The Quentin N. Burdick Job Corps officially kicked off their “Read to Lead” program last week. A group of students went to the local Barnes and Noble Bookstore in Minot, North Dakota, and participated in a reading event. The students read to a group of young toddlers and preschoolers. During the event, the students read several books out loud to the children and organized group activities to conduct with the young children. This program connected and inspired the students around a common, highly relevant theme through the collective reading of books. The initiative offered students a real-world context for learning and provided a launching point for integrative discussions, projects, and community involvement. It also provided the students with new opportunities for discussions with local community members and a new business partner. The Burdick Center intends to conduct regular “Read to Lead” activities with at least one happening each month. Through the connections made through “Read to Lead” events, students will not only have better reading skills, but also better public speaking abilities. Lastly both they and the Center will gain community outreach linkages which may lead to long-term employment for the students.