Our Diversity Reading program started in the fall of 2002 with the goal of reaching out to the children in the community by educating and encouraging them to read books about the various cultures in our society today. To date we have read to 800 children within the community and we have built our library to over 100 books.

This semester we will be reading to all of the students at Horizon Elementary, North Point Elementary, and The Child Development Center at IU South Bend. By the end of the semester we will have read to an additional 800 children in the community. It brings us great pleasure to be able to encourage the love of reading along with cultivating an interest and appreciation for the diverse world we live in. Our goal for 2005 is to read to 1000 more children, build our library with more books, find more volunteers to help reach our goal, and continue to make learning fun while educating our children about the various cultures in our society.

We are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers who want to make a difference in a child’s life by reading to them. It only takes about a half an hour to forty five minutes once a month. We also are in need of more books for the preschool to kindergarten age. Any contribution of your time or books will be greatly appreciated.
If you want more information about our program please contact Le Anne Clifton or Alma Galicia at the Civil Rights Heritage Center IU South Bend at 574-520-5580.

The South Bend Tribune's Coverage of the Diversity Reading Program