Love Thy Community II: Start Lighthouse

Founded during the pandemic by Rina Madhani, Start Lighthouse is transforming literacy access across the Bronx. Start Lighthouse began with its “Literary Adventures Program,” offering interactive workshops led by BIPOC authors and artists to help students build diverse home libraries. Recognizing broader inequities in access to books and resources, the team expanded its mission by revitalizing underused school libraries into vibrant, full-time Literacy Hubs.

Since launching its first hub at P.S. 5 in 2022, Start Lighthouse has grown to operate three full-time hubs serving over 2,100 students daily. These spaces foster a love of reading and celebrate diverse voices, making literacy both accessible and inspiring. To learn more, visit startlighthouse.org.

“I was inspired to found Start Lighthouse during the pandemic after receiving a call from a parent seeking additional learning materials and resources for their child. This moment highlighted the urgent need for accessible educational resources in our community, and I wanted to empower students and their families through the power of reading by building robust home libraries.”

Rina Madhani, Executive Director & Co-Founder

Start Lighthouse partnered with school administrators to distribute multicultural books and launched the Woke Activists curriculum, which later evolved into the Literary Adventures program bringing BIPOC authors to lead workshops and help students celebrate their own stories. After discovering defunct school libraries, Start Lighthouse transformed them into full-time Literacy Hubs, creating vibrant spaces for learning and cultural enrichment within the diverse Bronx community.

“As the Director of Programming at Start Lighthouse, I design curriculum, write lessons for our Site Coordinators, and curate book collections for our Literacy Hubs. I also collaborate with school administration to ensure our lessons align with classroom teaching across grade levels.”

Deborah Rose, Director of Programming

“Creating art for students holds deep meaning for me. I'm passionate about making pieces that reflect their identities and tell their stories. Representation is essential to me. l remember searching as a child for characters who shared my skin tone, culture, and experiences. Through my murals, I aim to bring those dreams and fantasies to life, inspiring students to imagine, create, and see themselves as part of something larger.”

Akeem Weston,  Muralist

Sometimes, the most meaningful connections start with a single message. During the pandemic, School Principal Danielle Keane answered a cold email from Rina, a decision she now calls one of the best of her career. Principal Keane said, “I believe in the importance of access to literature, especially books where our kids can see themselves represented. Books serve as windows and mirrors to the world.” That shared belief lies at the heart of Start Lighthouse’s mission: empowering students through diverse, inclusive stories that reflect who they are and inspire who they can become.

“Our mission is to create access to inclusive learning by connecting students with authors who reflect their identities and providing literature that broadens their horizons. My goal is to build an organization that embodies the joyful, inclusive environment I needed as a child.”

Rina Madhani, Executive Director & Co-Founder

“Start Lighthouse has ignited a new culture within our school around reading. The Start

Lighthouse Literacy Hub has changed lives and will impact future generations. It has created a safe, nurturing learning environment that our students look forward to every single day within the Literacy Hub. This has been transformative for our school and the entire district. The enthusiasm and engagement around reading have soared, and our students are more inspired and motivated than ever before.”

Danielle Keane, School Principal