(Washington, DC) – Today at 6 pm, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick and DC Public Schools (DCPS) officials will kick off the mentoring program that aims to recruit volunteers to support the 500 for 500: Mentoring Through Literacy program. 500 for 500, which is a part of Empowering Males of Color Initiative, is designed to engage 500 volunteers as mentors to 500 male students of color to help them build strong literacy skills, gain confidence, and discover a passion for reading.