In 2020, the Junior League of Las Cruces started the “A Book of My Own” Initiative to get books in the hands and homes of the children in our community. We believe literacy plays a vital role in transforming a student’s future. Students that can’t read effectively fail to meet educational milestones. The Junior League of Las Cruces is committed to improving the dire literacy statistics in Doña Ana County. Giving a student their own book means that they eventually move from learning to read to learning to learn. The goal of the initiative is to give every elementary student in Doña Ana County a book to own.