Mayor Encourages Youth to Read on Summer Learning Day

~ Support learning throughout the community on Summer Learning Day, June 20~

Mayor Dwight C. Jones joins leaders across the country to recognize the importance of learning throughout the summer and encourages City youth to participate in Summer Learning Day. Friday, June 20 is Summer Learning Day, a national advocacy day to spread awareness about the importance of summer learning for the nation’s youth in helping close the achievement gap and support healthy development.

“I encourage all City youth to participate in Summer Learning Day by reading for at least 15 minutes this Friday and I am hopeful that our youth will continue to read for at least 15 minutes every day this summer,” said Mayor Jones. “Reading is a wonderful tool that can expand learning opportunities while taking the reader on amazing journeys, provide insightful how-to’s and teach the reader more about our world. I encourage everyone in our community to stop and read 15 minutes a day, every day, especially with a child.”

Richmond’s Grade Level Reading Initiative, with more than 30 partner organizations, encourages youth to read 15 minutes every day during the summer. Children who do not read over the summer school break show loss of reading, spelling and math skills – entering school in the fall farther behind than when they left school in June. Research shows that reading as little as 15 minutes a day can help children retain reading and spelling skills.

On Friday, June 20, Summer Learning Day, Richmond Public Library's branches will have special book displays featuring STEM and other different kinds of books for learning --- cookbooks, craft books, science experiments as well as promotional materials for the Library Summer Reading Program Fizz, BOOM, Read! Partner organizations include PBS, Communities in Schools and Richmond Public Schools.