Cleveland, OH
Cleveland mom continues mission to improve literacy rates across NE Ohio through growing non-profit
CLEVELAND, Ohio — News 5 continues to Follow-Through on stories that matter most to you and your loved ones.
We’re returning to see the change and impact left behind.
One of those topics is literacy.
Research shows that 66% of adults in Cleveland are functionally illiterate.
Some neighborhood illiteracy rates are as high as 95%.
That’s why News 5 and the Scripps Howard Foundation are proud to help get books into the hands of local children through our “If You Give a Child a Book” Campaign and you can help make that happen.
You can donate here or text “WEWS” to 5-0-1-5-5 to donate and help us build the home libraries of kids right here in Cleveland.
A Cleveland area Mom and son have been on a mission for years to reverse the cycle of illiteracy.
News 5 has followed the journey of the non-profit “Literacy in the H.O.O.D.” since it first started back in 2017.
They’ve since given out over half a million books, but they’re not done just yet.
Their program is all about “Helping Out Our Disenfranchised.”
The program has exploded in popularity, with national coverage on GMA, CNN, and some daytime talk shows.
But the need is great and at a constant especially coming out of the pandemic.
Chrishawndra Matthews says we can succeed by working together, and it starts at home.
“Now, when I pull up—they know what I’m coming out with. They’re like that’s the book lady! And I just thank God because it’s bigger than me,” Matthews said.
Matthews’ mission to improve reading rates across Cleveland is one done with purpose and on a daily basis.
“My tag is to invest in the minds, one book at a time,” Matthews said.
She’s successfully invested in those minds by making “Literacy in the H.O.O.D.” a mobile movement.
Her branded van acts as a roving billboard and an essential educational tool for each neighborhood she stops in.
“Going in these areas Mike, where we know that these reading scores and test scores are low—we’re setting up a table and literally just passing out books,” Matthews said.
At last check, Matthews with her son Derrick Smith Jr. right by her side, has given out 600,000 FREE books since she started the non-profit back in 2017.
During the pandemic alone—she distributed more than 100,000 books.
“I try to keep workbooks so we can help them get ready for kindergarten,” Matthews said.
Smith has been a driving force in the program, especially after he says his mom had serious doubts about the organization’s future during statewide shutdowns.
“I told her we couldn’t stop doing what we were doing, and we just started doing way more events. We gave people books out of our driveway,” Smith, Founder of “Boys Do Read,” said.
Matthews’ van remains stocked and loaded, with snacks and books.
She’s ready to hit the road at a moment’s notice.
As much as the program has grown, Smith’s has also expanded.
“He was the fire under my feet to launch Literacy in the H.O.O.D. because what I know—there’s disparities in literacy,” Matthews said.
Smith actually started his own reading program “Boys Do Read” as an effort to encourage kids to find fun in the process.
News 5 covered his journey a few years ago.
“Boys Do Read” began when Derrick was just 7 years old after he was unfortunately bullied by kids for being the only child who could read in his Kindergarten class.
Fast forward to 2023—his experience has compelled him to be a part of the change.
“I’m writing my own book about bullying because ever since I got bullied in Kindergarten that was another inspiration,” Smith said.
Matthews says her ultimate goal in the very near future is to get enough cash to open a brick-and-mortar store in Cleveland for everyone to enjoy.
“Once we get a brick and mortar—I’m going to blow this thing out of the water! I’m going blow it out of the water, Mike. It’ll be a place where you can come. A book pantry so they can come in the room and pick out the book they wanted,” Matthews said.
One day that location will be a place where she says both children can learn to read, and parents can learn better ways to teach them.
Her goal is to open the space by the Summer of 2024.
“We are really trying to make sure not only do children have books, but their parents, caregivers, and educators have books,” Matthews said.
Matthews says giving the kids a choice and letting them select their book has been vital in improving reading rates.
She says the future is bright in Cleveland, but it will continue to take work.
“I’m really trying to change a mindset and talk to parents about why children need to be reading,” Matthews said.
So how can you help?
Matthews says monetary donations and book drives make a difference.
To support her mission and give back to “Literacy in the H.O.O.D”, click here.
We Follow Through
Want us to continue to follow through on a story? Let us know.
Former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders has impressed some people so far in Cleveland Browns practices. The fifth round rookie is a member of a quarterback room in Cleveland that consists of four other players; Dillon Gabriel, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Deshaun Watson.
One source that was at Cleveland Browns OTA’s claimed that Sanders has been the best quarterback in that room up to this point in the offseason.
Cleveland sports show co-host Tony Rizzo was asked about Shedeur Sanders’s performance so far in Browns camp.
“I got a text from an ESPN Cleveland employee that said Shedeur looked like the best quarterback in camp,” Rizzo said.
Tony Rizzo got a message about Shedeur’s performance during OTAs 👀🔥 #DawgPound
“I got a text from an ESPN Cleveland employee that said Shedeur looked like the best quarterback in camp.”
Via: (@ESPNCleveland) pic.twitter.com/xU9ws7CrR9
— STAMPEDE (@stampedeftbl) June 8, 2025
Sanders has been taking reps with three of the four other Browns quarterbacks the past few weeks. The only quarterback on the Browns roster that hasn’t been partaking is Deshaun Watson. Watson suffered a torn achilles last season and his return for next season is still up in the air.
Sanders has currently been splitting reps with Gabriel, Flacco, and Pickett.
MORE: Cleveland Browns Coach Addresses Shedeur Sanders’ Work Ethic At OTAs
MORE: Cleveland Browns Trade Kenny Pickett Before NFL Training Camp? Shedeur Sanders Rising
MORE: Cleveland Browns Quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ Stats From OTAs Released
Even if one of the rookies (Sanders or Gabriel) perform well through training camp, it is still possible neither one of them win the starting job for the Browns opening game on Sept. 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Browns are coming off of a 3-14 2024 season. In the 2025 NFL Draft, Gabriel was selected in the third round and Sanders in the fifth. Would Browns coach Kevin Stefanski throw one of these rookies into the fire immediately instead of letting a veteran like Joe Flacco begin the season as the starter?
The quarterback position for the Cleveland Browns has a been a question mark even since the franchise was reborn in 1999. Since then, the Browns have had an astonishing 40 different quarterbacks that have started a game for them. It has been a constant turnstile for a quarterback century.
It looked as if the Browns had that quarterback question finally answered after they select Baker Mayfield No. 1 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. In his third season as starter, Mayfield helped lead the Browns to the playoffs and a Wild Card round win over the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers. After that season, things began to fall apart.
Mayfield battled through numerous injuries and it clearly affected his play as he and the Browns could never get to where they were in that playoff season. Mayfield ended up in short stops with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams before he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to the 2023 season.
Since coming to Tampa Bay, Mayfield has led the Buccaneers to the playoffs multiple times and has proven to be a very good starting quarterback in the NFL. Meanwhile in Cleveland, the Browns are still searching for their answer.
Ricky Rubio was once one of the most exciting passers in the NBA.
He spent the first six seasons of his NBA career playing for the Minneosta Timberwolves.
Last week, Rubio sent out two posts (via X).
Rubio (on June 5): “… I took this year to reflect on my career and my life, and I’ve realized that if I’ve gotten to
where I am today, it’s not because of the assists I’ve given, but because of the assists I’ve received. This isn’t a goodbye, it’s a thank you to all the people who have helped me along the way.”
Rubio (on June 6): “… Gràcies a tothom. Seguim!
Gracias a todos. ¡Seguimos!
Thank you all. Let’s keep going!”
The Timberwolves reacted to Rubio’s post on June 6.
They wrote: “thank you for all the memories, Ricky 💙”
Rubio also returned to the Timberwolves for one more season toward the end of his career.
He finished his run in Minnesota with averages of 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 2.0 steals per contest while shooting 37.7% from the field and 31.3% from the three-point range in 421 games (384 starts).
Via Jackson Lloyd: “Ricky Rubio gave Timberwolves fans a reason to watch when there weren’t many reasons to watch.”
Rubio was the fifth pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.
He played 12 NBA seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns (and Timberwolves).
Via StatMuse (on November 7, 2021): “Ricky Rubio tonight:
37 PTS (career-high)
10 AST
8-9 3P (career-high)
He is the first player in NBA history with 30+ points, 10+ assists, 8+ threes in a game off the bench.”
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders is unquestionably one of the most polarizing figures in sports right now, and it will probably remain that way for quite some time.
The former Colorado Buffaloes superstar was expected by most to be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft, but he fell all the way to Round 5, where the Browns traded up to acquire him.
While Sanders has a very large fan base, he also has his fair share of detractors, or at least those who are not entirely sold on him.
Count Jason McIntyre of Fox Sports among that group, and recently, he took some major shots at the 23-year-old.
“Despite all the hype for Shedeur, he’s the only quarterback on the Browns who wasn’t playing with the [first team],” McIntyre said. “The guy’s got ‘Be Legendary’ as his motto. He’s throwing really lavish NFL Draft parties. And he’s fourth on the depth chart, decidedly.”
Sanders is competing with veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett as well as fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel for the starting quarterback job, and as of right now, it’s quite a mountain to climb for him.
The Tyler, Tx. native may very well have the brightest future out of Cleveland’s signal-callers, but it’s clear that he is a work in progress and will probably not be prepared to start Week 1 of the regular season.
Is it possible that Sanders could get some playing time midway through the year? Certainly, but currently, he definitely appears to be on the outside looking in on the Browns’ depth chart.
MORE: Browns-Raiders Trade Proposal Sends Former First-Round Pick to Las Vegas
MORE: Former Cleveland Browns RB Fires Off Pointed Baker Mayfield Message
MORE: Robert Griffin III Shares Strong Take About Browns’ Shedeur Sanders
MORE: Cleveland Browns Linked to $57 Million Trade With Kansas City Chiefs
MORE: Key Browns Player Makes Major Change That Has Fans Buzzing
Cream City Carousing on $20: Coffee and games edition
Titans Take Falcons Star in Re-Draft
Man fatally shoots his toddler daughter and then himself in Minneapolis home, police say
Can Indianapolis Colts end playoff drought in 2025? NFL analyst weighs in
Steelers Rival Reacts to Aaron Rodgers News
-
Politics1 week agoMichelle Obama facing backlash over claim about women's reproductive health
-
Technology1 week agoOpenAI wants ChatGPT to be a ‘super assistant’ for every part of your life
-
Movie Reviews1 week agoThe Verdict Movie Review: When manipulation meets its match
-
Technology1 week agoWhy do SpaceX rockets keep exploding?
-
Finance1 week agoHere's what will boost your feeling of financial well-being the most, researchers say
-
World1 week agoTwo killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine before possible talks in Turkiye
-
West2 days agoBattle over Space Command HQ location heats up as lawmakers press new Air Force secretary
-
News1 week agoDepartment of Homeland Security lists sanctuary jurisdictions in Northern California