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Be a Reading Rock Star
Inkster Family Literacy Movement
26429 Michigan Avenue
Inkster, MI 48141
March/April 2015
Volume 1, Issue 1
IFLM LITERACY VINE
Introducing…….IFLM Literacy
Vine. This is the first issue of our new
bimonthly newsletter. We want to keep
you informed of upcoming IFLM activities and showcase special events and
volunteers
JOY DOUGLAS
PROGRAM MANAGER
In August of 2014, IFLM Program
Manager Tanya Upthegrove passed
the IFLM torch onto Joy Douglas,
Joy previously worked for Employment Training Designs, Inc. As Director of Development. Joy is well
respected in the Inkster community
through her leadership of Project
ACE, the Local College Access Network offering resources and support
to students and families as part of the
college transition process. Joy also
has extensive program management
and fund development expertise
which will be an asset to IFLM going
forward.
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Be sure to check out our new updated
website InksterFLM.org There’s more
learning fun with Jay! You can select a
Read Along With Jay book and watch a
video to learn about healthy food choices,
shapes, and colors – all while exploring
wonderful adventures. You can even print
a copy of the book and follow along with
the video. It’s fun for the whole family!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Last year’s Be a Reading Rock Star Reading Rally
was lots of fun. Highlights included a rousing
performance by the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, where they inspired great interaction from
the children. There was plenty of dancing singing,
and stepping. One of the books read to the children was, My Family Plays Music by Judy Cox.
It was truly a family affair. Cheryl Majeske Volunteer Resource Specialist, animatedly read the
story. Then the children made their own instruments and played along with Cheryl’s nephew
Drew LaBelle, who led the rock stars with his saxophone.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
March 6 Monthly Book Distribution
March 18 Outer Space Reading Rally
March 25 McDonalds Literacy Night
3 Monthly Book Distribution
April 29 McDonalds Literacy Night
There are also several playgroups and
book clubs throughout the community.
Go to the calendar in the community
events section of our website at
InksterFLM.org for more information.
Starfish CEO Ann Kalas and 11th District
State Representative Julie Plawecki along
with Joy Douglas, Carolyn Smith, and
Feleice Wilson pause for a quick picture
while working at the annual free food distribution which served nearly 200 families.
Boy Scout Holds Book
Drive & Donates 2500+
Books to IFLM
March 5 Community Impact Awards
April
IFLM Organizes Food
Distribution
Layla, Deontae, and Keiahna show off coconut tree
pictures with their names from the story Chicka
Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. at the
Lemoyne Gardens Play & Learn.
Avery Bono is a boy scout on a mission
to raise literacy and be an Eagle. At
just 15 years old, he has already started
the process to attain the famous eagle
rank. Earning this highest rank in the
Boy Scouting program requires planning , developing , and giving leadership to others in a service project.
Avery saw a need for more reading so
he decided to do a book drive. He got
all of his troop (1241 of Garden City)
family and friends involved in the project. Together, they collected a total of
2,500 books. However, he didn’t stop
there Avery went on to donate and assemble 7 bookcases for IFLM. Even
though Avery’s eagle scout project is
over, he is continuing to collect new
and gently used books for IFLM .
Have you seen
our IFLM
Community
Hero Billboard ?
It is located in
the city of
Wayne on Van
Born at Henry
Ruff.
8 YEAR OLD HOLDS AN
IFLM BOOK DRIVE FOR
HER BIRTHDAY
Would yo
u like to
hold a bo
ok drive
for IFLM
?
Contact A
rlene
Reese at
AReese@
sfish.org
Lucy K. decided to share her 8th birthday
with children from Inkster. Instead of receiving gifts for herself, Lucy asked guests
who attended her party to bring a book to
donate to children in Inkster. Lucy is learning the importance of sharing and helping
others and likes to use her birthday as an
opportunity to give back. Over 75 books
were donated at her party to be given to
IFLM for their on-going book distribution.
Carolyn Smith and Cheryl Majeske host a book
drive at Ford World Headquarters in October 2014
An interview with Carolyn
Smith IFLM Program Assistant
Working together to prepare students to succeed in a competitive
society.
Laprisha Vaughn
Program Evaluation Specialist
We would like to welcome Laprisha Berry
Vaughn to the Inkster Family Literacy Movement (IFLM) staff. Laprisha is IFLM’s new
Program Evaluation Specialist!
Why is literacy so important to you?
Carolyn: I believe that literacy helps move
people forward in life. Being able to comprehend information is extremely important in everyday life. For children, literacy allows them to further develop an
imagination which creates a more engaged reader and ultimately builds skills
and interest for life-long reading.
Laprisha was born, raised and educated in
Michigan. She received her Bachelor’s degree
in Psychology from Michigan State University. She earned her Master’s degrees in Social
Work and Public Health from the University of
Michigan. All of her work has focused on improving the health and well-being of individuals, families and the community. Laprisha says
literacy impacts quality of life and overall wellbeing by helping people achieve their personal
and professional goals.
What can you contribute to IFLM?
Carolyn: I will contribute my enthusiastic
personality! I also have a sincere desire to
see children, parents, and the community
as a whole, become avid readers.
Laprisha is excited to work with IFLM to help
measure how literacy activities and programs
impact individuals, families and the community
in Inkster. Laprisha’s favorite at-home literacy
activities include singing bedtime stories to her
son Ausar (age 4) and reading stories that her
daughters Jordan (age 7) and Londyn (age 5)
have written and illustrated.
What are your hopes for IFLM in
the next 5 years?
Carolyn: I hope that IFLM is sustained as
an integral part of Starfish Family Services and the Inkster community. I want
the IFLM logo to be recognized and the
connection made with Starfish Family
Services. Lastly, I hope that IFLM can be a
best practice model for more literacy programming locally, and throughout the
state and beyond.
Lastly, what was/is your favorite
IFLM activity/event so far? Why?
Carolyn: My favorite activity is giving
away books to children. I enjoy watching
their eyes light up and the excitement in
their faces. I love to hear them yell “I want
that book!” – it is a very fulfilling activity.
I look forward to giving out as many
books as possible!
………………………………………………………...
IFLM is led by a coalition of community partners that works toward a common vision: to
ensure Inkster is a place where all families
thrive and have access to the supports. Services,
and opportunities children need for literacy and
school success
The Taylor Reading Corps is a nonprofit organization that recruits,
trains and sustains a network of
volunteers to enhance literacy
challenges with children in the
Taylor School District.
COALITION
CORNER
The Josie Odum Morris Literacy Project, Inc.
(JOMLP) provides literacy services for adults
in Western Wayne County, with particular
emphasis in Inkster, Michigan.
Adult reading assistance is provided on a one
-on-one basis in public settings. All tutoring
is free of charge. For more information, call
(734) 620-1860.
Serves as a primary conduit to residents and
community leaders, through which they can
learn about emerging trends in youth substance abuse as well as gain access to education and training to prevent it through multiple learning communities hosted by the
Inkster Task Force.
The Leanna Hicks Public Library serves the Inkster
community. The library has books, CD’s, DVD’s, blu
-rays, magazines, newspapers, and e-books. We also
have computers and laptops for public use along
with free Wi Fi for your electronic devices. The
library offers programming for all ages and provides
fax and notary services. The mission of the Leanna
Hicks Public Library is to be an informational, intellectual, and cultural resource for all people. This
service is to be provided in a professional and welcoming manner. The Leanna Hicks Public Library
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hopes to inspire the spirit, educate the mind, and to
be a center of community pride.