This is a critical moment to ensure that the education of our children continues unimpeded by current events. While we are suspending on-site programs to limit the spread of the Novel Coronavirus, we are rolling out a calendar of digital programming and resource guides designed to keep children actively learning. We hold the keys to continuing education for our children, and because we have invested in empowering our parents and fostering an atmosphere of literacy at home, we are uniquely positioned to support children’s reading, and to bridge the gap school closures may cause. These last days have reminded us that sudden crises…

Literacy Inc. ha decidido suspender toda la programación pública hasta el 31 de marzo del 2020 como apoyo a los esfuerzos de nuestra ciudad para limitar la propagación del Coronavirus. Estamos monitoreando activamente los cambios constantes de nuestra ciudad para mantener a las familias seguras y sanas. La decisión de detener nuestros programas públicos fue difícil, pero el bienestar de nuestras familias durante este momento tan difícil es lo más importante. Queremos que sepan que estamos aquí para brindarles apoyo ahora más que nunca. No permitiremos que el Coronavirus nos impida brindarles con servicios de alfabetización. Este es un momento…

Literacy Inc. has decided to suspend all public programming until March 31, 2020 in support of our city’s efforts to limit the spread of the Coronavirus. We are actively monitoring the evolving nature of our city’s response to keeping families safe. The decision to stop our public programs was difficult but the wellbeing of our families during this challenging time is most important. We want you to know that we are here for you now more than ever. We will not let the Coronavirus stop us from providing you with literacy support. This is a moment of opportunity for LINC.…

Hot Off The Press: “It’s critical to include as many different members of the community as possible in this effort to ensure that every kid is a good reader because it’s important for children to feel that lots of people care deeply about how they turn out, who wish them well and want the best for them and are willing to make every effort to make it happen for them.” — Mimi Levin Lieber, LINC’s Founder Our children deserve the best version of us.The 2019 annual report demonstrates our excellence in all that we do. It is with a vision…

Literacy Inc. (LINC) is proud to announce a partnership with Tracy Dockray, renowned children’s book author and illustrator of many popular editions, including Beverly Cleary’s Ramona, Ralph the Mouse, and Henry Huggins series. Longtime supporters of Literacy Inc. (LINC), Tracy Dockray and her husband, retired attorney and philanthropist Mark Rudd, are committed to helping LINC nurture emerging readers and fostering a culture of reading in communities affected by poverty. To raise awareness, much-needed funding, and mobilize the publishing community to support LINC’s mission, Tracy and Mark will host an art auction and private reception benefitting LINC’s community literacy programming. This…

An annual tribute to the many community partners that help LINC to raise readers across New York City. On the eve of Valentine’s Day 2020, Literacy Inc. (LINC) held our annual We Love Our Community Partners Celebration at ViacomCBS, and it could not have been more timely. Love was in the air and you could feel it from the heartfelt speeches of corporate and nonprofit partners, our board, staff and parent volunteers. Supporters, guests, volunteers, board members and staff gathered together to celebrate the contributions of the many partners that support LINC’s goal of raising little readers across all boroughs…

Bringing the Joy of Reading to NYC Children Tickets are now on sale for LINC’s Spring Gala, a night of celebration in support of LINC’s community literacy model that transforms the lives of more than 13,500 children and awakens the leadership potential of more than 6,800 parents across New York City. The 2020 Spring Gala will take place on Wednesday, April 22 at 6:30pm at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in New York City. Our theme “Bringing the Joy of Reading to NYC Children” will mirror LINC’s efforts to harness the power that exists in every community to make literacy…

Read Aloud and Change the World On Wednesday, February 5, 2020 LINC launched the first of its quarterly literacy holiday celebrations as part of World Read Aloud Day. From the Washington Heights Library to the Staten Island Museum, our families celebrated World Read Aloud Day by reading the book CopyCat Bear by Ellie Sandall. LINC staff, families and VIPs throughout the five boroughs of New York City came together for this momentous event. They shared stories, made their own blue bears and received free copies of the book. LINC’s World Read Aloud Day festivities included parents and grandparents, families that…

On February 5, 2020, LINC will launch the first of its quarterly literacy holiday celebrations. Wednesday, February 5 is World Read Aloud Day and LINC communities throughout the five boroughs of New York City will simultaneously read the book Copycat Bear by Ellie Sandall. Why bears? At LINC, we call February B.E.A.R. month to share the message “Be Excited About Reading” to our families and our mission is to practice what we preach. Copycat Bear tells the story of a bear and a bird’s friendship and mirrors one of the key purposes of World Read Aloud Day – a day…

LINC is thrilled to welcome Sylvain Grande to our Board of Directors. Sylvain is the Chief Product Officer at YieldStreet. Previously, Sylvain was SVP of Product & Design at Shutterstock where he oversaw the company’s product and design functions with a focus on enhancing the customer experience by product and by channel. Sylvain has more than 20 years of experience in technology, media, digital mapping and telecommunications, having worked at Orange, Sony, Myspace.com, Nokia Maps, and SoundCloud. During his four-year tenure at SoundCloud, he was responsible for driving revenue for consumer and creator subscriptions, and also led teams focused on…

A response to the article School Reforms Fail to Lift U.S. On Global Test, published on December 3rd, 2019 To the Editor: Dana Goldstein writes that despite billions spent on school reform, recent tests show that two-thirds of children are not proficient readers. The experts cite teacher training and more social workers in schools as focus areas to address this issue.   What’s not included? Early literacy support programs. If we are to truly address this literacy crisis we need to focus on supporting families with babies, toddlers and preschoolers. The article cites Washington D.C. as the sole example of a city that…

On December 10, 2019, LINC’s Development Dream Team was honored with a Special Recognition in Fundraising and Resource Development at the Best Nonprofit Conference. For over a decade, Nonprofit New York has presented Nonprofit Excellence Awards to teach, recognize and encourage outstanding management practices among New York’s diverse nonprofits, and LINC is thrilled to be part of this growing community of leaders. With over 40,000 nonprofits in the NYC area, LINC is one of the three finalists of the 2019 Nonprofit Excellence Awards. LINC’s Executive Director Shari Levine and Director of Advancement, Eliana Godoy were ecstatic to receive the stunning…

LINC empowers parents to lead change in their communities so that all children can grow up reading. Read about Silvia’s leadership in action. Last year, Silvia Sousa came to LINC’s early childhood program, “Read to Me Little Bee” to learn how to engage her daughter, Olivia, with reading. Silvia’s experience with LINC ignited a passion in her to do more. She graduated from LINC’s volunteer training – and started co-leading a weekly storytime at her local bookstore. Now she reaches not just her daughter, but over 70 children and parents in Washington Heights. Donations to LINC helps parents like Silvia…

For the second year in a row, Literacy, Inc. (LINC) is proud to be recognized by Nonprofit New York for its excellent management practices. LINC was designated as one of New York City’s top three non-profit organizations and received a Special Recognition for its innovative practices in fundraising and resource development. We were honored to be recognized for excellence in financial management in 2018 and are thrilled to have our organization’s work further validated again this year by this prestigious honor. Nonprofit New York’s annual NonProfit Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding management practices. We extend congratulations to Henry Street Settlement, the…

Este verano, LINC convirtió a la ciudad de Nueva York en una zona rica en alfabetización, centrado alrededor del tema de “Los lectores son soñadores”, que les dio la fuerza a 1,212 padres y 2,316 niños a leer 3,764 libros juntos. Desde jardines en viviendas públicas en East New York a los Cloisters en Inwood, en todos los rincones de cada distrito en la ciudad de Nueva York, creamos más de 200 eventos de alfabetización para fomentar amor por la lectura, dando 7,808 oportunidades para que familias puedan involucrarse con la lectura.   Las palabras se convirtieron en parques infantiles. Historias…

Literacy Inc. is thrilled to announce that the #1 The New York Times bestselling author Adam Rubin has agreed to be our 2019 Giving Tuesday ambassador. Adam is the author of ten critically-acclaimed picture books, including the Those Darn Squirrels trilogy, Dragons Love Tacos, Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel, Secret Pizza Party, Robo-Sauce and El Chupacabras (short-listed for the 2018 Texas Blue Bonnet award). With Adam’s support, LINC decided to make one of our favorite books, Dragons Love Tacos a running theme in our upcoming Giving Tuesday campaign, #TacoBoutBooks on December 3. Connecting LINC’s mission with Adam’s story has…

A sea of umbrellas filled parks and gardens. The rain never stops us. LINC makes reading irresistible. Over 50 families gathered at St. James Park to join Victor Ramirez and his daughter, Iratze for bilingual storytime. An active Very Involved Parent (VIP), Victor is a trained community literacy ambassador. LINC’s VIP program has become increasingly popular, and parents, like Victor have developed quite a following. Rain or shine, families are ready to read, and LINC’s VIPs don’t disappoint. Our VIPs help us to make reading highly visible in the community, and leverage their linguistic assets to make literacy accessible in…

On August 12, over 250 children and families from all five boroughs read their way to Yankee Stadium to celebrate a book-filled summer with Reading on the Rails. Families read while in route to the stadium to reinforce that reading while traveling is an effective way to keep children engaged in learning during vacation. Families enjoyed literacy activities and a read aloud of the heroic Effa Manley—the first and only woman ever inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Children were thrilled to watch the game from their very own suite and receive on-field recognition. They left the Yankee Stadium…

LINC’s collective initiative, South Jamaica Reads, has a lot to celebrate. The community has seen remarkable improvements in reading skills with more children than ever reading at grade level. In 2019, reading levels in participating schools increased significantly. One school experienced a 40% increase since the Reads Initiative began in 2014. To celebrate our children, South Jamaica Reads held a community celebration on August 21st at Marcona Park, where close to 150 backpacks filled with school supplies were distributed to get kids inspired to reach even higher this school year. Families received a surprise visit by a special guest reader,…

For the seventh year, LINC led community programs for Dads Take Your Child to School Day. This year, over 200 dads and caregivers across the five boroughs participated in LINC’s literacy activities. Programs like these encourage the importance of male role models and parent support in early literacy, increasing a child’s chance to succeed in school.