The I Have a Dream Foundation NY-Metro’s East Harlem site is extremely grateful to all the volunteers from Penguin Random House publishing who have participated in literacy events in the past two months. The foundation was selected as Penguin Random House’s charity of the year, to the great benefit of the East Harlem Dreamers. Over 400 hundred beautiful books have been donated to the IHDF East Harlem library and through a series of events every Dreamer has received six books to add to their libraries at home!
On October 26, Random House volunteers arrived at the East Harlem program for a much anticipated Halloween-themed Reading Celebration. 30 volunteers participated, each selecting some of their favorite childhood books and stories to share with the Dreamers. Volunteers and Dreamers read and talked together in small groups of three or four, tucked away in cozy classroom corners. Between the witches’ hats, transformer costumes and excited chatter it was difficult to tell who was having more fun! The Reading Party was a great success, so much so that both kids and volunteers began asking, “When are we doing this again?”
Luckily we had an answer! On November 13, new and returning volunteers from Penguin Random House joined the after school program for a career presentation on the many routes to and roles found in the publishing industry. Representatives from the accounting, marketing, writing, editing and design departments all shared the ins and outs of their roles with the 65 East Harlem Dreamers. They also took the time to explain what they originally studied in college and how they arrived in their current positions. Most excitingly, they brought blank books for Dreamers to write and illustrate themselves! During the book-making activity Dreamers had their own “About the Author,” photos taken for their books and were able to talk one on one or in small groups with professionals about their lives and their work.
We can never say which encounters will spark a child’s imagination, guide them onto a career path or inspire them to make a particular decision, and we can never truly know which children will be inspired most by the opportunities we provide. It is sufficient to say though, that these kinds of interactions are inspiring to kids, help broaden their understanding of the world around them and ultimately help them make decisions about the kinds of lives they will lead.
Thank you, Penguin Random House! Here’s to many more inspiring afternoons together!