It’s a common truism that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. That’s why Books and Breakfast is on a mission to start every Evanston child’s day off with a meal — and that goal is coming closer to reality with the group’s newest program at Oakton Elementary.
Books and Breakfast is a non-profit that brings nutritional breakfast and education assistance to Evanston elementary students., On January 26, it opened its eighth location at Oakton Elementary School.
YUNI MORA: I think there’s just always been a need for Books and Breakfast at Oakton.
That is Yuni Mora, Oakton’s site director. She is in charge of helping students with their homework, prepping them for the day and ensuring the program goes as planned. She graduated from Northwestern in 2025 and joined the Books and Breakfast staff in January.
MORA: I’m very familiar with the Evanston community, and I was wanting to stay in the community with them, even post grad. And I thought that this program really aligned with what I want to do career wise.
Books and Breakfast was originally started in the 1980s by parents and teachers who saw the need for breakfast in schools. Over the years, it shifted its focus to closing educational gaps between Black and Latino students. In 2013, it became an independent non-profit.
MORA: I think a part of our mission is helping these students who have less resources or are marginalized for whatever reason, and giving them the same care and access to education that their peers are getting in Evanston.
The program runs Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 8:50 a.m. Students are given a healthy breakfast, personal academic help, and dedicated reading time. The organization also directs a summer reading program.
According to its 2024 to 2025 annual report, the organization served over 200 students. Of those students, 90% qualify for reduced lunch.
There are 15 students total in the Oakton program but they are trying to get at least 20.
MORA: A lot of teachers have been wanting for Oakton to get Books and Breakfast here, and they’ve been positive and been so welcoming and are wanting to get more students in the program.
As Books and Breakfast continues to expand its locations, they strive to provide equitable opportunities to all their students.
MORA: I think it’s very important to have programs like these that are focusing on these communities and are made for them, and not something that they have to sort of fit their ways into.
For WNUR News, I’m McCall Vickers.