Schools are starting up, and student energy will begin to focus in from the expansiveness of summer life lessons to the intentional lessons that make up formal education. Many of those lessons involve reading: either learning to read, or learning from reading.

Chalk It Up for Oregon LiteracyA few weeks ago Sam addressed those gathered for the Oregon Literacy event in Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Chalk It Up is an event where artists created beautiful works that depicted covers, characters or events of many popular books. The art pieces were sold and the proceeds benefited Oregon Literacy programs. The Chalk It Up website links to the pictures and identifies the artists.

Here are Sam's prepared remarks discussing the importance of reading and the literacy concerns facing many people in Oregon.  Right now, 2 in 5 Oregonians struggle to read in their daily lives.  No one is too young or too old to start learning to read.  For an infant, the lessons begin by watching how a book is held and listening to the rhythm of written words.  For adults beginning to read, the encouragement and respect of those around one as they step up to the challenge is very important.

Enjoy your last days of summer and cozy into fall with some good reading. Celebrate your ability to read and remember to reach out and encourage those who still need to learn this set of valuable skills.

Oregon Literacy exists because: knowledge empowers, and literacy should be a right for all.

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