Making Strides Through Literacy

My name is Isaiah Mulligan and I am a first grade teacher. I have been teaching for the last four years in Boston, MA and now teach first grade ELA in Washington, DC. 


One of the first things I learned early in my career, which has consistently proven true, is that reading plays a critical role in human development. 

As such, I have made reading an integral part of my classroom. Reading brings kids to new destinations and livelihoods. 

I have realized, however, that my students are not reflected in the books they read. Moreover, our current social and economic issues are not discussed. 

Should our students wait until they are older to see books that reflect them and their world ? Our answer should be a strong no. 


We can raise self aware and socially conscious students even earlier in their school careers. We cannot deny that students who understand social justice help shape the world as future leaders. 

Knowing the problem and my responsibility as an educator, I am excited to share that over the past few months, I have been writing a children's book with characters that look like the students I serve every single day. The book also addresses our current social and economic issues in ways students can understand. 

This project is very dear to my heart as I know it will make students aware of and question our society and current social and economic injustices. It is a book that will push all students and adults to have difficult conversations.  

That being said, I am writing this letter to ask for your support. I have found an illustrator that has captured every detail of my words in her lustrous illustrations. I have been excited to work with her, especially as she is a woman of color who intimately understands the goals of this project. 

I am due to pay her $2500 but this fee does not even cover the hours she has put in and the lives this book will impact. Your support will pay for this modest fee I owe her. 

I am asking for support so that I can continue to develop this book. I do not want finance to keep me from the work I love and the impact I seek to make. 

I have been making many strides in my career this year and excited that this is my next one. 

I hope you support this cause and help me reach as many students as possible. 

As I tell the students I teach, "Dream big or do not dream at all".  

This is me dreaming big! May my effort and subsequent success be a testament to all my students and those around the world that dreams do come true.