Pa. community leader turned reading to children into a growing movement

Floyd Stokes is the founder and executive director of the American Literacy Corporation (ALC) established in August of 2000, and wrote all the books on the top shelf at the East Shore Library in Lower Paxton Township, Pa., Feb. 16, 2021. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

During Black History month, PennLive is paying tribute to the people who are helping shape what will some day be the history of the Black community in Central Pennsylvania.

These are people who are examples of excellence, who inspire those around them for the work they do, the art they create, or the causes for which they fight.

This is one in an ongoing series of profiles that will be featured this month on PennLive and in The Patriot-News.

Floyd Stokes has dedicated his life to instilling a love for books in children, traveling around the country reading in schools and libraries, and recruiting volunteers to do the same.

In 2000, he founded the American Literacy Corporation and still serves as the executive director of the Harrisburg-based organization, continuing his push for literacy amongst youngsters for more than two decades.