Courtesy of Rachel Kline Brown
State Rep. Pat Dillon reads to LEAP summer campers on Friday.
An assistant schools superintendent, a state senator, and a Dixwell alder, among many others, dropped in to the Q House’s gymnasium on Friday to help read to young New Haveners and inspire an early love for books.
Leadership, Education And Athletics In Partnership Inc.‘s (LEAP) annual read-in on the Green took a shift Friday due to the rainy weather. Instead of hosting hundreds of students on the New Haven Friday, the local youth tutoring and recreation agency hosted its read-in event at each of its programming sites around the city.
Local volunteers like New Haven Public Schools Asst. Supt. Keisha Redd-Hannans, State Rep. Pat Dillon, State Sen. and President Pro Tem Martin Looney, and Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison (and, also, this reporter) joined students at the Dixwell Q House at 197 Dixwell Ave. to read books to small groups of children with the goal of inspiring a love of reading.
Maya McFadden Photo
Darcus Henry Jr. leads students in energizing actives before read-in kicks off.
Before the reading began Friday, students gathered in the Q House gymnasium to let out some energy through chants and activities involving singing and dancing.
The activities were led by Dixwell site coordinator Darcus Henry Jr. and several LEAP counselors.
Students silently read after Friday's event.
Following the hour-long read-in event, also hosted in the gymnasium, students found a space of their own to silently read their own books for 15 to 20 minutes.
First time read-in volunteer Rosa White.
Another volunteer Friday morning was longtime Dixwell Avenue resident Rosa White, who joined the event for the first time this year.
White is a regular at the Q House’s senior center and was motivated to volunteer for the read-in because of how frequently she sees young people at the Dixwell Avenue community center.
White’s children, who she raised in Newhallville, attended and graduated from NHPS schools like Hillhouse and Lincoln Bassett while she was a single mom. White moved to New Haven from Tallahassee, Florida back in 1956.
“I couldn’t afford private school for my kids but New Haven educated and equipped them,” she said.
She came with the goal of reminding the LEAP students that “once you get an education, nobody can take it away from you.”
Just like the title and theme of the book she read to her group of students, which was called “Dream Big: Michael Jordan and the Pursuit of Excellence,” White encouraged the youth Friday to “stay in school and get all you can and take it back to your community and family.”
She also shared that she has not stopped learning over the years despite only officially completing high school. White has been taking occasional night courses to further her education since she first arrived in New Haven.
“Read a book, stay focused, and listen to all that your teachers have to offer, because that’s how you’re going to dream big,” she said.
LEAP Executive Director Henry Fernandez, Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison, State Rep. Pat Dillon, and Assistant Superintendent Keisha Redd-Hannans.
Before the read-in officially kicked off, LEAP Executive Director Henry Fernandez thanked the dozens of volunteers who reported to the LEAP sites around the city.
Morrison told the students “your development is my money” as she took time off of work Friday to join the read-in.
Dillon reminded the students that “reading opens your imagination” and gives them power over their own destinies.
Redd-Hannans thanked the LEAP counselors for being role models to New Haven students and also advised that “reading is the key to opening doors unseen” and opportunities.
She challenged the group of students to read for 30 minutes every night.
Dixwell Site Coordinator Darcus Henry Jr. reads with Bryce Johnson.
Dillon and Redd-Hannans join in on energizing activity.
Students and volunteers read books Friday ranging in topics like camping, sports, and the civil rights movement.
Yours truly read “Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement” to a group of 11- and 12-year-old students.
Even though 11-year-old Kimorah Douglas typically enjoys reading comic books the best, she said she enjoyed learning about the story of Emmett Till during the Friday read-in.
“I didn’t know that story and that he died. It’s cool to learn about history,” she said.
As a lover of reading because “it’s important to stay educated and stimulate your mind,” Douglas said she hopes to see more reading events like Friday’s at LEAP.
LEAP campers Kimorah Douglas, Legend Blake, and Bryce Johnson.
Seven-year-old Legend Blake described the read-in event as exciting because he got to meet new people like the volunteers.
Blake recalled reading about bees in his book Friday and learned that bees have venom in their stingers.
He said he loves to read books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid at home.
Eight-year-old Bryce Johnson said he doesn’t usually read at home so Friday’s event was a fun new experience.
Kudos to the kids for being able to read on their backs or the hard gym floor.... I could not sit like that for long