Community Literacy Organizations Rally to Bring Reading Across the Region.

Feb 5

Press Release: Read Across the Region February/March 2025 Feb. 5, 2025

Ian Brundige, BBB4E Communication Manager

Book, Brushes & Bands for Education (BBB4E), known for its Book Brigade free door-to-door book deliveries program, continues their regional reading project, inviting community leaders to read in 2nd grade classrooms across NWI! This initiative has grown from BBB4E’s Read Across Hammond Week in 2024 and the National Read Across America Day celebrated yearly around March 2.

This year BBB4E is excited to include Hammond East Chicago and Gary public elementary schools. Expanded partnerships with the East Chicago Public Library and Gary Literacy Coalition are supporting this growth deeper into North Lake County.

Volunteers will read the same book to second grade students region wide. The 2025 book selection is How to be a Lion by Ed Vere. The story addresses the issues of bullying and supports kindness through fun animal characters.

Participants will complete a writing project, which invites them to reflect on kindness in their own life. We are working with over 50 new and returning community leaders to make this happen. Representatives include Hammond City Hall, PNW, Calumet College, Ivy Tech, Peoples Bank, Tri-State Automation, the Excel Center and NWI Urban League among other regional leaders.

On Saturday, March 8, a free community event will be open to the public at the Hammond Public Library, 564 State St. Hammond, IN. From 1-4 pm, the first floor of the library comes alive with arts and writing activities for all ages to celebrate reading. Volunteers will read books including How to Be a Lion for live story hours. Plus, free books available from the Book Brigade!

From March 4 - April 18, Hear Them Roar, a display of the lions created by students in the Read Across the Region will be on display at the East Chicago Public Library, Main Branch, 2401 E. Columbus Dr, East Chicago.

Over 50 Community Leaders Reading in over 50 Classrooms

Readings taking place: Tuesday, February 18, 2025 through Friday, March 7, 2025

Hammond Library Event: Saturday, March 8, 2025 1-4 pm

East Chicago Library Exhibit: Tuesday, March 4 through Friday, April 18 2025