The Cleveland Job Corps Center, Greater Collinwood Development Corporation, Councilman Anthony T. Hairston, Collinwood Reads and Collinwood Neighborhood Catholic Ministries all united to promote childhood literacy for National Read Across America Day on Monday, March 2, 2020. Read Across America Day is a national celebration taking place annually on March 2nd to commemorate Dr. Seuss’s birthday.

Councilman Hairston read “The Cat in the Hat” at East Clark Elementary School to Pre-K through third-grade students. Following the reading, Cleveland Job Corps Center students helped the children create personalized bookmarks and discussed the importance of reading.

A couple of blocks away at Iowa Maple Elementary School, Cleveland Job Corps students and staff read Black History books to elementary students. They also assisted students with arts and crafts activities and sung ‘Happy Birthday’ to Dr. Seuss.

Collinwood Neighborhood Catholic Ministries donated children books, allowing each student to receive a book. The children also received literacy posters and an “I Love to Read” bracelet.
“The purpose of National Read Across America Day is to encourage a love of reading,” said Cleveland Business Community Liaison Harriet Hadley. “As community partners, it’s important to collaborate to make a bigger impact on the neighborhoods we serve, especially our youth.” The Cleveland Job Corps students had a wonderful time interacting with the elementary students and helping them explore how much fun reading can be.