Thank you to all our sponsors, donors, and guest readers who made this campaign a success!
NIA’s Read Out Loud Campaign raised funds to strengthen our after school literacy programs in over 40 New York City public schools! From February 2nd (World Read Aloud Day) to March 2nd (Read Across America Day). Our students took part in book giveaways and a series of FREE virtual and in-person visits from authors, illustrators and special guests.
This campaign provided over 5,000 students access to great books, helped to establish after school libraries, and has made it possible for us continue to provide extra hours of reading time that are key to their success and emotional wellness!
OUR LITERACY PROGRAM
For more than 10 years, NIA has been supporting literacy in schools in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. We foster a love of reading and build students' literacy skills through the use of the Ready Readers and Rising Readers curriculum, which are designed to center socio-cultural experiences through diverse literature. By using interactive read alouds, hands-on projects, and book clubs to explore meaningful themes and topics, students build vocabulary, engage in discussion, develop critical thinking skills, and connect to the stories they've read, making reading fun!
How do we know our literacy programming is working?
In 2019, less than 50% of NYC elementary school students met or exceeded standards on ELA tests. By comparison, 80% of NIA's Ready Readers students demonstrated growth at a pace that met or exceeded expectations for their grade level.
“NIA’s commitment to literacy has helped ExpandED Schools’ Ready and Rising Readers models grow. NIA is an incredible partner that not only helps us bring these programs to more children, but also helps us think about ways to improve. I truly appreciate their partnership and dedication to helping communities and families.”
MEET THE AUTHORS & illustrators
Dan Abdo & Jason Patterson
Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson are long-time partners, best friends and co-creators of the animated comedy series Rocket Monkeys. Their credits also include developing shows for Disney, Sesame Workshop, Fox, and Nickelodeon, not to mention directing lots and lots of animated commercials!
Mika Song
Mika Song is a children's author/illustrator who makes stories about sweetly funny outsiders. She received the Portfolio Award from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Since then she's illustrated several books for authors, including A Friend for Henry by Jenn Bailey which received the Schneider Family Honor from the American Library Association. Her graphic novel for early readers Donut Feed the Squirrels was nominated for an Eisner award.
Adam Auerbach
Adam is a Brooklyn-based author, illustrator, and designer. He is the author of The Three Vikings, Monkey Brother, and Edda: A Little Valkyrie’s First Day of School, which received an Ezra Jack Keats Award Honor. His upcoming book, Legendary Creatures: Mythical Beasts and Spirits from Around the World, is due out in Fall 2022. In addition to his work as a children's book author/illustrator, Adam is an Art Director at Penguin Random House and his illustrations have appeared in numerous publications, including the New York Times.
Susan Verde
Susan grew up in the heart of Greenwich Village in NYC. As a kid she kept a piece of chalk in her pocket (for spontaneous hopscotch) and her skate key around her neck, ready for the next adventure. She found inspiration everywhere and loved to write all about it! Now, Susan lives by the sea in East Hampton, NY with her 3 children, their dog, Gizmo and a menagerie of other creatures. Here, she writes books for children of all ages and teaches kids yoga and mindfulness.
Aram Kim
Aram Kim is a writer, illustrator and designer of children’s picture books. She was born in Ohio, raised in South Korea, and now lives in Queens, NY, happily surrounded by diverse food and culture. By day, she is an Art Director in the picture book team at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. By all other times, she writes and illustrates her own stories.
Shanda McCloskey
Shanda (rhymes with panda) McCloskey comes from a whole family of different kinds of artists and entrepreneurs! She studied art in Atlanta and New York City. But before writing and illustrating kids books, she taught art to high-schoolers. Shanda now lives in Ball Ground, Georgia with her husband, daughters, and dog. She is also co-creator of the Author Visit Podcast and Author Visit Central.
Doug Salati
Doug grew up in NY and studied art and illustration at Skidmore College and RIT. He received his MFA from the Illustration as Visual Essay program at SVA and was a 2015 Sendak Fellow. His first book was In a Small Kingdom by Tomie DePaola, and his second, Lawrence in the Fall by Matthew Farina, was a 2020 Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator Award Honoree, a Society of Illustrators Original Art Show selection and Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection. He lives and works in NYC.
Derek Desierto
Derek Desierto is a Vancouver-based illustrator whose books with Eva Chen include the New York Times bestseller Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes. Currently, he is living the dream as a freelance artist for animated TV shows and picture books. His ultimate goal in life is to meet Oprah and become one of her Favorite Things.
Rebecca Jordan-Glum
Rebecca Jordan-Glum is an author, illustrator, graphic designer and artist. She grew up in the heart of LA eating latkes and tabbouleh and sushi and tamales, falling out of trees, and skinning her knees. She attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, where she graduated with a BFA, receiving Pratt’s Excellence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Illustration. She now lives back in LA with her husband, two kids, an excessively large collection of imaginary animals, and a few real cats.
Jashar Awan
Growing up outside of DC, Jashar Awan loved drawing and reading. In fact, he still does. For many years, he drew illustrations for publications such as The New Yorker, The New York Times, American Medical News, and Columbia Journalism Review. Jashar made his debut as an author/illustrator with What A Lucky Day! for Norton Young Readers. Today, Jashar lives in Ohio with his wife Emily and their son Maxwell, who loves drawing and reading, too.
Jenn Bailey
Jenn Bailey has her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her work has received the Candlewick Picture Book Scholarship and the Beyond Words award, among others. Jenn is a frequent guest lecturer and workshop leader for SCBWI, Heartland Writers for Kids and Teens, and the One Year Adventure Novel workshops. Jenn is published by Chronicle Books and is represented by Rosemary Stimola.
Sarah Burns
Sarah Burns has been interested in solving environmental issues since she was in middle school. She has gravitated toward the science and renewable energy fields, where she has helped develop solutions for incorporating renewable technologies into developing countries and a number of US cities. When she can, Sarah finds time to travel abroad, reading her book or doing volunteer work where she goes. She enjoys running, developing connections with people, caring for animals, and exploring.
SPECIAL GUESTS
State Senator Andrew Gounardes
Assemblyman Peter J. Abbate, Jr.
Councilman Justin Brannan
Frank Claps, Assistant VP of Investors Bank - Dyker Heights
Irene Chu, Chief Of Staff for Assemblyman Peter J. Abbate, Jr.
our sponsors
Special Thanks to
For providing us with over 2,000 books to help establish after school libraries!
ABOUT US
Founded in 1981, NIA Community Services Network is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building strong children, strong families, and strong communities in NYC. We serve over 15,000 people each year through after-school and expanded day programs, summer day camps, cultural arts opportunities, youth and family counseling services, community assistance, referral services, community events, senior events, and senior support programs. COVID-19 has not stopped our commitment. We remain just as dedicated as ever to our students, families, and communities. Read more.
NIA Community Services Network · 6614 11th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219
Michael A. Bové, President · Mary Anne Cino, CEO
Phone: 718.236.5266 · Fax: 718.236.0971 · info@niabklyn.org