Roosevelt School District Hosts Annual African American Read-In

Students from the Roosevelt High School National Honor Society recently shared a collection of inspiring stories by African American authors to students at Centennial Avenue Elementary School for the 34th annual The National African American Read-In (NAARI). The read-in was part of the District’s efforts to encourage children to read and to honor the contributions of Black authors and illustrators during Black History Month.

“Each year, our National Honor Society students shine as role models for our younger students by encouraging them to read and sharing powerful stories with them,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Deborah Wortham. “We’re so proud of our staff and students for running another successful read-in and celebrating the culture and accomplishments of the Black community.

The District’s African American Read-In is designed to promote literacy by connecting students to stories in which they can relate to the characters and find inspiration in the authors’ messages. The Roosevelt High School NHS has been hosting the read-in with Centennial Avenue Elementary School for seven years to provide students with a nurturing environment that fosters a love and respect for reading.

The African American Read-In is a national event and Centennial Elementary School was one of the seven schools across New York to sponsor their own read-in. Books featured in the read-in included Looking for a Jumbie, Thumbelina, The City Tree, Balloon Farm and My Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World, among other enthralling works.

The National African American Read-In is a groundbreaking effort to encourage communities to read together, directing awareness of African American books and authors. It was established in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month. This initiative has reached more than six million participants around the world.

To learn more about the Roosevelt Union Free School District, please visit the District's website at https://www.rooseveltufsd.org. Happenings in the District can also be followed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RooseveltUFSD.