ANN ARBOR – The Family Learning Institute is hosting two upcoming events to celebrate the gift of reading ahead of the holidays.
The events at Ann Arbor District Library’s Pittsfield Branch and Ypsilanti District Library’s Whittaker Branch, will be free and open to the public.
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Special guest readers will appear at the events, including Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor, Ypsilanti Mayor Lois Richardson, and University of Michigan athletes and leaders. The events will also feature poetry slams.
All elementary school students who attend will go home with a free book and goodie bag.
“We want to celebrate reading as something that is a critical skill and something that we want kids to be really excited about,” said Family Learning Institute Board member Jenn Cornell Queen.
The Family Learning Institute is a nonprofit that offers free tutoring to students from economically disadvantaged housholds with the goal of closing the achievement gap in Washtenaw County.
“Illiteracy and struggling with literacy disproportionately affects people from low income areas,” said Cornell Queen. “We always have openings for volunteer tutors. We hope we can kick off the holidays with people thinking about reading, perhaps give a book to a kid and get them excited about reading.”
Dates and times:
AADL Pittsfield Branch
- Thurs., Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m.
- Address: 2359 Oak Valley Dr. in Ann Arbor
YDL Whittaker Branch
- Thurs., Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.
- Address: 5577 Whittaker Rd. in Ypsilanti
To learn more about the Family Learning Institute and volunteer opportunities, visit www.familylearninginstitute.org.