arts
The Learning Tree Grows Mississippi Readers by taylor Mckay Hathorn McGee says of the transition. “We’ve had readers join us from as far away as California and Detroit.” In addition to its hour-and-a-half-long monthly reading sessions, the group is also currently hosting a speaker series, which the Mississippi Humanities Council funds in part. But McGee says, this progression is not the end goal for the group. “We want to raise money to create community libraries, which are basically abandoned houses converted into libraries so that local kids can walk to them,” McGee says. Community libraries differ from public libraries in that parents, grandparents and other community members control them instead of a city or county government. “Literacy is a serious problem in Jackson and across the country,” McGee concludes She says giving children ready access to books and opportunities to read them through the book club and the someday-libraries will continue the group’s “social justice awakening” that will improve literacy in its wake. courtesy Learning tree Book cLuB
“W
e saw this before George Floyd: We smaller crowd) is that you might have a father and a mother have systemic imbalances in our society, reading to their 3-year-old, or you might have a child visit and reading is one way to impact that,” only once because the child spends time with us while their Meredith McGee says. To help combat this imbalance, a group of community activists banded together to create learning opportunities for readers ranging in age from “6 to 60-plus.” To do this, the group, headed by McGee, hosted a weeklong reading fair at Pearl Street AME Church in spring 2018, and at the end of the week, the group members adopted the moniker of the “Learning Tree Book Club” and voted to begin having monthly meetings in a free space in the Jackson Medical Mall. Armed with a suitcase full of reading materials ranging from picture books to novels to periodicals, McGee spent the first Saturday afternoon of each month reading with various The Learning Tree Book Club gathers for its first virtual meeting. members of the Jackson community. “It’s a learning exchange,” she says. “One person at parents are having their taxes done elsewhere in the builda time reads to the group, so if an adult reads a poem by ing,” McGee says. Langston Hughes and the kids have a question about the The COVID-19 pandemic, however, changed the poem, everybody learns something.” format of the meetings, with the Learning Tree Book With a record attendance of 16 readers, McGee says Club deciding in July to move its meetings online. “(The that she never minded small groups. “The beauty (of a pandemic) has helped us expand beyond our local base,”
To learn more about the Learning Tree Book Club, find the group on Facebook or visit meredithetc.com/learning-treebook-club.
Blazing Fast Internet!
happy anniversary
ADD TO YOUR PACKAGE FOR ONLY
19.99
$
/mo.
where available
These JFP employees are celebrating another year with us!
2-YEAR TV PRICE
Dustin Cardon
GUARANTEE
Web Editor
9 Years
America’s Top 120 Package
Robin Johnson
MO.
Social Media Assistant
for 12 Mos.
September 30 - October 13, 2020 • jfp.ms
1 Year
20
Azia Wiggins Executive Assistant
1 Year
Ken Steere Distribution Coordinator
2 Years
FREE
VOICE REMOTE
The DISH Voice Remote with the Google Assistant requires internet-connected Hopper, Joey, or Wally device. Customer must press Voice Remote button to activate feature.
190 CHANNELS Including Local Channels!
FREE
SMART HD DVR INCLUDED
FREE
STREAMING ON ALL YOUR DEVICES
* Requires eAutopay discount and includes Hopper Duo DVR ($5 discount for 24 months) or Wally/211
CALL TODAY - For $100 Gift Card
Promo Code: DISH100
1-866-698-8159 Offer ends 1/31/21.
“All offers require credit qualification, 24-month commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/Sling or Hopper 3 $5/mo. more. Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualification.
