Children's Literacy Action Team

Astounding Book Giveaway

2011-05-09T16:45:00.000-07:00

What an exciting Saturday afternoon we had the first weekend in April. 650 new books were given to children at five apartment complexes and one local supermarket. What started as an annual Community Day, organized by Susan Lawson, of First Presbyterian Church Concord, became a very successful book giveaway.

Our goal was to get these new books into the hands of children who had not been part of past events. Apartment Managers were eager to open their complexes up to volunteers for a couple of hours on Saturday, April 2nd.

At the Stirling Cove Apartments, Susan Lawson and Doris Sloan met many children and parents and gave away 80 books.

At Riley Court Apartments, the Rodriguez, Bill Nelson, and Ellie Chin gave away 90 books, while Moe read the books to the gathered children. One of the young boys was so excited as he called out to his sister that now that they had their own books they could play teacher.

At Virginia Lane Apartments, a large crowd of children and parents gathered in the courtyard to get their books. Many of the mothers want to meet together again to plan other things for their complexes.

At Parkview Apartments, there was a good turnout of children and adults. While the children were selecting their books, the Aztec Dancers performed and people gathered to watch.

At the Los Rancheros Supermarket, we gave books away, but the supermarket provided snacks at a discount price, a bouncy activity, the Aztec Dancers. Everyone had a wonderful time.

Everyone agreed that these six book giveaways met or exceeded our goals and objectives. It was such a great opportunity for people from a cross-section of our community to enjoy a few hours together.

Lots of books = Happy children

2010-10-04T16:29:00.000-07:00

Once again many children were able to choose books to take home for their own personal library. Each child was encouraged to pick two books.

So many beautiful, gently used or new books had been donated from the community for this annual event at Meadow Homes Park, Concord, California.

Six volunteers from the community helped make this event so successful. A good time was had by all .... the children received the fun of choosing their own books, and the volunteers had the joy of sharing their love of books with the children.

Teaching English at Riley Court Apartments

2010-09-01T11:53:00.000-07:00

Two students were awarded certificates at a special end-of-the-summer celebration at the Riley Court Apartments. Ramon speaks and understands English at an intermediate level, but was able to increase vocabulary and improve his grammar. Maria, a beginner. is still so shy about speaking, but she has learned so many new words and understands much of what she hears. She is on her way, and is eager to learn more. This informal class has worked wonderfully for her, and she will be enrolling at the local elementary school class when her son is old enough for the preschool class.

Sue Hummel and Helen Essenwanger have been faithfully sharing the leadership of this class. Sue has been the English teacher and Helen has provided educational fun with the children while their parents were learning. Sue needs to take some time off to get a consulting business going, but says she will be back!

New volunteers are always welcome.

Library at Sun Ridge Apartments

2010-07-28T11:08:00.000-07:00

Many children enjoyed the newly opened library at the Sun Ridge Apartment complex on Saturday. While their parents were getting their H1N1 shot, the children enjoyed the good selection of books in their informal library. Already, many children have checked out books. We are looking for someone in the apartment complex to step forward, and take charge of the library. Several of the elementary age children have been helping whenever the Club House is open.

Exploring Education Concerns

2010-07-19T19:49:00.001-07:00

What can we do, as residents of the Monument area of Concord, to assist our local schools? A small group of Latinos met at the Monument Community Partnership to express their concerns and begin exploring ways to help. At the same time, a group of volunteers who have been reading to preschool children in the area, met and discussed some of the same concerns, and began exploring ways they might be able to contribute in other ways. The leadership of the Monument Community is also exploring possibilities, communicating with the Mount Diablo Unified School District, along with a broader network of residents.

Anyone interested in continuing this dialog, with the hope of making a real difference in our community, is welcome to attend the next planning meeting, July 29th, 2010 at the Keller House, 1760 Clayton Rd
Concord, CA 94520

1000's of books given to children

2010-07-19T19:17:00.000-07:00

What a great year! Because of a grant from First 5 and generous donations from local residents, the Children's Literacy Action Team was able to give away 1080 new books and 740 gently-used books to children living in the Monument Community of the City of Concord.

This year we were able to give new or gently-used books at a variety of community events: Health Fair, Monument Pride, the Census Gathering, a neighborhood Posada, Christmas parties at local apartment complexes, and other special events.

Would you like to help? We always welcome those who want to help collect and organize books, find new creative ways to get books to more children, and volunteer at the Giveaway Events. Please contact Sally Smith, Facilitator of Children's Literacy Action Team at sally@monumentcommunity.org.

Exploring Education Concerns

2010-07-19T18:07:00.000-07:00

100's of book given away!

2009-06-16T20:13:00.000-07:00

Once again we were invited to have a book give away booth at the local Monument Pride Celebration on May 6th. Monument Pride was well attended and many children enjoyed picking out a book or two at the booth. One young man kept coming back and I would help him pick out a book each time. His father said he loved to read and knew he would make good use of the books. For some children, it seemed like this was the first book they had of their own. Our volunteers loved seeing the delighted smiles of these children as they selected their own book. All of these books had been donated to us during the last six months. We love these opportunities to pass them along to children in our area.

Another year of children and books

2009-06-16T19:56:00.000-07:00

What a great school year it has been. Twenty five volunteers have been reading each week to preschool and school age children in the Monument area. The children in this photo are in a preschool while one of their parents is in an English class. The children are learning English in an informal manner, as the books are read to them in English.

Our Vision

2008-09-28T16:58:00.001-07:00

As a group of Seniors living along the Monument corridor of Concord we have established a reading program for young children.

It is our hope that Children:

will thrive and grow through language and the world of books
will enter school better prepared with enhanced English language development
will continue in school feeling encouraged and supported
will enjoy relationships with Seniors

It is our hope that Seniors:

will find joy and meaning through working with children
will share and impart their love of learning to the younger generation

It is our hope that Parents:

will discover the joy of having books in their homes

Story Reader Training

2008-09-08T13:47:00.000-07:00

Three new readers were trained for the Pre-school Story Readers of the Monument Community Partnership. The training, at the Concord Public library was directed by Lynne Palme, a CC County Librarian the training at the Concord Public Library.

Many of our regular readers have had the summer off, and are eager to get started again for the fall semester. We will have a "kick-off" near the end of September.

Recently we were able to purchase new books and they are being processed now, and will be shared by the various Story Readers, and will be placed in the apartment libraries.

Children's Literacy in Monument Area

2008-07-20T22:04:00.000-07:00

The Children's Library project has five small libraries, situated in the First Five Center, and in four apartment complexes in this high populated area of Concord.

We are always hoping for donations of books from the community.

Our Vision

2008-07-20T21:15:00.000-07:00

As a group of Seniors living along the Monument corridor of Concord we have established a reading program for young children.

It is our hope that Children:

will thrive and grow through language and the world of books
will enter school better prepared with enhanced English language development
will continue in school feeling encouraged and supported
will enjoy relationships with Seniors

It is our hope that Seniors:

will find joy and meaning through working with children
will share and impart their love of learning to the younger generation

It is our hope that Parents:

will discover the joy of having books in their homes