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For the next month, residents of Kosciusko County will be given the opportunity to read - and discuss - the same book.
Monday, the Community Read program, called "Plant the Seed - Read!" was officially kicked off in the Central Park Gardens. Introduced by Brenda Rigdon, executive director of Kosciusko Literacy Services, and Suzie Light, executive director of the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, the brief ceremony presented the program to the public.
"Plant the Seed - Read!" features a book by noted author Paul Fleischman - "Seedfolks," a 69-page book appropriate for most ages. "Seedfolks" is about an inner-city neighborhood that creates a community garden and brings together people of all ages, races and temperament.
Light said the reading program was designed by the Foundation's Vision Team, a group of volunteers dedicated to promoting 40 developmental assets that will "help our kids grow up to become responsible members of our community."
The Community Read has three goals, Light said: "To harvest awareness of the 40 developmental assets, to harvest reading for pleasure and to harvest a community-building event."
The 40 developmental assets for young people include such things as creative activities, community involvement, caring neighborhoods and adult role models.
To help readers who are interested in being part of the Community Read program, libraries and bookstores in the area have ordered extra copies of "Seedfolks." Also, books are available for free at area businesses throughout the county. The books are in bright yellow bins in participating businesses' lobbies, and are free to anyone who wants one. Readers are asked to bring the book back to the bin after they're finished with it, or to pass it on.
A complete list of where the bins are located, as well as more information on the Community Read program, is available on the "Plant the Seed - Read!" Web site, www.kcread.org, with links to the Foundation's Web site and information on the Vision Team and the 40 developmental assets.
The Community Read program will culminate Nov. 14 at the Education Summit.
