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The 2008 DCCCD African American Read-In will highlight the written and visual artistry of illustrator, poet and storyteller Ashley Bryan, who will read, perform and engage the audience with poetry, African-American spirituals that children should know and lively African folk tales. The production, directed by Monique Ridge-Williams and written by read-in founder Carla Ranger, is titled “Read, Believe, Achieve!” It encourages students of all ages to read, believe and learn about historic personalities who overcame great odds to achieve. The ninth annual African American Read-In, presented by the Dallas County Community College District, will encourage literacy by bringing works by Black writers to life on stage. The 2008 Read-In will highlight the written and visual artistry of special guest, illustrator, poet and storyteller, Ashley Bryan. |
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Bryan will read, perform and engage the audience with poetry, African-American spirituals children should know and lively African folktales. Bryan was recently announced as recipient of the Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration for Let it Shine. Popular, the artist is a multiple King Award winner for his works, Ashley Bryan's ABC of African American Poetry, All Night, All Day: A Child's First Book of African American Spirituals Lion and the Ostrich Chicks and other African American Poems, The Story of Lightening and Thunder, What A Morning!, The Christmas Story in Black Spirituals, and Beautiful Blackbird (winner for illustration). | |
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Scheduled to be in attendance will be Dr. Jerrie Scott, national AARI founder, representing the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English www.ncte.org, the project's founding organization. The AARI national project celebrates its nineteenth year in existence and Dallas, its ninth. Plans are underway for major 20 and 10-year celebrations in 2009, respectively, with Dallas named as the national AARI project model, playing key roles in both. The AARI is endorsed by the International Reading Association. |
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The 2008 production aims to encourage students of all ages to read, believe and learn about historical personalities who overcame great odds to Achieve. Music of the O.W. Holmes Middle School "Boss Band" will welcome read-in participants with energy and rhythm. Children from G.T.Terry Elementary School and students from the kindergarten-E class of Martin Weiss Elementary will join in to promote reading. To introduce the pre-show, Lyndale the Literary Lion, a popular read-in character, will provide a roaring message about reading. Newly published authors will tell what reading means to them as they "show and tell" their books. Skip Murphy, KRNB-FM Radio, will emcee the pre-show entertainment. |
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 | The production will be emceed by WFAA-TV's "Good Morning Texas" host Brenda Teele. The 2008 production, Read, Believe, Achieve! is written by Dallas Read-In director and founder, Carla Ranger, District Director of Educational Partnerships in the DCCCD, and local writer-playwright, Anyika McMillan-Herod. Veteran AARI director and accomplished Hollywood screen actor (Under One Roof, Touched by An Angel), Monique Ridge-Williams, directs the ensemble of local actors, writers and performance artists. Scheduled performers include world renowned Dallas Black Dance Theater, violist Richmond Punch, saxophonist David Carr, flutist, Jacco Velarde, and Ayubu Kamau African Kings and Queens. The production will also honor the efforts and achievements of the historic Tuskeegee Airmen, America's first enlisted military airmen during World War II. The AARI is also extremely honored to host the unveiling of the 2008 U.S. Postal Service commemorative Black Heritage stamp honoring writer Charles W. Chesnutt. For more information about the Chesnutt stamp, visit www.usps.com/shop. |
| The 2008 African American Read-In's activities continue month-long throughout February with read-ins being held at schools, colleges, universities, corporate and small businesses, government offices, book clubs, book stores, places of worship and private homes. The annual goal is to engage 10,000 readers and participants during February. This goal has topped over 70,000 previously. | |
| FEATURED READERS AND PERFORMERS | |||
Dallas Black Dance Theater |
David Carr Jr. |
 Jessica Wiliams | |
 Audrey McClure |
 Richmond Punch |
Jacco Velarde |
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