FBI Hosts Boys & Girls Club Reading Program

Jackson, MS - Approximately 40 Jackson area students were treated to a tour of the Jackson Field Office facility and a book reading by FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen. This event celebrated the successful completion of a six-week summer reading/mentoring program, Reading Patrol, for third and fourth grade students enrolled in the summer program at the Central Mississippi Boys & Girls Club, located at 1425 West Capitol Street, Jackson, Mississippi.

The Reading Patrol, coordinated through the FBI's Community Outreach Program, was a joint venture with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and organizations to include: the Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Jackson Police Department, and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). Volunteers from each of these agencies met one hour per week from June 16, 2010 through July 21, 2010 to read to and interact with the students at the Boys & Girls Club.

The goals of the volunteers who participated were:

• To improve reading comprehension skills;
• To involve law enforcement officials in the educational growth of our youth;
• To utilize the reading program as an opportunity to interact in a positive manner with inner city youth; and,
• To encourage the enjoyment of reading throughout life.

The books read during the program were selected from the Jackson Public School summer reading program list for school year (2010-2011). At the conclusion of the Reading Patrol, the students will be given copies of the books read during the summer.