of the box.  They also enjoyed the fact that these box enclosures would make each Tidewater Park Elementary student feel special.