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NYC Department of Homeless Services
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 27, 2016
CONTACT: ncueto@dhs.nyc.gov, (917) 434-5940
WEDNESDAY: DHS, BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY, CAMBA AND NYC SERVICE PARTNER WITH SCHOLASTIC BRINGING "STORY PLAY" TO KIDS AT NYC SHELTERS
NEW YORK—Tomorrow, several DHS families will gather at the Flagstone Family Center, a Brooklyn homeless facility for families with children, to participate in a new reading program designed to increase literacy through access to age-appropriate books with newly built libraries in each shelter, shelving hundreds of books. This partnership between DHS, Scholastic, CAMBA, New York City Service, and the Brooklyn Public Library, encourages young children to enjoy reading, as well as teaches parents the skills necessary to read to, and interact with, their children.
Tomorrow’s event is part of a larger initiative, the DHS Library Pilot Project, a collaboration between DHS’ Office of Public/Private Partnerships, the DHS Department of Families with Children, CAMBA, New York City Service, New York Public Library and Scholastic, Inc. Together, they have created a total of 30 libraries in Families with Children shelters throughout the city. Scholastic Inc. has donated over 3,000 books to facilitate the creation of the libraries, with New York Public Libraries providing programming in these shelter-based reading rooms.
As part of the initiative, and to celebrate the launch of this program at Flagstone Family Center, the various partners celebrated with a "Story Play" read along hosted by Brooklyn Public Library Outreach Associate, Odette Larroche-Garcia, and Clifford the Big Red Dog®. The ceremony will kick off with an introduction from several of the partners and was followed by a reading of Scholastic’s How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten?, as well as snack, playtime, and a book giveaway provided by Scholastic.
WHAT: Scholastic Story Play at Flagstone Family Center
WHEN: Wednesday, April 27, 2016, 10:00 am
WHERE: Flagstone Family Center, 196 Amboy Street, Brooklyn, NY 11212
WHO:
- Lorraine Stephens, DHS First Deputy Commissioner
- Joanne M. Oplustil, President and CEO of CAMBA
- Paula Gavin, New York City Chief Service Officer
- Karine Apollon, VP and General Manager, Scholastic Education
- Nick Higgins, Brooklyn Public Library Representative
- Wendy Gonzalez, Mother
*Interviews with principals available.
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