|
|
|
|
|
Up And Coming
|
Open Books Orientations
October 7
October 21
Fall Harvest Book Drive And Open House
October 2
VWrite Student/Mentor Meet And Greet
October 6
Buddies Training
October 13
Yelp Causes For A Party
October 15
GRAND OPENING WEEKEND
November 21-22
Check our Events page
for full details and other upcoming happenings!
|
Stacy Says...
|
There's something new in this newsletter! Stacy R., Executive Director at Open Books, is now writing a monthly column on what's in the works and how it feels to be part of it.
Check out her first entry,
A Bigger Box,
at our blog!
|
Open Mic:
Ava Zeligson
This month's 10 questions are answered by Ava Zeligson, Open
Books' new Volunteer Coordinator! Ava will be in charge of recruiting,
inspiring and motivating all of our wonderful volunteers. We are so excited to
have her on board and as a part of the team.
Read on and see what Ava thinks about Dunkin' Donuts and Danny DeVito!
|
|
|
By The Numbers
|
During the Fall 2009 semester, Open Books' youth programs will serve...
180 students
at 9 elementary schools
through
Open Books Buddies
900 students
in 4th-12th
grades
through
Adventures In Creative Writing field trips
38 high school juniors
through
VWrite
|
Story Of The Month
|
During Open Books'
Adventures in Creative Writing Field Trips, students write all kinds of stories
about their lives. While we wish that we always could bring you funny,
sweet, or happy moments, the truth is that many of our students have had to
deal with obstacles well beyond their years, like death and violence. The
story below was written by a 7th grade student during a trip this week. We
think you'll see why it touched us so deeply.
My Last Bad Day
by Alexandra
|
|
Open Books is on a treasure hunt for gifts in kind!
Our wish list is growing and we need your help to secure caterers, furniture, supplies, audiovisual equipment, and more. Please take a moment to
review our wish list
for ways you can help!
|
|
Open Books knows you have stacks and stacks of great books
piling up around your house. Our amazing bookstore, where we raise
money for literacy programs, is opening in November, and we
need your books! All genres, binding types, sizes and colors are welcome. Your donation ensures that we will have fully stocked
shelves and a fabulous collection to help raise money for literacy programs!
Visit our donation page for more information.
|
Have you moved? Changed email addresses? Altered your schedule for volunteering?
Let us know at
updates@open-books.org!
|
|
|
Happy October,
friends of Open Books!
Temperatures are dropping, we're wearing jackets to work, and the official countdown to the grand opening of our flagship bookstore and literacy headquarters has begun. If you've been thinking about volunteering with Open Books or donating to help make our programs possible, there's never been a better time to do so, and this issue of the newsletter is full of opportunities and suggestions to help get you started. If you're already part of the family, we can't wait to celebrate with you in November, and we hope your fall is off to a wonderful start!
|
 Open Books Buddies Begins!
Four sites are underway in the
2009-10 Buddies program, and in just the first two sessions we've already seen
inspiring improvements in students' attitudes and interest in reading! It's amazing to witness how the arrival of
a mentor can turn a child's day around. The next round of Buddies sites
launch next week! We have start dates and times for Mitchell Elementary
in West Town, Goethe Elementary in Logan Square, and Oakton Elementary in
Evanston. If you are still interested in becoming a Buddy but have not
yet committed to a site, we want to hear from you! We especially need you in Bronzeville,
the South Loop, and Logan Square. Check the schedule and e-mail Anna ( apiepmeyer@open-books.org)!
FINAL Buddies Training Date Added!
Big thanks to those who attended
Buddies training in September! We love putting faces with names, catching up
with old friends, and sharing tutoring strategies and experiences. One FINAL training date has just
been announced for this semester! If you're a Buddy (or want to be) and have
not attended a training yet, please
come to Open Books from 12-1pm Tuesday, October 13. RSVP to Anna ( apiepmeyer@open-books.org)!
WANTED: Writing Workshop Participants!
Looking for a job? Need to polish your resume? Ever dreamed
of writing? Or are you a writer without the time or inspiration to write
lately? . . . If you answered "Yes!" to any of those questions, sign
up to participate in WeWrite, our
free creative and professional writing workshops for adults and teens.
Read all about it and sign up here, invite your friends, and spread the word!
|
|
Time To Save THE DATE OF DATES!
 The pounding of hammers and the buzzing of saws have been music to our ears
lately at Open Books. The bookstore, new literacy center and classrooms are coming together before
our very eyes! We are SO THRILLED to be able to share it all with you...and we will, with a weekend long extravaganza and fairy-tale Grand Opening Event!
There will be books to buy, family activities, author readings, puppet shows, storytime, and much more!
The weekend of November 21-22is the date we are shooting for,
so keep
an eye on your email and
the Open Books site
for more exciting details.
Open Books really is our fairy tale dream come true, and we are so eager for
you all to join us in the writing of this exciting next chapter. Make sure to
mark your calendar and follow us on Twitter as we document the last few weeks of getting there! Can't wait to see you in the store!
|
Help Open Books Take The Next Step
In less than two
months, Open Books will celebrate the opening of Chicago's first nonprofit used
bookstore and literacy center. As we paint drywall, inventory thousands
of used books and schedule grand opening weekend events, we are constantly
reminded of WHY Open Books is truly vital to our community. In a country where
40 million people read at or below the fourth grade level and 20% of high
school graduates cannot read their own diploma, it is not a surprise that $5
billion in taxes each year supports people who are unemployable due to
illiteracy. Not only is this a national crisis, but it is a personal tragedy
for the millions subjected to life in the margins for their lack of literacy
skills. At Open Books, our programs aim not simply to boost reading and writing
skills for our students, but to help them understand the intrinsic value of
being literate individuals who can think critically about their world and use
their voices to shape their communities and impact future generations of
learners.
Help us unlock the
doors of opportunity and enrich lives through reading, writing and the TRANSFORMATIONAL power of used books.
This school year we plan to serve over 3,000 students and adult learners, but we can only do this with your help!
During a time when foundations and corporations have been forced to cut back
their giving and the government has slashed literacy program funding, Open
Books looks to its friends and supporters to help fund our broad range of
literacy programming. We encourage you to join us in combating illiteracy in
Chicago by making a donation today!
There are MANY ways to
invest in literacy at Open Books! For example...
* Put It In Words! From sponsoring a
classroom to purchasing a bookshelf plate, you can make a difference!
* Declare your love of reading and become a member!
* Support Open Books through a corporate initiative -- sponsorship, book swaps, book drives, and more!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Open Books is a nonprofit social venture that operates an extraordinary bookstore, provides community programs, and mobilizes passionate volunteers to promote literacy in Chicago and beyond. We enhance lives through reading, writing, and the NEWSWORTHY power of used books. To learn more about us and find out how you can get involved, visit us at http://www.open-books.org!
|
|
|
