Watch Girls and Boys LitClub members speak about their experiences in their LitClub.

Many thanks to everyone who joined us at our beautiful, joyous Gala 2012, to those of you who were able to come in person, and to those of you who were with us in spirit, as always in our hearts!

 Go to litworld.org/poem and add your magic.

Read the powerful community poem as it grows on the Global Poem for Change Blog.

 

LitWorld's Gala 2012
Thursday, May 10 ~ 6:30-9pm
The Metropolitan Pavilion
Metropolitan Suite, 2nd Floor
123 West 18th Street
New York, NY 10011
 

RSVP now to join us for a celebratory and inspirational evening. On this evening, we will come together to start twenty new LitClubs worldwide. Be with us on this extraordinary evening of light and love.

On May 10 we present our Story Power Award to three friends and partners who embody the spirit of LitWorld through their work each and every day at the Children's Village at the Polo Grounds Community Center in Harlem. Tonyna McGhee, Nikeya Stuart and Michael Robles help LitWorld to share the power of story with the children of the Polo Grounds through empowerment and understanding.

Ken Okoth has been a friend, partner, and advocate for LitWorld ever since he helped spark the organization's inception in 2007. LitWorld began with pilot work with the Children of Kibera Foundation in Kenya, and the rest is history. We are delighted Ken will join us as our Special Guest on May 10.

Launching the Lisa Zimmerman Memorial Fund for Mothers' Literacy with Partners in Health
Lisa Zimmerman was a longtime friend of LitWorld whose unexpected passing this year leaves a gap that can never be filled. Her legacy is a fund established by her family to help LitWorld create a collaboration with Partners in Health for mothers in the developing world. As a doctor and mother, Lisa would have loved this synergy. Join us to celebrate Lisa's life and the spirit which will give many mothers the chance to learn to read.

Check out the Silent Auction items to be featured at our Gala.
Many are from our LitClub sites around the Globe.

We hope you can join us. Your presence means a lot to us all.

This April, celebrate Poetry Month by adding a line to our second annual Global Poem for Change,
a community poem we create together!

Legendary author of "Walk Two Moons" and "Love That Dog" Sharon Creech has graciously written these first lines to get us started and inspired:

Now, we ask you, friends, to submit a line of your own, your children's, or your students',
to transform these lines into a powerful poem.

Go to litworld.org/poem and add your magic.

Watch this wondrous poem grow with all of our words together throughout April on the Global Poem for Change blog.

Literacy rights are human rights. Each time we come together in acts of literary community, we stand in solidarity with all children worldwide who want to belong to the world of words.

Earrings from Mexico

-One set of filigree sterling with coral

These beautiful earrings are from Monterrey, Mexico. The delicate sterling filigree compliments the beautiful coral stonework. The famed Yucatan peninsula is host to large coral reefs and is inspiration for this beautiful set of earrings.

LitWorld works with the American School Foundation of Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico. ASFM hosted one of the largest World Read Aloud Day 2012 celebrations with their elementary and middle schools.

Beaded Crafts from Kenya

Beading is a local craft in Kenya, and these three hand beaded items are unique in every way. The collection includes a necklace, bracelet and bowl, and each piece is one of a kind.

LitWorld's global hub site is located in Kenya, where we work with our partners at Columbia University's Millienium Cities Initiative to establish Girls' LitClubs to empower young women to change the world with their words.

Capiz Shell Decor from the Philippines

Capiz is a province of the Philippines in the Western Visayas region. The province is known for its elegant capiz shell products. The Capiz Shell Collection includes wall decor, set of plates, mother of pearl salad fork and spoon, and flower candle holders. 

LitCorps Ambassador Ruby Veridiano has spent the past year living in the Philippines developing LitClubs in the country.

Through your help, we can launch twenty new LitClubs across the world! Learn more about the Silent Auction here.

Pam with fellow Summit Attendee

For the past few days, Pam Allyn has been in Oxford, United Kingdom, speaking at the World Literacy Summit!

The World Literacy Summit is a global initiative that aims to build greater awareness of the international literacy crisis and create a platform for delegates to collaborate, share ideas, learn from one another and be united in a call to action and a plan for change.

Pam joins world leaders in the fields of literacy and development to discuss these pressing issues and propose solutions.

She is also joined by former LitWorld Leadership Team Member, Jen Estrada, who is now attending Oxford University!

With Jen Estrada

Pam also extends her special thanks to the organizers of the World Literacy Summit for creating such a beautiful gathering of literacy leaders from all over the globe!

 This week, Pam Allyn's interview is featured on Mom Enough, the website portal of mother-daughter co-hosts, Marti and Erin Erickson.

Pam joins in to talk about simple but powerful ways to engage your child – tot to teen – in putting ideas on paper, starting with a toddler’s scribbles or drawings and building toward clear, concise expression of feelings, concepts and logical arguments.

This is all about empowering your child to use the written word creatively and effectively.

To what extent do you think technology (including texting and tweeting) helps or hinders good writing? Whatever the age of your child, what could you do at home to support writing while keeping the fun and excitement in it?

 *Words taken from Mom Enough site

View more and listen in on Mom Enough HERE.

We invite you to RSVP early for our Gala here.

To Wakisa, Uganda...

To New York, New York...

Hundreds of thousands of people in at least 65 countries raised their voices on World Read Aloud Day.

View Photos from Around the World!

View Photos from LitWorld's New York City Event!

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Tell us How YOU Celebrated!