Children's MLK Read-In event at Wake Forest University to promote activism and literacy

Wake Forest University is hosting its 14th annual Read-In Day on Jan. 21st to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and promote literacy.

The program is open to elementary school students in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Participants will visit a variety of activity stations to learn about civil rights leaders, music, art, and reading. 

Each child will be paired with a volunteer reading buddy from Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State University, or the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. 

Maura Bodziock, the Education Equity VISTA at Wake Forest, coordinated the program. 

“We want to teach our kids not only how to spell and read, but also to speak,” Bodziock said. “And to speak out on active concerns that they have in their community, and have a voice, and really use that voice to make positive change in our broader community.”

At the end of the event, each student will be able to take home two free books. 

“So we're hoping that this is kind of a starting point that's going to launch them into loving reading even more, and wanting to find out ways that they can help in their communities after the event is over,” Bodziock said. 

The event will be held at Wake Forest University in the Benson Center from 8 a.m. to noon. Registration is required, and more information can be found here.

Amy Diaz covers education for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. You can follow her on Twitter at @amydiaze.