Event Details

Twin Cities' mayors and Grace Media Network (GMN) along with churches, various local media, non profits and corporate participants will give back to the community by blitzing their response to illiteracy though the month of October. During October, churches, non profits, businesses and corporations will collect books: organizations will donate collected new-delicately used books to their selected shelter, school, juvenile/adult correctional institution or community center; individuals will be encouraged to create a reading tutoring class in the local church, community and home or volunteer tutoring in the workplace and school to achieve life success. See additional drop sites below:

Drop Sites 

Sabathani Community Center, 310 East 38th Street, Mpls., 612-821-2316  
Hospitality House, 1220 Logan Ave N., Mpls., 612-522-4485 
NdCAD's Cops-N-Kids/Firefighters-N-Kids Book Giving Program 1600 E. Lake Street, Mpls., 612-721-0112 X113 or any Minneapolis & Saint Paul Fire Stations (call NdCAD for location nearest you)

Community Participation & Contact Info

To inform us that your company, organization or church will be participating in the Book Drive and the literacy awareness community blitz through October, please email to gms@GMNetwork.cc. For more details visit CLA Press Room online www.GMNetwork.cc.

Volunteerism

We encourage participants to consider launching or volunteering time reading or tutoring classes/facilities at their workplace (non work hours), community center, daycare or church throughout the year. 

One example of how churches can be involved...
NdCAD's Firefighters-N-Kids/Cops-N-Kids Reading Session every Saturday at 6:30 PM. Free At Last Church of God in Christ, Saint Paul, contact person: Sgt. Mamie Singleton, 651-292-3740 or 651-227-1951.

Our Endorsers -- Read quotes

Our Sponsors -- Do business with our sponsors

Media Coverage

Campaign Literacy Awareness 2001 Launch Sunday, September 30 at host church site High Praise Ministries - 'The Destiny Center'. (L-R) GMN Nat'l Deputy Director Sharon A. Calloway; CEO & Campaign Literacy founder Prophetess SB Barber Stalling; High Praise Ministries Co-pastors Parthia & DeWayne Hill; Campaign Literacy Awareness 2001 spokesperson Dave Huddleston, WCCO TV/CBS Affiliate anchor.

Author, motivational speaker Dr. Juneau K. Robbins; (right) Bethany House Publishers Publicity Manager Teresa Fogarty;  Photos --GMN photographer Tjoshua Ivory

From Campaign Literacy Awareness: The Right To READ 2001 to New York City
Ground Zero Kidz with Love! 

Campaign Literacy Awareness 2001 NYC Connections: The MN team of GMN arrived in NYC (November 9-13) and were audience guests of the Weekend Today Show, November 10. Dave Bloom, (native of Edina, MN) NBC Today Show weekend anchor, signs Campaign Literacy Awareness poster book cover as GMN National Deputy Director Sharon A. Calloway talks about the 10,000 children Books to New York City Kidz Ground Zero initiative.
CLA 2001: (left photo) Sharon A. Calloway, GMN National Deputy Director and Soledad O'Brien, NBC Today Show weekend anchor. (right photo) Prophetess Barber Stalling and Beverly S. Andrews.
CL 2001: The GMN team returned to NYC (November 28-December 4) to meet with our NYC connection. Left - Prophetess SB Barber Stalling (from Minnesota) receives first instructions for riding the NYC subway system from Beverly S. Andrews (from Alabama) NYC Ground Zero connection  and co-founder Heavenly Hugs "first things first, you can do this... don't fall asleep and talk to strangers...(smile)." The two women  discuss distribution strategies for the 10,000 books from MN. The distribution items include  toys, books, prayer bears and bibles will be available on December 8 through the holiday by 'invitation only' to protect the privacy of the families of Ground Zero badged and non-badged workers & victims. Photos by GMN C.A. Stalling

• Join Dave Huddleston, WCCO-TV, Sunday September 30 at 11:30 AM, High Praise Ministries - The Destiny Center, 1130 N. 7th Street, Minneapolis, MN.

• Prophetess SB Barber Stalling, CEO, GRACE Media Network, guest on the WCCO-TV  channel 4 This Morning Show, Monday October 1.

• Web links on: WCCO 4 News Links - Campaign Literacy 2001; KMSP Wired Headline - The American Flag; Star Tribune Variety - The Right To Read;

• Prophetess SB Barber Stalling, CEO & founder, guest on KMOJ 89.9 FM radio Saturday, October 20, 2001 at 8:30 AM.

• NBC Weekend Today Show, audience guest coverage, Sunday, November 11 at 8:00 AM EST.

• New York City report & photos 

• Minnesota Christian Chronicle, Non-profit organizations donate 10,000 books to children at Ground Zero (December 7, 2001)

Press Room -- Read more

Media & Photo Ops

CLA spokesperson and founder; Stories/events leading up to and throughout the month of October about or related to literacy awareness; basic skills testing: math, reading and writing successes; community based tutoring & book-giving programs.
Media members may send requests for press kits to: click on email box below. 

One example of how churches can be involved...
NdCAD's Cops-N-Kids/Firefighters-N-Kids Book Giving Program . Call 612-721-0112 X113 for locations nearest you.

Our Endorsers

quotes Sharon Sayles Belton Honorable Mayor of Minneapolis "I applaud the efforts of Grace Media Network to promote literacy in our community and across the country.  The "Right to Read" campaign will provide books for children and adults in need of reading materials.  Literacy is critical to success in school, work and life.  To achieve literacy for all, everyone must play a role.  This campaign is sure to make a positive difference."   Felicia Mason Edwards Coordinator QOP Community Network Summit Academy OIC  "Literacy is not just an individual problem but a community problem. Therefore we as the community are held accountable and must create solutions. This literacy campaign offers one of many solutions and needs to be embraced by all. By giving not only books but our time we are becoming social changers of our community and the world. Thank you Grace Media for allowing us an opportunity to be social changers." Read more quotes...

 

Quantum Opportunities Program 

THANK YOU from the Founder...
Everyday is an appropriate time to say - THANK YOU for your support of the October Campaign Literacy Awareness: The Right To READ 2001. You helped us make it a reality! You, also, helped us take the "heart of the Twin Cities" to New York City Kidz Ground Zero and met various book request needs in Minneapolis. We're ready and looking forward to the success of the Campaign Literacy Awareness 2002 and how its presence will again impact our Twin Cities, our state and our nation. Keep abreast of Campaign Literacy Awareness by visiting our site on the Internet: (www.GMNetwork.cc). The best to you in 2002, Prophetess SB Stalling & Grace Media Network (GMN) team

What others are saying... 

David Banmiller, President and CEO Sun Country Airlines
"Sun Country is pleased to partner with GMN in support of this effort that will make a difference in the lives of Kidz at Ground Zero. We applaud their efforts to reach out and help with this important literacy effort."

Ashok B. Kundanmal, Director of Sales and Marketing Radisson Hotel JFK Airport 
The Radisson Hotel JFK is proud to sponsor and support GMN Campaign Literacy/NYCKGZ and all elements of this campaign. The restoration and the replenishment of books of literature is the first step to eliminating and eradicating illiteracy. It is the hope for children to learn and explore possibilities. It is the right of every Human being to be able to gain access and be able to read about any subject of their desire. The right to just be able to read is taken for granted by all those who can. It is a crippling obstacle to those who cannot read. Our literate responsibility is to provide hope and skills to all the innocent ones out there who do not have access to the same privileges. This is a gift of life and knowledge. The best efforts and the greatest of gifts one can provide to The Big Apple. We at the Radisson Hotel JFK are proud to be part of this venture and thank all others who share and support the same cause. 

Art Serotoff, Programs Director Sabathani Community Center
"Sabathani Community center is part of the Grace Media Network. We received
notice of the Campaign to fight illiteracy and want to participate. Our
Center has a large adult basic education program-last year we served
over 500 adults and about 150 children. We like to think about what we
do as "Family Literacy". The whole family is involved. Often, parents
and adult caretakers have had a bad experience with public schools and
need to get back to reading themselves."

Principal Larry Burgess, Nellie Stone Johnson School
"One should never be idle minded. One should be either reading, praying or writing - doing something good that will bring wealth to the common man." 

Jesse Ventura, Governor Minnesota
Governor Jesse Ventura proclaimed October Campaign Literacy: The Right To READ month. 
"I am very supportive of Grace Media Network's efforts to promote literacy in our communities across our nation. I am united in the fight against illiteracy and proud to partner with Grace Media and the network of volunteers, churches, media, non-profit organizations and corporate participants that are working to provide books to schools, shelters, juvenile/adult correctional institutions and community centers." 

Carol Johnson, Superintendent Minneapolis Public Schools
"Teaching our children to read is the most valuable educational gift we can give them."       

Theresa Foster, Education Director Hospitality House  (Minneapolis School District Area Learning Center)
"We will not stand by and let illiteracy go unchecked. We are proud to partner with the Grace Media Network to draw attention to this ongoing problem and take steps towards eliminating it in north Minneapolis."

Gevonee EuGene Ford, Executive Director NdCAD (Network for the Development of Children of African Descent
"On behalf of the NdCAD Board and our many volunteers and partners, I offer thanks to the Creator and to Grace Media Network for helping us put books into the homes of children who haven't had access to books to call their own. Working with Grace Media Network and Campaign Literacy provides a vehicle for NdCAD and local police officers and firefighters to distribute books to children.  We are in a unique position to reach out to children and families at greatest risk of failing in school, becoming involved in juvenile corrections, or the child welfare system. Nurturing a love for reading is critical and giving the life changing gift of books is vital."  

Teresa Fogarty, Publicity Manager Bethany House Publishers
"Bethany House Publishers has chosen to participate in Campaign Literacy: The Right To Read 2001, to encourage people of all ages to read and to read books that will enlighten and enrich their lives. We are privileged to provide to Grace Media Network titles at this time for children and youth who are in need of reading materials that will lead them to a personal relationship with the Lord." 

Cookie Rison-Onaiwu, TSK & Associates  
Provides literacy training to parents, child care providers, churches etc. Contact through Grace Media Network

Campaign Literacy 2001 Sponsors & Partners