Honoring Community Heroes: TLRN 9/11 Service Project

Each school year, The Leaders Readers Network partners with dedicated educators to honor and commemorate 9/11 through meaningful service projects. These projects not only pay tribute to first responders, military members, and their families, but also provide an opportunity for students to understand the significance of their sacrifices and the value of community service.

Through this initiative, students are given a unique chance to reflect on the importance of first responders and military personnel, showing gratitude by inviting them into their classrooms for a special 9/11 project. This experience becomes more than just a moment of learning—it transforms into a heartfelt expression of appreciation. Classrooms prepare snack baskets and gratitude letters for guest speakers, who then share these tokens of thanks with their fellow service members. Students also listen to stories, read books about community heroes, and engage with real-life examples of bravery and dedication.

This year, we were thrilled to partner with 47 educators across the country, empowering their classrooms to take part in this impactful program. These projects included schools from the following districts: Canyon, Amarillo, San Antonio, Edgewood, Southwest, Hays, Houston and Grainger County. Together, we activated 1,167 students to learn about 9/11 and make a difference in their local communities. Through reading stories about unity, resilience, and service, and by completing hands-on service projects, each student contributed approximately 3 hours of volunteer time. Collectively, our students served a remarkable 3,501 hours to honor first responders and veterans.

The impact of these projects is deeply felt in the communities they serve, and our educators have shared powerful stories about why this work matters:

“One of my students was deeply inspired by our recent project. After reading the LifeSaver books, which were part of our 9/11 remembrance activities, he shared that he now dreams of becoming a doctor to help people in times of crisis, like during 9/11. He was so moved by the project that he even made a donation to support others. It's moments like these that show how powerful stories can shape young minds and inspire future generations.”

“My students really enjoyed being able to write a thank you note to our police officers. It made them feel like they were a part of our community.”

“I was surprised to find out that my students did not know about 9/11. I know that it is before their time, but the book was helpful in explaining the event. They also had the opportunity to write thank you letters for those in our community who continue to be heroes.”

“This was the first time for many of my students to meet a firefighter in person. If it were not for the Leaders Readers Network this activity would not have been made possible.”

These stories demonstrate the power of service learning to inspire empathy, leadership, and civic responsibility in students. We invite educators to join our Literacy Fellowship and offer year-round service opportunities that deepen students' understanding and connection to their communities.

Visit this link to learn more about how you can get involved.