| |
Mimi Levin Lieber, Founder/Former Board Chair, and current Program Committee Chair of Literacy, Inc. (LINC), is being honored for her passionate commitment to breaking the cycle of illiteracy by focusing on early childhood literacy—birth to age 8. Ms. Lieber, a sociologist and social psychologist and a former member of the New York State Board of Regents for 15 years, started Literacy, Inc. ten years ago on the premise that every child can read well given enough one-on-one support, and that the greatest resources to achieve that goal reside in the families and communities with the most at stake in that child’s success. With Ms. Lieber’s guidance, LINC has developed a model that enables communities to invest in themselves by creating a focus and energy on reading with children, and organizing local efforts to communicate the importance of reading. LINC Coordinators, who live in or near the communities in which they work, guide and support the formation of Community Literacy Networks to engage local stakeholders to plan and implement reading partner programs and literacy events. Over the years, LINC has worked with over 600 partners and provides over 150 reading programs each year with reading partners ranging from fifth graders to senior citizens—in schools, senior centers, residential building lobbies, shelters, local businesses, preschool sites and parks throughout New York City and in Hudson, New York. In addition, Community Literacy Networks plan nearly 200 one-time literacy events annually. Ms. Lieber meets regularly with LINC staff and is involved in setting LINC’s strategic direction, including plans to bring the LINC model to communities outside New York City and New York State.
|
|
