In February of this year, Bindiya, a mother of four sons in South Jamaica, Queens completed her training to become a LINC Very Involved Parent (VIP). While her sons (ages 7, 5, 3, and 7 months) are what initially motivated her to attend LINC programs beginning in 2022, her journey has led her to become a notable literacy advocate in her community. “Children love when their parents show up and are there for them. That was one of my main goals for becoming a VIP,” she says. “But as a VIP, I also contribute to the goal of creating a…

On Tuesday, November 19, over 35 families joined Upper Manhattan Early Childhood Connect (UMECC) at the Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center for an afternoon of community building and learning fun. Over a dozen local partner organizations were on hand to educate and provide resources, including Literacy in Community (LINC), City’s First Readers (CFR), the New York Public Library (NYPL), NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital WIC Program, RENA Day Care Centers, School in the Square (Dos Amigos), FECWAHI (Family Enrichment Center of Washington Heights), Columbia University’s Office of Community Health, Columbia University Occupational Therapy, Columbia University CONNECT (Clinical Trials), the Family PEACE Trauma Treatment Center at…

LINC recently welcomed two special guests to our Reading Discovery program at the Bronx Library Center, PIX 11’s Weatherman Mr. G. and Assemblymember George Alvarez. This dynamic duo teamed up to do a bilingual read aloud of Gracias/Thanks by Pat Mora filmed by PIX 11’s camera crew for an upcoming holiday special called Give Back, Give Thanks. Stay Tuned! Give Back, Give Thanks will air on PIX 11 the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 29 at 10:00am. The dual language read aloud will also be included in Mr. G’s “G Thing” series on Thursday, December 26 at 4:55pm. Spread the word! Join…

On Thursday, November 7, LINC’s Chief Program Officer Laura Walsh and Albania Jimenez, Senior Director of Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives joined thought leaders in education from around the globe at the annual SOMOS Conference in Puerto Rico.  LINC’s Chief Program Officer Laura Walsh was thrilled to present on the Rising Readers: Building Literacy and Resilience in Latino Youth panel along with esteemed colleagues in the sector. Panelists included Kari Kurjiaka, Director of Literacy and Public Policy, Reach Out and Read of Greater New York, Victor Pichardo, Vice President of Community and Government Affairs, SBH Health System, Ingrid Chungata, Chief Program…

Hats off to LINC’s 2024 NYC Marathon Team: Jessica, Cat, Isabelle, and Inez! They joined runners, spectators, and fans from around the globe for a 26.2-mile journey through the five boroughs of New York City, in the name of early literacy. Our team is building healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of reading and running, and we could not be prouder. LINC staff member and marathon runner, Inez Martinez has dreamed of running the NYC Marathon since she was 7 years old, and today her dream came true. “Literacy holds a special place in my heart, thanks…

NEW YORK, NY, October 30, 2024 – Literacy in Community (LINC), an award-winning early literacy nonprofit, is pleased to announce that our Executive Director, Shari Levine, has been named one of New York’s 2024 Power Players in Education by PoliticsNY!  PoliticsNY’s Power Players in Education list honors the most dedicated leaders in their field, those championing progress and success in all forms of education. These exemplary leaders are driving New York’s evolving educational landscape to new frontiers with their expertise and innovative solutions. Shari joined LINC’s Board of Directors in 2005 and became Executive Director in 2012. Under Shari’s leadership,…

On November 3, Team LINC will join thousands of athletes for the 53rd annual New York City Marathon–a 26.2-mile course through the five boroughs sidelined by crowds of spectators, and we cannot wait to watch them cross the finish line. Join us in the charity cheer zone, in one of our very own communities, East Harlem as we shower our team with love and gratitude!! Look for the LINC logo at 1st Avenue & 120th Street between 1:00PM-3:00PM! This is LINC’s second year as an official charity partner and we could not be more excited for this iconic opportunity. Thank…

The LINC team headed downtown on Wednesday, October 23 to partner with Harry’s Shave Co. on an in-office employee engagement activation: assembling Caregiver Kits for our workshop graduates. We began by educating attendees on the literacy crisis, explaining LINC’s Community Literacy Model, and sharing the impact of LINC’s work. Before diving into our packing activity, LINC’s Workshop and Delivery Specialist, Allie Zambito took the group through a sample Caregiver Kit. Everyone was very curious about the phonemic awareness paddles, so she demonstrated how they would be used in a workshop and by families in their own homes. Then we got down…

From October 9-11, LINC’s Chief Program Officer, Laura Walsh and Neighborhood Manager for Upper Manhattan, Alma Canete were proud to participate in the National Family Engagement Summit in Savannah, GA.  The conference was a tremendous opportunity for Laura and Alma to share LINCs innovative community literacy model on a national stage. It’s no surprise that their presentation was packed and ranked highly among surveyed attendees! They have spent countless hours building family engagement in LINC’s communities across New York. Parent engagement professionals from across the nation wanted to know more about LINC’s model and expressed interest in having LINC in…

Attention all readers, everywhere! October is City’s First Readers (CFR) Month and that means it is time for the world’s largest shared literacy experience of the year!  On Thursday, October 24, 2024, City’s First Readers will celebrate Read for the Record at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum.  Founded by Jumpstart, one of CFR’s 17 partners, Read for the Record is a global reading experience like no other. Since the initiative started almost two decades ago, more than 28 million people have participated in this reading extravaganza and the number grows each year. In 2023, 2.3 million people from 11 countries and 50 U.S. States and…

As we embrace Hispanic Heritage Month at LINC, we reflect on the rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and contributions that shape our communities through reading. LINC staff conducted a special virtual bilingual program on September 25 centered around the award winning children’s picture book Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez.   Where Are You From? is about a girl who is constantly asked a simple question that doesn’t have a simple answer, one that encourages us to contemplate our backgrounds and our shared humanity. This book is a perfect choice for celebrating the varied cultures and people that make up the…

On Thursday, September 19, City’s First Readers and Human Care NY are collaborating to celebrate Dads Take Your Child to School Day at P.S.189 M in Washington Heights.  Dads Take Your Child to School Day started in 2007 and it commemorates the power of a father figure’s presence in their child’s education journey. Recognizing this day is not just about drop off (which is important too), it calls attention to a father figure’s contributions and the crucial impact that they can have in their child’s education and life.  Research shows that fathers are particularly influential for children’s language and literacy…

Literacy in Community (LINC) is proud to announce that we are an official charity partner for the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon! Our team will join runners from around the globe on Sunday, November 3rd to experience a thrilling 26.2-mile journey through the five boroughs of New York City. Please join us in supporting them as they push their limits, test their courage, and cross the finish line – all while raising essential funds for early literacy. Meet our 2024 runners and discover what prompted them to read and run to change lives in NYC this fall.  Jessica Crandall Jessica…

Learning to read is hard work. One might say it requires a collaboration between various senses and body systems – visual, auditory, and memory. This month a collaboration between The Healthcare Education Project and City’s First Readers will bring a host of literacy and health resources to families in three boroughs.* This collaboration is a strategic effort to raise healthy readers with healthy minds and healthy bodies, in the communities we serve. Kids need exposure to critical pre-reading experiences to be ready to learn when they walk in the schoolhouse door. That’s where the expertise and knowledge of City’s First Readers comes in. City’s…

Congratulations to LINC’s latest Very Involved Parent (VIP) Academy graduates! This spring, over 75 dedicated caregivers took their literary commitment to a new level.  LINC’s Very Involved Parent (VIP) Academy trains parents to become literacy advocates in their neighborhoods. Graduates are equipped to deliver community reading programs, spread LINC’s mission, and promote positive reading habits with other families.  In Staten Island, Senator Scarcella-Spanton presented VIP certificates to graduates at the Sahara Mediterranean Grill, where they engaged in meaningful conversation about parenting and mentoring reading habits, followed by activities that reinforced the strong bonds VIPs form with one another. At the…

On Thursday, July 18, LINC’s Content and Delivery Specialists, Evelyn Cabreja and Allie Zambito shared their best practices for Engaging Families as Partners in Learning and Development at the virtual Lillio* Back to School Summit. Evelyn and Allie joined panelists: Tirusha Dave of Ellie’s Academy and Dr. Kenneth Kunz, educator, coach, and author of Bienvenidos Book Club, and facilitator: Heather Wiederstein, Lillio’s Chief Product Officer to discuss how LINC leverages resources and strengths in our community to support early literacy development. Take a look at what our experts had to say.  LINC implements a Community Literacy Model (CLM) with a focus…

On Wednesday, July 17, LINC’s Professional Advisory Council (PAC) hosted their first Literacy Lounge with guest author Susie Luo. Our PAC developed the Literacy Lounge as an opportunity for individuals to connect with fellow book lovers, enjoy light refreshments, and support New York’s littlest readers. All the proceeds from the event will go directly to ensuring LINC can continue our work of transforming neighborhoods through community-powered literacy. Together with a crowded room of passionate readers, New York-based writer Susie Luo shared a selection from the first chapter of her novel Paper Names. Afterward, she answered questions from the room about…