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Alvin Irby

Educator - Social Entrepreneur - Comedian

Alvin Irby, M.S., MPA, is an award-winning early childhood educator, social entrepreneur, and founder of Barbershop Books, a national literacy nonprofit that inspires Black boys and other vulnerable children to read for fun.14 He is a former kindergarten teacher who turned his passion for education into innovative literacy initiatives.2

Irby holds a Master of Science in Childhood Education from Bank Street Graduate School of Education, a Master of Public Administration from New York University's Wagner School of Public Service, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Grinnell College.14 His work with Barbershop Books earned him the National Book Foundation's 2017 Innovations in Reading Prize.2

As the Chief Reading Inspirer at Barbershop Books, Irby has developed a unique approach to promoting literacy. The organization creates child-friendly reading spaces in barbershops, provides early literacy training to barbers, and has distributed over 50,000 books in more than 250 barbershops across 50 cities.3 This innovative program aims to cultivate reading identity in young Black boys and has shown positive impacts on children's self-image and likelihood to identify as readers.3

In addition to his work in literacy, Irby is also:

  1. A TED speaker whose talk "How to inspire every child to be a lifelong reader" has been viewed over 1 million times.46
  2. An author of the children's book "Gross Greg".2
  3. A comedian who has performed at venues like Gotham Comedy Club in New York City.5
  4. A cultural competency specialist who trains educators and administrators.2

Irby's multifaceted approach to education and literacy has made him a recognized figure in the field, earning him accolades such as being named a top 10 CNN Hero of 2023.1

Highlights

About - Barbershop Books
Barbershop Books: Innovative Approach Offers Haircuts, Books and ...
Aug 3 · arlcs.org
Meet a Author - Alvin Irby, Barbershop Books

Related Questions

How did Alvin Irby come up with the idea for Barbershop Books?
What impact has Barbershop Books had on the communities it serves?
How does Barbershop Books choose the books for their shelves?
What challenges has Alvin Irby faced in implementing Barbershop Books?
How does Barbershop Books measure the success of its program?
Alvin Irby
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Location

New York, New York