Read to Respond was born when Rebecca Yang, our founder, had the idea to combine two of her passions: reading and volunteering. We were originally founded as a school club, centered around bringing students together to discuss literary works and then volunteer based on the themes in the pieces. Throughout our sophomore years, we partnered with local organizations to strengthen our nearby community. As more of our members transformed from passive readers into active agents of change, we were inspired to expand our mission beyond our campus.

 

We brought our reading-to-service approach online, connecting members around the world and building a connected, global community. As we've expanded through Chapters, events, and service initiatives, we have witnessed how literature-driven change resonates with learners worldwide--and we continue to use the transformative power of reading to empower communities, one book at a time.