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Literacy Chicago founded
Literacy Chicago works to strengthen the writing and reading skills among the adult population. The organization focuses on three programs: ESL, Adult Literacy and GED, and Workforce Literacy. -
Jumpstart founded
JumpstartSince was founded, it has reached more than 100,000 preschoolers. Jumpstart focuses on making sure that young children living in struggling neighborhoods are receiving a proper education. The organization recruits mainly college students to work closely with the children and ensure that their education is not falling through the cracks. -
Literacy Works Chicago founded
Literacy Works Chicago is concerned with providing adults with the most basic reading and writing skills. Their mission includes helping the half a million Chicago residents that demonstrate low-literacy skills. Every year, the organization works with more than 70 adults on enhancing their abilities to read and write. -
Neighboorhood Writing Alliance founded
The Neighboorhood Writing Alliance fosters the creativity of writing in adults. Their mission is to connect a community by means of the written word. The organization’s writing workshops welcome more than 250 adults every year and their work is published in the Journal of Ordinary Thought. -
Barrel of Monkeys founded
Barrel of Monkeys joins acting with writing to create imaginative outlets for children. Through in-school, after-school, and public performances and workshops, this organization promotes literacy by bridging the gap between the arts. -
Book Worm Angels founded
Kermit Myers founded Book Worm Angels because he wanted to put the “fun” back into reading. The organization donates books to low-budgeted schools for lending libraries, which allow students to take the books home. In 1999, the organization donated to one school. In 2011, 203 schools were reached. -
826CHI founded
Focused on students aged six to 18, the organization has served about 4,000 students yearly.826CHI has seven programs that offer unique training in creative and expository writing skills. 826CHI The Boring Store, which funds the writing programs, is a cover for the tutoring center, falling in line with the quirky ways of the organization. -
Purple Crayon Players founded
Northwestern University’s Purple Crayon Players theater group creates performances intended for young audiences. The group reads and performs stories to preschoolers at the Evanston Public Library monthly, promoting literacy by engaging children with story time. They are focused on making their performances accessible and building a community between performers and the audience. -
Reach Out and Read Illinois founded
Reach Out and Read Illinois catches children at very young ages so as to encourage their parents to read with them. The organization teams up with doctors who suggest particular books that would be advantageous to the development of the child. -
Open Books Ltd. founded
Stacy Ratner founded Open Books to call attention to the need for the promotion of literacy in Chicago. In September of 2006, the organization already claimed 10,000 books in its bookstore. Since its founding, the Open Books bookstore collected 40,000 more donated books and created 5 programs that focus on the tie between reading and writing. -
PROMPT Literary Magazine founded
Northwestern University’s PROMPT Literary Magazine hosts tutorials and workshops to help college students hone their writing. Katie Flanagan, pictured, is the managing editor. She, along with nine other students, want to connect the campus through writing. -
The Chicago Literacy Alliance founded
The Chicago Literacy Alliance is composed of more than 20 organizations. The collaboration of the organizations brings a variety of skills to schools rather than focusing on just one aspect of literacy. The CLA donates more than 1.5 million books annually. -
Peyton Newman Barnes & Noble charity event
Peyton Newman, National American Miss Jr. Pre-Teen 2012, connected with Barnes & Noble to create a fundraiser for the literacy organization, Book Worm Angels. All proceeds from February 12 went to the charity. Newman also delivered more than 2,000 books she collected to the organization.
