EAST LANSING, Mich. — Community members are invited to join the East Lansing Public Library (ELPL), Michigan State University (MSU) and the Greater Lansing Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. for the second Social Justice Reading Group for Children discussion, Exploring Racial Justice, on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 10:30 a.m.-noon at ELPL, 950 Abbot Road.
Registration for the February event will open tomorrow, Feb. 10 at http://www.elpl.org/form/social-justice-reading-group-registration. Registration is required as space is limited to 150 children, ages 4-11.
The Social Justice Reading Group for Children kicked off in January with great response from the community. The new reading group is a partnership between ELPL and MSU aimed at young children. Organizers originally planned for 30 children to participate in the program, but within just a couple days of the January registration opening, more than 150 kids were signed up. Not wanting to turn anyone away, ELPL and MSU turned to the East Lansing community to help expand the program. Volunteers from the Community Relations Coalition, the East Lansing High School National Honor Society, the East Lansing Kiwanis Key Club, the MSU Kiwanis Circle K Club, volunteers from ELPL, the Friends of the East Lansing Public Library and the Library’s Teen Advisory Board stepped up to help alongside volunteers and supporters from the Greater Lansing Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
Support for this program is provided by several departments at MSU, including the Department of Teacher Education, the College of Education, The Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies and Lyman Briggs College.
“Everyone involved with this program was delighted with the response of the January discussion and we understand that this is a program the community wants,” said ELPL Director Kristin Shelley. “It was incredibly rewarding to hear young children share their views on inclusion. We hope to have as much interest and participation in the upcoming February, March, April and May events.”
The February event will explore the topic of race justice through children's literature. MSU faculty with expertise in this social justice area will read children's books related to racial justice. After the readings, MSU teacher candidates will facilitate small group discussions on the topic and volunteers will assist with discussions and craft activities.