Literature for Life profiled in Share
Literature for Life has been profiled in Share: Canada’s Largest Ethnic Newspaper. The piece outlines our programming, recaps the successful 3rd annual Black White and Read All Over Gala, and quotes the event’s Honorary Chair, Valerie Pringle:
“This organization is an absolute gem, partly because no one else is doing it and I think because it addresses such an important area of social injustice and it intervenes at such a critical point with young moms and their children and there is such an opportunity there,” said Pringle. “The genius is seeing this and acting and reaching out and making a difference…I think it’s a lovely concept to think of a mother as a child’s first teacher and supporting that mother and giving her the skills, the tools and really the self-esteem as well to move forward and to be able to make a difference and make changes in her own life.”
Literature for Life joins ROM initiative
Literature for Life is thrilled to be included in an exciting new expansion of the Royal Ontario Museum’s free admission program to marginalized community groups.
From Press Release: Effective immediately, the ROM is increasing its program of free admission to marginalized community groups by 50 percent – up to 70,000 free admissions.
Since 2008, the Royal Ontario Museum’s Community Access Network (ROM CAN) has made possible free Museum visits to a wide range of communities and individuals who may not otherwise be able to visit for a variety of reasons. The ROM provides tickets through strategic partnerships with agencies which are best positioned to reach individuals and families who can benefit most, including the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, which provides a gift of ROM admission to new Canadians during citizenship ceremonies every month through its Cultural Access Pass (CAP) program.
The program has been expanded through increased support from existing partners, The United Way and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), as well as the addition of new partners, the YMCA and YWCA, which serve families and individuals on fixed incomes as well as new Canadians. Also newly partnered with the ROM are Kids Up Front Foundation Toronto, Literature for Life, The Tim Horton Children’s Foundation and the Youth Challenge Fund – organizations serving at-risk youth, marginalized young people and children from families in need. The ROM has also recently partnered with VIEWS, an organization who supports children who are blind or have low vision and their families, Make a Wish Foundation, serving children with life-threatening medical conditions, and The Centre for Addition and Mental Health (CAMH) serving persons with mental health and addiction problems.
Valerie Pringle profiled in The Women’s Post
Valerie Pringle is profiled in The Women’s Post today discussing her commitment to charities including Literature for Life:
Pringle’s involvement with Literature for Life demonstrates her prioritization of the importance of guidance, a common thread throughout her career. Just as Pringle was guided towards a career in journalism, and now mentors up-and-coming grads, she also supports the guidance Literature for Life offers teenage mothers seeking a better future for themselves and for their children.
Valerie Pringle will serve as Honorary Chair at tomorrow night’s Black White & Read All Over gala. Tickets are available here.
Terry O’Reilly records public service announcement in support of Black White & Read All Over
Broadcaster and friend of Literature for Life Terry O’Reilly has recorded a public service announcement in support of the Black White & Read All Over gala on October 26.The following radio stations have agreed to air the spot on our behalf: CFRB, CHUM, CKIS, CHFI, CFRT, CJCL, CKFM, CFNY, CFXJ, CFZM, CHBM.
Tickets are still available for the event, and can be purchased here on our website.
Literature for Life and CBC Culture Days
The Toronto TD Kids Book Club is a special project that involves Literature for Life programming , facilitated by artist and spoken word poet Jelani Nias (a.k.a. JWyze) and made up of young people from the 
Chalkfarm neighbourhood. On October 1, the club got together as part of the Culture Days Open House at CBC Toronto to discuss the book Burn by Alma Fullerton, and how it relates to their own lives and experiences. Fullerton herself took part in the discussion. Go to the TD Kids Book Corner on the CBC website for more information on the event and to listen to audio clips of the conversation.
Matt Galloway Interviews Jo Altilia on CBC’s Metro Morning
Matt Galloway Interviews Literature for Life's Jo Altilia
On Monday September 26, 2011 at 8:20am, Matt Galloway sat down with founding Executive Director of Literature for Life, Jo Altilia to discuss the charity’s involvement with the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Awards and the missions of the Literature for Life organization.
Jo discusses Literature for Life's involvement in the TD Children's Literature Awards
This Saturday, you will have a chance to meet children from the Literature for Life Chalkfarm Reading Circle. They are taking part in CBC Radio’s TD Kids Book Club. The students will be at the CBC Studios as part of this Saturday’s Open House in Glenn Gould Studio, along with children’s author, Alma Fullerton, to discuss her book, “Burn”.
Click the link to hear the interview: Jo Altilia LIVE on CBC’s Metro Morning
Literature for Life’s Meet & Greet with Sister Souljah.
Join Literature for Life as we host our reading circle programming participants at the Sister Souljah launch and special presentation for her new book Midnight and the Meaning of Love!
Sister Souljah is the author of The Coldest Winter Ever, Literature for Life’s book of entry, offered within the reading circle programming. Since Literature for Life’s inception in 2000, the organization has ordered over 1200 copies of The Coldest Winter Ever, as well as copies of another Sister Souljah book, Midnight.
The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah ever has provided Literature for Life programming participants with a fast-moving, reality-based plot that instantly grabs the attention of the reader as they follow Winter, the book’s main character, through the tough streets of Brooklyn in the 1980s.
Through the narrative we are able to evaluate the role of a mother through Winter’s nameless mother figure. Other themes discussed within our reading circle groups are personal responsibilities, the value of asking for assistance, attributes of a friend, substance abuse, fatherless households, and much more.
Literature for Life is thrilled to finally meet Sister Souljah. The young women we support are equally as thrilled to meet her and to have a chance to have their books signed.
For media inquiries please contact: Tamara Shelly 416-203-9830 x 2
Stay tuned for photos and more about Literature for Life’s Meet & Greet with Sister Souljah.
Film adaptation of Chanda’s Secrets gets rave reviews.
Chanda’s Secrets, which is read in the Literature for Life reading circles, has been adapted into a film called Life, Above All that won the Prix François Chalais at The Cannes Film Festival, and and is receiving rave reviews in the United States and Canada.
You can watch the trailer for the movie here.
Fundraiser Dj’d by Juno- Award- winning artist K-os raises $21 000 to Facilitate Literature for Life Reading Circles
Photos courtesy of Ryan Emberley for www.thecdaily.com, Spiro Mandylor for www.itsallstyletome.com, and Melissa Curry
Over 500 patrons gathered at the spa-inspired venue C Lounge on July 28th, 2011 for “Words;” a fundraiser celebrating the power of words and literature presented by Kobo and Hamilton Watches to benefit Toronto charity Literature for Life.
Hosted by Literature for Life, Lauren Shirreffs, and The Gingerich Group, the evening featured a lineup of crowd favorites including spoken word poetry by Dwayne Morgan and Jelani “Jwyze” Nias, and live music by Andria Symaniw, Mike Celia and Don Cash.
All performances were introduced by CBC News Toronto co-host, Dwight Drummond and were followed by the highly anticipated dj set orchestrated by Juno Award- winning artist K-os.
Drummond answered the call for his support by saying “Literacy and a single mom played very important roles in my life, so I’ll be there.” Co-host Anne-Marie Mediwake also took to the stage to lend support for the cause.
Named as one of the weekends can’t miss events in NOW Magazines Big 3, the long- weekend, bbq themed party with a purpose, accessorized with cotton – candy and popcorn machines, a photo booth, rose petals, tea lights and cupcakes raised $21, 000 with popular installations that included, a silent auction, raffle and live fashion art sketches by acclaimed fine artist Becky Dileo.
All proceeds will go towards Literature for Life’s unique reading circle programming that unleashes the intellectual potential of marginalized young mothers by helping them discover the joys and benefits of reading and learning.
For pictures of the WORDS event including the red carpet check out the Events section of LiteratureforLife.org
Stay tuned for more pictures and footage from WORDS and dont forget to join our Facebook page!
For more information please contact: Tamara Shelly, 416 203 9830 x 2 tshelly@literatureforlife.org
Spider’s Web launch in the news!
Lit for Life's Jo Altilia in the ring.
Spider Jones’ Youth Empowerment Initiative launched in the Chalkfarm neighbourhood last week, and Literature for Life was proud to be there along with him inside the ring. The launch was covered by The Toronto Star and CTV.
More from The Toronto Star:
“…in addition to basketball, Jones’ initiative will seek to provide youth with other activities like boxing, broadcast skills and literacy programs that encourage children to learn.
The Youth Empowerment Initiative is a pilot program that will also provide youth in Ward 7 with computer training and other mentoring programs. It has already helped provide the Chalkfarm neighbourhood with a swimming pool and a community centre.
Other organizations involved include Doorsteps Neighbourhood Services, Greenwin Inc., TD and Literature for Life.
For Jones, the desire to empower youth comes from personal experience. In 2006, he told the Toronto Star how fearful he was as a young kid, and called low self-esteem the “number 1 predator of our children today.”
“It steals your confidence away. It steals your joy. It steals your aspirations. It fills you with self-hatred. It fills you with doubt,” he said.”