As another summer draws to a close and our children return to school, it's important for us to reflect on the educational impact the Museum is having in this community.  One area in which the Museum can play a galvanizing role is in literacy – and that work has begun, with programs encouraging a lifelong love of reading for our younger visitors and their families.

Our Camp Africa program, reconfigured as a pilot program with the Detroit Public Schools, served over 3,800 children this summer.  July's Jerry Pinkney Celebrity Children's Book Fair included over 2,000 book giveaways, thanks to First Book.  Our weekly Super Summer Storytime enjoyed its second year and provided an enriching experience for families and daycare groups.  Further, vocabulary and literacy will be an ongoing focus for programs, tours and workshops involving our Children's Discovery Room. 

We will continue these efforts, which have been made possible by the fundraising efforts of the dedicated women of the Literacy Gala Host Committee, and our corporate partners.  Their efforts will be celebrated at The Wright Gala 2012: La Bibliothèque, on Saturday, September 8, which promises to be an event not to be missed.

We don't see this as a departure from our core mission of education.  Given the incredible challenge of illiteracy – and the crucial role literacy plays in awareness, self-esteem, and opportunity – meaningful change is going to take the participation and resources of the entire community, including The Wright Museum.