On Sunday, September 7, Council Member Eric Dinowitz hosted a community celebration outside the NYPL’s Kingsbridge Library to mark the launch of Sunday library service. The Kingsbridge branch is now one of 11 libraries citywide to begin offering 7-day service, thanks to a $2 million allocation secured in the City Council’s FY26 budget.  Council Member Dinowitz fought to ensure the Kingsbridge Library was included in this expansion, which will allow the branch to open every Sunday from 1–5pm. With this addition, more than 30 libraries across New York City are now open on Sundays.  The expansion of Sunday service at…

Cerrando la brecha de alfabetización infantil latina: Literacy Inc. impulsa la lectura en la comunidad Por: Anny Ruiz Huayamabe En muchas comunidades de Nueva York, la gente no considera la lectura como algo importante o la deja únicamente en manos de la escuela. Pero, ¿qué pasaría si también comenzara en casa, en el metro o incluso en el parque del vecindario? Esa visión guía el trabajo de Literacy Inc. (LINC), una organización sin fines de lucro que convierte la alfabetización infantil en una misión comunitaria. “Trabajamos directamente en la comunidad para promover la alfabetización temprana y resaltar la importancia de…

LINC’s Spring Gala was featured on PIX 11 Morning News today and we could not be prouder! If you missed us at Gotham Hall, take a look now and experience the joy of reading while watching! Thank you to all of our dedicated LINC supporters for making this a truly special night. We are so grateful for the incredible partnership of PIX11 News that amplifies our voice and propels our mission forward. Shout-outs to our Emcee, PIX 11 Anchor Dan Mannarino, the Dance Project of Washington Heights, Councilmember Eric Dinowitz, our featured speaker Yaretzi Canete, the Champion for Children Award winner Susie…

April is National Diversity Month and on Thursday, April 17, PIX 11 News captured the essence of LINC’s 5th annual Diversity Through Literacy campaign on live TV. Anchors Dan Mannarino and Vanessa Freeman interviewed LINC’s South Jamaica Neighborhood Manager, Demelza Wilson and children’s author and founder of Encantos, Susie Jaramillo, to raise awareness about the importance of representation in children’s literature.  Susie is a longtime LINC supporter and author of several bestselling bilingual children’s books that encourage readers to learn and explore through culturally diverse stories and songs. LINC amplifies diversity in children’s literature all year long through our powerful,…

CM Dinowitz co-sponsors reading initiative from LINC By Ethan Marshall New York City Council Member Eric Dinowitz joined the nonprofit Literacy Inc. (LINC) on Wednesday, April 2, at the Kingsbridge Library to celebrate an initiative from the organization meant to foster a love of reading and promote diverse voices in children’s literature. Dinowitz secured $10,000 in discretionary funding to help expand the reach of LINC’s initiative, known as the “Diversity Through Literacy” program. The program provides families with interactive story time sessions, culturally inclusive book selections and community engagement opportunities to help build literacy-rich environments at home. Local families, educators…

On April 1, 2025, LINC Chief Programs Officer Laura Walsh and Director of Early Literacy Josh Barocas had the honor of appearing for an interview on The Literacy View, an incredible podcast dedicated to providing educators and parents with breaking news and cutting-edge research in literacy instructions. The Literacy View is hosted by Faith and Judy, two veteran educators who bring their expertise, sense of humor, and passion of literacy instruction to the show. Together with their guests, they talk about the science of reading for real teachers, real families, and real results. For this special episode, Laura and Josh…

On Friday, November 29, LINC was proud to be featured in a PIX 11 Special: Celebrating the Holidays, touring a variety of holiday experiences in the metropolitan area that culminated with giving thanks during a LINC Reading Discovery at the Bronx Library Center. Special guests, PIX 11’s weatherman, Mr. G. and Assemblymember George Alvarez teamed up to read Gracias, Thanks by Pat Mora, and a number of LINC families were interviewed for the program. Watch and see how LINC builds community through the joy of reading. Thank you to our partners at PIX 11 and our friend, Mr. G. for…

City’s First Readers and the Healthcare Education Project are Raising Healthy Readers in The Bronx! Click here to watch the media coverage and spread the word! Healthy minds and healthy bodies are equally important and we are grateful to BronxNet for capturing our work in action at St. James Park on August 20. A big thank you to all of the City’s First Readers organizations, the Healthcare Education Project, Kairi Moody at BronxNet, and all of our families and staff who participated in this event. Visit www.citysfirstreaders.com to learn more and register for a program today.

On Tuesday, July 16, Literacy in Community held its 10th Annual Reading on the Rails event with resounding success. We were excited and proud to be joined by two News 12 reporters, one with our families in Fordham and one with our families in East New York. Watch the clips and feel the excitement! ‘Reading on the Rails’ takes its literacy mission to the subway tracks New York children and their families took part in the event, hopping on the subway with their favorite books and meeting kids from across the five boroughs who were doing the same. Dan Serafin,…

BY ANNY RUIZ HUAYAMABE NUEVA YORK PUBLISHED 8:05 PM ET JUL. 16, 2024 Un grupo de familias neoyorquinas transformó un viaje en el metro en una experiencia educativa.  Con canciones infantiles y libros en mano, abordaron el tren A en la calle 207, con destino al Bajo Manhattan.  “Pues es algo muy bonito porque, o sea, no cualquier programa te ofrece un tipo de un paseo, de una lectura en un tren o en unos juegos, o lo que sea una experiencia, simplemente que se va a quedar en un bonito recuerdo”, dijo Margarita Parra. La iniciativa de la lectura…

BY SPECTRUM NOTICIAS NY1 NUEVA YORK PUBLISHED 12:00 PM ET JUL. 12, 2023 Animar a los más jóvenes a leer en cualquier lugar y en cualquier momento. Esto es lo que trata de fomentar una iniciativa como parte de la Semana Nacional del Aprendizaje de Verano. Cantando canciones infantiles y leyendo un libro sobre el subway en el subterráneo de la ciudad. Los padres junto con sus hijos pequeños, realizaron un viaje para fomentar la lectura. Este grupo es de Inwood, por lo que abordaron un tren A en la estación de la calle Dyckman. “Queremos que nuestros niños empiecen…

On Monday, May 20, Literacy in Community’s (LINC) Chief Program Officer Laura Walsh joins children’s author Susie Jaramillo for an interview with literacy expert and CUNY professor Dr. Linda Hirsch on EdCast, a program created by educators to explore today’s most pressing education issues.  Dr. Hirsch reached out to LINC when she learned about LINC’s recent annual Diversity through Literacy campaign. The discussion focused on the significant impact of early literacy, the changes in children’s representation in literature, and the continuing challenges in publishing these types of books.  “Books operate as windows and mirrors and for children to be exposed to…

Start early….education begins at birth! Shout it to the world and build a movement! Literacy in Community (LINC) is proud to present our latest public service announcement starring PIX 11’s Emmy Award-winning anchor Dan Mannarino. We are grateful to our corporate partner PIX 11 for creating this extraordinary PSA and for being a staunch supporter of our mission. PIX 11 continues to advocate for children’s access to early literacy education through their public awareness support. We are fortunate to have them as our partner! Education starts at birth. Children learn from day one; their brains develop rapidly in their first…

Programa donde los padres leen en voz alta a sus hijos By Spectrum Noticias NY1 Nueva York PUBLISHED 11:30 AM ET Feb. 16, 2024 “Mañana leemos otra vez…” Fomentar la lectura a temprana edad en su pequeña Grace de dos años, es la labor de una pareja de padres. “Es algo muy bonito porque creas memoria con tus hijos, creas una memoria que ellos van a llevar por siempre. Aparte, la lectura les da seguridad, les hace tener éxito en su día a día y más que nada para prepararse para la escuela”, dijo la madre Beatriz Fermín. Para eso…

“Reading is absolutely power,” Antwan Lewis began the interview on FOX5’s Good Day Street Talk! Yes, indeed it is, and LINC’s Director of Family & Community Engagement, Anastasia Gladden reminded viewers that “reading is everywhere” and explained how LINC mobilizes parents and communities to use each and every opportunity they can to read to their children. Reading starts with talking to your children and reading recipes, newspapers, and signs. It happens everywhere, not just at school and not just at home. LINC has literacy zones in barbershops, laundromats, doctor’s offices, and building lobbies. We find the resources that already exist…

Uptown Subway Stops Included In Reading Program That Ends At One World The 168th Street and Dyckman Street stations will be departure points next week for a Reading on the Rails program for families. Gus Saltonstall, Patch Staff WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — Two subway stations in Washington Heights will be departure points next week for a reading program that ends at One World Observatory. Literacy Inc., an early literacy non-profit, is partnering with One World Observatory to present “Reading on the Rails: Cities, Skylines and Subways” on July 11, a reading program in celebration of the National Summer Learning Week.The…

On Friday, March 24th, Literacy Inc. (LINC) partnered Cayuga Centers, a non-profit human services agency, and Manhattan’s Borough President Mark Levine to host a book reading for minors in Cayuga’s Transitional Foster Care Program. The event was attended by a group of minors in the UC-TFC program ages 5 to 11 years old and by Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, who greeted the youth and read the Spanish version of the children’s book, Dreamers (Soñadores) by Yuyi Morales. Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine remarked, “As we celebrate National Reading Month, it’s essential to recognize the magic of teaching children the…

This past weekend for the first time in over three years, Celebrate Mexico Now resumed their in-person festival with Literacy Inc. at the forefront of this ground-breaking event. We held free programs for families on Saturday in Washington Heights and Sunday in East Harlem, themed QUETZALCOATL: Aztec Tales, Legends, and Music, and they were a huge hit among attendees. Storytelling and music are a huge part of Mexican culture and integral to our mission. Both comfort and affirm a child’s own cultural heritage and open up new worlds for them. The Mariachi musicians of Escuela de Mariachi Angeles de Nueva…

It’s finally summer – the grass is greener, the flowers are blooming and people are smiling from ear to ear. It’s no surprise that one of LINC’s Very Involved Parents (VIPs) is creating brighter days for her community. LINC VIP Elizabeth Figueroa, a community activist in East New York, Brooklyn has been working incalculable hours to maintain the famous Gloria & Maria Garden at 875 Pennsylvania Avenue. The fruits of her labor are rapidly growing as she and her mate, Willie Echevarria encourage residents to plant their own seeds and of course, read to learn more about them. “I interact…

Inspired by our live coverage of Diversity Through Literacy on Pix11 on Thursday, July 7 News Anchor Victor Javier Solano of WXTV Univsion* requested an interview with Literacy Inc. in order to share LINC’s resources with his viewers. On Friday, July 8, Victor conducted an interview with LINC’s Senior Director of Family and Community Mobilization, Albania Jimenez, in Spanish, to learn about the purpose of this campaign and LINC’s mission. “Well, we started our second campaign of Diversity Through Literacy. And what do we want to accomplish with that? Well, bring more representation that looks like our children with the…

Campaign aims to promote early literacy and foster diverse representation in children’s literature NEW YORK, NY, July 1, 2021– Fidelis Care, a New York State health plan, and Literacy Inc. (LINC), a non-profit organization whose mission is to equip New York City families with foundational literacy skills, today announced its second year of the Diversity Through Literacy campaign. Through a generous donation from Fidelis Care, over 1,000 free books featuring stories that represent racial diversity, including 500 copies of the New York Times best-seller The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez, will be distributed by Literacy Inc. across New…

Literacy Inc.’s Family Engagement Specialist, dedicated literacy advocate and mother, Alma Canete, shared LINC’s work live on Levantate NY* earlier this week. We at LINC could not be more proud of her. Alma spoke at length on how LINC expanded its outreach during the pandemic to online programs, and described how it uniquely empowers generations of families to succeed. LINC’s two-generational Community Literacy Model connects families with each other and with resources that already exist in the community to surround children with literacy-rich environments inside and outside of home. Parents, caregivers, and community members in early literacy all foster a…

April showers bring May flowers and LINC’s East Harlem community has been blossoming books! We are passionate about spreading a love of reading and the message is loud and clear–-see us in action, live on Pix 11 News. On Saturday, April 23, LINC welcomed springtime with a festive reading event at Franklin Plaza in East Harlem. Close to 30 families enjoyed stories, music, crafts, and personal visits with our very own bunny, Very Involved Parent (VIP), Lisa Matthew. Two surprise guest readers from PIX 11 News joined the LINC staff making this celebration even more special, the reporters Greg Mocker…

We are so grateful to literacy champions like our very own Gladys Gomez! Gladys joined Bronx Community Board 7’s education committee’s first meeting to advocate for the Bronx’s earliest readers and was featured in the Norwood News. As a former Very Involved Parent (VIP), Gladys instructed the committee on the transformative power of the VIP program. Parents that are empowered with the skills to become leaders create literacy-rich environments in their home and throughout their neighborhood. Gladys has time and again demonstrated the impact of LINC’s model through her enthusiasm, devotion, and love of reading. She is now our Neighborhood…

#TacoBoutBooks LINC PARTNERS WITH ADAM RUBIN, #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF Dragons Love Tacos, PENGUIN, and Council Member Diana Ayala There were giggles and squeals as a taco eating dragon helped LINC staff distribute books and resource materials at three New York City public housing locations. Both part of LINC’s programming to support parents in high poverty neighborhoods in providing their children with critical early literacy skills and a prelude to #TacoBoutBooks, LINC’s Giving Tuesday-Taco Tuesday-Dragons Love Tacos celebration, the book distribution was a collaboration with children’s author Adam Rubin and publisher Penguin Young Readers Group. Adam will be offering LINC…

On Sunday, February 2, 2020 LINC staff and families woke up bright and early to watch our Inwood Community Manager, Sorelys Izarry, talk about the importance of LINC’s mission and programs on live TV. Univision, the country’s largest provider of Spanish-language content, is a trusted communication network among the Latino community. We are proud to have been featured on Contigo en la Comunidad, a program that is committed to informing families about topics and events that enrich our communities. LINC engages parents and community organizations behind the common goal of supporting children in learning how to read and we are…

On Wednesday, July 7, a Fidelisaurus, the Fidelis Care health plan dinosaur mascot, was seen distributing free books at NYCHA’s Marble Hill and Dyckman Houses – home to more than 4,400 New Yorkers! LINC’s community partner, Pix11 captured the joy and excitement as little readers lined up to choose two books and shake hands with this friendly green creature. NYCHA’s Marble Hill and Dyckman Community Centers have partnered with LINC for many years to improve the early literacy skills of their little readers. As a way of acknowledging and rewarding their dedication, LINC and Fidelis Care have partnered to create…

On Saturday, February 12, LINC spread the love of reading to dozens of children in East Harlem during our Valentine’s Day program at Franklin Plaza. This lively heart-filled program included a combination of free books for families, crafts, goodies and surprise guest readers, Councilmember Diana Ayala and Pix11 reporter, Magee Hickey. With eyes and ears wide open, these inquisitive little people fell in love with the stories of the day. Councilmember Diana Ayala read Llama Llama I Love You by Ana Dewdney and Magee Hickey read One World, One Day by Barbara Kerle. Additional stories were read by LINC’s staff…