Celebrity Reads 2018

On a bright winter morning in February, Newark Community Solutions staff and interns participated in one of the most vital and frankly the most delightful community events of the year.   Celebrity Reads is a literacy initiative created by the United Way of West Essex close to 30 years ago with the goal of recruiting local volunteers to model their love of reading to pre-k and elementary school kids.  The initiative runs over several weeks in multiple school but on this day NCS was at Hawkins Street Elementary School where the festivities kicked off in – where else – the library!

After introductions and breakfast, the “celebrity readers” selected books with some guidance from the school librarian, Mrs. Jones. Before the reading began the school’s cheer squad and dance troupe performed followed by a recitation of poems, one of which was shared line-by-line by a fantastic group of third graders.  Readers then made their way to selected classrooms escorted by young volunteers who made sure to point out all the amazing art projects mounted on the school’s walls along the way.  

Each volunteer read to two classrooms spending about an hour with each class. The kids were enthusiastic and asked lots of questions keeping readers on their toes. It was an amazing day enjoyed by the kids (and just as much if not more by the grownups). We are already looking forward to next year!