PBPP Support Read Across America

Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole Supervisor India Atkin, Parole Agent Katrina Williams and Chester District Director Michelle Rivera participated in Read Across America 2019. The trio read to 1^st graders at Chester Community Charter School Innovation Hall. It was the first time the PBPP participated in this event, but it was a very positive experience.

Twenty readers from various careers, including law enforcement, clergy and members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., participated and read to more than 500 students. The event began with the students performing a play called "Misunderstood," where they expressed how they feel adults and parents don't understand them when they express themselves. They highlighted slang and when they're just voicing their opinions yet punished for being "disrespectful."

The group broke up into their classrooms where the adults read Dr. Seuss books—in honor of his birthday being that day—to the kids and answered questions. The students were very interested in Parole and asked about the badges and if the PBPP staff "lock people up."

"I told them our job is to help people," Rivera said.