Adrienne Kirby Family Literacy Project

The Adrienne Kirby ’81 Family Literacy Project (AKFLP) was founded by Judy Primavera, PhD, professor in Fairfield University’s Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences (PBS). Today, the project is led by Director Jeanne Peloso, PhD, who—along with Amanda Haber, PhD—helps guide the ongoing partnership between the PBS Department and Hall Neighborhood House (HNH) in Bridgeport, CT.

Hall Neighborhood House (HNH) supports families across generations, offering programs for everyone from infants to seniors. Through this collaboration, the AKFLP primarily engages with HNH’s Early Childhood Program and Youth Services, bringing literacy-focused initiatives directly to the community.

To further expand access to books and educational materials, the AKFLP also partners with Kindred Thoughts Bookstore in Bridgeport, ensuring children and families have engaging, high-quality books to support their learning.

Areas of Focus

Throughout FY 2025, the Adrienne Kirby ’81 Family Literacy Project (AKFLP) supported a wide range of initiatives that strengthened its partnership with Hall Neighborhood House and expanded literacy opportunities for children and families.

Partnerships

Child Development Lab

A central component of the Adrienne Kirby Family Literacy Project is the partnership between the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Hall Neighborhood House, which gives students enrolled in PSYC 2150: Child Development hands-on internship experience in the infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms at HNH. Dr. Haber (Spring 2025) and Dr. Peloso (Fall 2025) continued this tradition, bringing students to HNH during their weekly lab sessions.

This program is made possible through the support of Andrea Canuel in the Center for Social Impact, who coordinates transportation and provides funding for two Community Associates to drive the vans. Dean Richard Greenwald of the John Charles College of Arts & Sciences also contributes by supporting two AKFLP Graduate Assistants who help facilitate the course.

AKFLP Classroom Library Initiative

Each week during their internship while enrolled in PSYC 2150, Fairfield University students bring two books to donate to the infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms. This practice gives students meaningful opportunities to read with children and support emergent literacy, while helping HNH teachers grow their classroom libraries. Over the course of 2025, all 18 classrooms at HNH received 20 new books each through the AKFLP.

Adrienne Kirby ’81 Special Book Collection at the Fairfield University Library

Catherine Findorak, Collection Strategies Librarian at Fairfield University, helped establish the Adrienne Kirby ’81 Special Book Collection. The collection now includes copies of all 185 titles donated by the AKFLP to Hall Neighborhood House since Fall 2022. Students in PSYC 2150 use this collection during a dedicated book lab held in the University library classroom, and courses in the School of Education and Human Development also integrate the collection into their coursework.

After-School Tutoring Program

Hall Neighborhood House welcomes 75 children in grades K–6 into four classrooms each afternoon, where one teacher per room supports homework completion and enrichment activities. To help meet the need for additional academic support, the AKFLP piloted an after-school tutoring program with Fairfield University students in Spring 2024. During this pilot, it became clear that a dedicated student leader was essential to coordinate tutors, ensure consistency, and serve as an on-site presence each day. This role has strengthened the structure and reliability of the program.

The Beardsley Zoo STEM Days

The Beardsley Zoo partnered with Hall Neighborhood House for four days of STEM programming across all ten preschool sections. Each classroom enjoyed a 30-minute session with the Zoo’s Mobile Zoo Program, where children had the opportunity to meet and observe a variety of animals up close. Every child brought home a book provided by the AKFLP to continue their learning at home. The Science Institute at Fairfield University further supported the initiative by covering the cost of the Zoomobile.

Latest AKFLP News

Adrienne Kirby Family Literacy Project Team