Loop bookstore donates profits, helping Chicago families

An unsuspecting used bookstore along State Street has quite the story of its own.

Proceeds from every book, movie or music sold give Chicago students a brighter future.

Tucked into block 37 on State Street are rare hardbacks dating back to the 1800's, books no longer in print and other literary treasures, all under $5 bucks.

"All the proceeds from the sales of our gently used books go to benefit turning the page, which is a family engagement program working with families on the west side of town in North Lawndale,” said Kylia Kummer, “Turning the Page” managing director.

For mom, Arti Williams, it's no mystery why this Chicago program works. She enrolled in “Turning the Page” three years ago with her daughter Mariana.

"We were able to go out and find books and now her vocabulary has gotten so much better and her reading, she actually went up in her score this year because we were able to do some of the things that we learned in turning the page,” Williams said.

On Wednesday, Williams is attending a workshop at Legacy Charter School in North Lawndale, learning along with other parents how to assist her daughter in becoming a better student. Parents meet once or twice a month.

"One of the things I learned is other parents kind of go through the same things so being in this group kind of helps you get ideas of what to do next,” Williams said.

The program is funded by the sale of every book, DVD and CD at the little bookstore.

"We know that when parents are more engaged, students attend school more often, they have higher academic success, they have higher self-esteem so all those great things go into our work and what we hope the parents are bringing home to their students,” Kummer said.

"Turning the Page" is only in the North Lawndale neighborhood, but they would like to expand to other areas of the city.

For more information about the bookstore or the program, log onto turningthepage.org.