Local literacy programs to grow after $2M in federal funding secured

Congressman Dan Kildee speaks about federal funding that was secured to help literacy programs at two Flint organizations grow during a news conference at the Flint Public Library on Tuesday, March 21.

FLINT, MI – Children up to age five in Genesee County will soon be able to get new books in their mailboxes each month thanks to new federal funding secured by U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee.

The Flint & Genesee Literacy Network will launch the Genesee Kids Read program, an expansion of the Flint Public Library program Flint Kids Read, this upcoming fall, according to Executive Director Angela Hood.

At no cost to families, parents can sign their child up for the Genesee Kids Read program to receive a new book in the mail each month until age five before they start kindergarten.

“Literacy is really a community issue. … Because we know that poverty, incarceration, health, equity and employment inequities can all be traced back to literacy outcomes,” Hood said.

Flint & Genesee Literacy Network will receive $1.5 million in federal funding to grow this program.

This along with a $575,000 grant to the Latinx Technology and Community Center was announced by U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint Twp.) during a news conference at the Flint Public Library on Tuesday, March 21.

“We think of (reading) sometimes as something that we just assume every child has access to,” Kildee said. “We know that’s not the case. So that’s why this effort is so important.”

Funds were secured through the community project funding initiative.

The Latinx Technology and Community Center on Flint’s east side will use the funds to expand language and literacy services up to Bay County, Executive Director Asa Zuccaro said.

The community center will expand one-on-one academic support for school-aged children, adult language classes and expand language services.

More details about the launch of Genesee Kids Read will be available in the coming months, Hood said.

Read more at The Flint Journal:

$2 million in federal funding secured to alleviate mid-Michigan food insecurities

Flint schools to investigate 2022 board action that resulted in overpayment to retiree

Informational event on risks of vaping to take place in Flint

45 MSU Flint medical students learn residency destinations on Match Day

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