First 5 LA at the Festival of ReadersNovember 5, 2007 |
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 A forest of books ... traditional Indian music ... storytelling ... a drum circle ... arts and crafts ... a warm welcome from First 5 LA Commissioner Corina Villaraigosa. These are just a few things the more than 500 families attending the 5th Annual Festival of Readers enjoyed this past Saturday at Los Angeles Mission College in Sylmar. Families were bussed in from surrounding schools for the four-hour festival. In addition to enjoying the stories and music, families also enjoyed a free lunch, provided by SUBWAY, and left with a First 5 LA canvas bag full of goodies and a free book for each child, donated by the Literacy Network of Greater Los Angeles.  The Festival was originally founded in 2003 by lead agency Friends of the Family (FOF) using a grant from First 5 LA, and has sustained with the assistance of additional community partners - Los Angeles Mission College Family Development Network, Child Care Resource Center, Urban Education Partnership, Broadous Ready for School, and now this year First 5 LA again. The festival is a community celebration of the power of reading in the homeFirst 5 LA joined in the fun this year to kick off our month-long regional Literacy Campaign, Read Early, Read Aloud. First 5 LA Executive Director Evelyn Martinez, Commissioner Villaraigosa, Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California Executive Director Carol Henault and FOF Executive Director Susan Kaplan all spoke about the importance of reading aloud to children, and that it is never too early to start reading to a child. For more information about the literacy campaign and how you can promote literacy in L.A. County by participating in Barnes & Noble book fairs over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, click here. |
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