A young girl speaks into a microphone being held by an adult at a Desayuno con Libros event.
Veronica Castillo-Marquez, one of the founding volunteers of Desayuno con Libros, holds the microphone up to a young child to share during the first iteration of the event in March 2018 at the Gaisman Community Center. Photos by Andrea Morales for MLK50 

At The Root is a new MLK50 series that highlights everyday radical action. As the writer and activist Angela Davis said, “radical means simply grasping something at the root.” This visually-driven feature will be recurring. To suggest an idea for At The Root, email visuals director Andrea Morales at andrea.morales@mlk50.com 

In the winter of 2018, a group of organizers sought a space for a new idea. They knew they needed something accessible, affordable and welcoming to Memphis’ Latinx and immigrant communities. 

The organizers, in their work with groups like Comunidades Unidas en una Voz (CUUV) and the Memphis Intercultural Coalition, sensed the desire for fellowship in the communities they were serving. Inspired by another group — C3 and their Books and Breakfast program (a tip of the hat to the Black Panthers’ free breakfast program) — they secured space at the Gaisman Community Center, in one of Memphis’ largely immigrant neighborhoods.

Using personal funds, donations and extra hands, the first Desayuno con Libros (“Breakfast with Books” in Spanish) took place in March 2018. Park employees at the community center kept wheeling chairs into the activity room where families showed up to enjoy pancakes, chilaquiles and free books for the choosing that covered long tables. 

“We knew that this is something our people were missing,” Yuleiny Escobar, one of the organizers with CUUV, said. 

Every third Saturday of the month, a hand-drawn sign was hung on the door of the community center welcoming folks to the event. On those days, Gaisman bustled more than usual. On Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), the smell of copal traveled through the old building as people placed offerings on the altar in the gym. On the El Dia del Niño, volunteers gathered a small army of piñatas that had children lined up for hours. Books and stories were always a part of it. Parents who brought their children became more involved in the program.

All that ceased, like many other things in our lives, in the beginning of 2020 with the pandemic. 

“The isolation definitely had me feeling disconnected from my community,” Escobar said.

It took about a year of weathering the fear and uncertainty before they moved toward reuniting in the spring of 2021. Slowly, the event returned to Gaisman, as strong as before.

“Being together again was beautiful,” Escobar said. “There were families and friends who had maybe only attended once or twice early when we started in 2018. They also came back. It was a hard year for all of us.”

Earlier this year, however, the city announced that the Gaisman Community Center and park would be closed for at least 18 months for renovations. 

Desayuno con Libros moved to The Village in Binghampton for a few months and will soon be starting their monthly gatherings at The Commons, also in Binghampton. Finding a venue as perfect as Gaisman wasn’t easy with a tight budget, but it wasn’t an insurmountable challenge, according to Escobar. 

“People think that us who put this on are all trained organizers, but that’s not the case,” she said. “Many of us are mothers who have this way of working as a team, which has allowed everyone to carve out new strengths. We have all the resources we need to make things happen right in our community. By making this space and allowing our energy to flow together, magic happens.”  

Photo composition showing small children gather treats from a pinata and sign on a glass front door for a Desayuno con Libros event.
Left: A piñata explodes over a group of young people at the Desayuno con Libros event at the Gaisman Community Center during a celebration for El Dia del Niño in April 2018. Right: The sign on the front door of the Gaisman Community Center.
Photo composition showing two boys reading books at a Desayuno con Libros event. Second photo shows three women making pancakes.
The first Desayuno con Libros at the Gaisman Community Center in March 2018. Left: Young attendees review book choices. Right: Volunteers make pancakes as part of the community meal.


A woman greets young boys at a Desayuno con Libros event.
Yuleiny Escobar greets people arriving at the first Desayuno con Libros in March 2018 at the Gaisman Community Center. “It feels cliche, but working on this has taught me that if you can think it, dream it with a good team, you can make it happen.” 
Photo composition showing the Dia de los Muertos event at Desayuno con Libros.
The Dia de los Muertos-themed Desayuno con Libros at the Gaisman Community Center in October 2021.
A member of a local Danza Azteca group walks toward a building in Aztec dance clothing at a Desayuno con Libros event.
A member of a local Danza Azteca group walks toward the Gaisman Community Center before the Desayuno con Libros Dia de los Muertos celebration in October 2021.
Photo composition of a woman holdin her small child and another photo of a young girl picking out books with her mother
At the fourth anniversary party for Desayuno con Libros at The Village in Binghampton on March 19, 2022. Left: Vania Barraza and her child. Right: Isabel Paredes and her daughter pick out some books from the month’s selection.
Photo composition of people attending a Desayuno con Libros event.
Left: A group of Christian Brothers University students who have been volunteering with the event for about a year. Right: People in attendance played music in a drum circle at the end of the event. From Erika Ruballos, one of the students (far right in a black Adidas shirt): “Desayuno con Libros is a place where anyone feels welcome and loved. Me and my group of friends have been volunteering for almost a year. Coming from another state, we can feel homesick of our family and Hispanic community. Gathering all together to help Hispanic community to see the importance of education has changed my life and others. Desayuno con Libros is a place where I feel like home.” 
Family portraits
At the fourth anniversary party for Desayuno con Libros at The Village in Binghampton, on March 19, 2022. Left: Rafael and Sandra Figueroa. Center: Yamilet Garcia and her children: “We love the dynamic here where we get to spend time together and get to know each other well.” Right: Ivan Flores and his children.
People pose for a photo with a banner celebrating the fourth anniverasary of Desayuno con Libros.
Desayuno con Libros fourth year anniversary at The Village in Binghampton.

Andrea Morales is the visuals director for MLK50: Justice Through Journalism. Email her at  andrea.morales@mlk50.com


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