We READ. We CHOOSE BOOKS TO TAKE HOME TO KEEP!

Jay and John Lai

Krystal with books!!

Welcome Harvest Season

The following piece was written by Julie Newburg about the concept of communities working together. Thank you Julie and Marc.
There was a real spirit of “community building community”, when The REAL Program, a literacy-based afterschool program for children from the Bricket School in Lynn, made decorations for the Shul’s Sukkah.  Before they embarked on their artistic adventure, the children learned about the importance of welcoming the fall bounty, and welcoming guests into the home, from Shul Co-President Marc Winer. 
 

Harold has been to Endicott, Gordon, Montserrat and North Shore Community College!

The REAL Program started last Monday with a beautiful group of children and volunteers. We range in ages, backgrounds and traditions but we all share a common goal of providing quality educational experiences for our children and making this world a better place. On Tuesday, Harold (from the 50 year old story of Harold and the Purple Crayon), attended a community service fair at Endicott College. Yesterday, Harold accompanied some children, moms and teachers to the LYNN PLUNGE hosted by Gordon College's Lynn liaison, Val Buchanan. Happy Fall Everyone!

Harold went to Endicott College Today for REAL

Well, Harold has been to three colleges in the past 5 weeks! Today Harold visited Endicott College as part of the Community Service Fair. Thank you for inviting us for REAL!

First REAL Day of the Fall Semester 2013

We had a wonderful first day with the children and the college students at The REAL Program today!

Peace

The world is a beautiful place! Please remember what matters, for REAL!

REAL Board Member Steps Up to The Plate

 A few weeks ago I received an email asking if I wanted to be on the board of the REAL program in Lynn, Massachusetts. The person who sent the email was a friend of mine (our children went to school together).  We had also shared time on a committee during those years so I knew her to be a tireless worker for a number of good causes.  I said yes to the invitation, without hesitation, for a couple of reasons. The first was that the program was based in Lynn. Though I technically grew up in Revere (just over the General Edwards Bridge) I spent much of my young life in the city of Lynn.  In those days you could find me playing basketball at the YMCA on Market Street, or going shopping with my mother in Central Square, or sneaking behind the fence of the Drive In on the Lynnway to watch the movies for free. To this day I still have friends from Lynn and still have a great affinity with the city.

The second reason I was so eager to help with this program was its mission. The REAL program is about helping kids to read who have limited resources available to them. Why is this so important?  “You're going to hate the answer, less than 15% of Americans read books on (a) regular basis.” (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_percentage_of_population_reads_books)

I teach at Salem State University and I’m often giving my students statistics that support the reading problem that is growing in this country. “Be the 15 percent,” I urge them.

“Here are some additional surprising statistics.

*1/3 of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives.
*42 percent of college graduates never read another book after college.
*80 percent of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year.
*70 percent of U.S. adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.
*57 percent of new books are not read to completion. Over half of those are not read past page18” (Wiki.answers).

By helping REAL to distribute books and encourage reading in young children, I am essentially putting my money where my mouth is. I can look that next class of Salem State students in the eye and know that, in some small way, I may be helping to create the adult readers of tomorrow.

I am grateful for being asked to contribute and I look forward to the responsibility.

Kevin Carey