LINC in the News
Read about what’s happening at LINC and with our families, both in the news and through blog posts written by our team.
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Press Release: Literacy in Community Hosts Annual Spring Gala at Gotham Hall
On Monday, May 4, over 300 guests attended Literacy in Community’s (LINC) annual spring gala at Gotham Hall. For 30 years, LINC has worked with families, children, and community members in NYC to create a culture of literacy, ensuring that all children can thrive and reach their full potential. The annual gala celebrates LINC’s early…
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All My Stripes: Building Awareness and Inclusion During National Autism Acceptance Month
On Wednesday, April 29, Literacy in Community’s (LINC) held its monthly virtual, bilingual Reading Celebration commemorating Autism Acceptance Month to bring autism awareness and resources to our communities and beyond. The program entitled, Autism is My Way of Being, focused on how acceptance leads to inclusion and ways to reduce stigma around the subject of neurodivergence. The packed program included a read aloud of All My Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism by Danielle Royer and Shaina Rudolph, guest speakers from The Friends of Crown Heights and LINC’s Upper Manhattan Early Childhood Connect (UMECC) who specialize in assistance with…
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LINC Joins Groundbreaking Educators at the New York Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NYAEYC) Annual Conference
From April 22-24, Literacy in Community’s (LINC) Chief Program Officer, Laura Walsh, and Senior Director of Early Literacy, Josh Barocas, joined innovative educators at the New York Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NYAEYC) Annual Conference in Verona, NY. NYAEYC promotes excellence in early care and education for New York State children and families through education, advocacy, and the support of the profession, and is an effective networking and educational resource for LINC. Laura and Josh facilitated a professional development session that was filled with 40+ early childhood leaders and educators from around the state, eager to learn about…
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Media Advisory: Celebrating 30 Years of Community Powered Literacy at LINC’s Gala on Monday, May 4 at Gotham Hall
Celebrating 30 Years of Community Powered Literacy at LINC’s Gala on Monday, May 4 at Gotham Hall Event Will Honor Acclaimed Children’s Book Authors Kwame Alexander and Peter Brown and Inaugural LINC Executive Director Tinny Weintraub NEW YORK, NY, April 28, 2026– Literacy in Community’s (LINC) 30th anniversary will be celebrated at their annual Spring Gala, on Monday, May 4 at Gotham Hall. Two giants of children’s literature will be honored with the organization’s Champion for Children award: Kwame Alexander, the Emmy Award-winning producer and author of the critically acclaimed The Crossover, and Peter Brown, the bestselling and award-winning author…
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City’s First Readers Campaign Brings Early Literacy to New Moms and Parents-to-Be at New York City Hospitals
“It’s never too early to start reading with your child!” Over the last six months, City’s First Readers (CFR) launched a hospital-based outreach campaign, building new partnerships with New York City hospitals to engage new parents, promoting shared reading and early literacy, and connecting families to CFR’s programs and supporters. CFR initiated the Hospital Baby Campaign at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan in December 2025 and is touring all five boroughs. The campaign’s goal is to connect with expecting moms early by sharing research, resources, and the many benefits of reading from the very beginning through a workshop series. Participants in…
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Volunteers Build Bears for NYC’s Youngest Readers at Tiffany & Co.’s Annual Bring Your Child to Work Day
On Thursday, April 23, Tiffany & Co hosted their annual Bring Your Child to Work Day with a fun-filled day for their employees’ children. Kids of all ages had the opportunity to engage in activities that included creative jewelry craft stations, meeting an engraver, group yoga, and more! Literacy in Community (LINC) was honored to be invited to host a Reading Buddy teddy bear decorating station. At LINC’s mini “build a bear” workshop, volunteers decorated Reading Buddy teddy bears for distribution to LINC families. LINC representatives talked about how important it is for all children to have access to books…
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Literacy in Community Joins Forces in Albany to Find Equitable Childcare Solutions for New York’s Working Families at the 40th Annual SOMOS, Inc. New York Conference
On Saturday, April 18, Literacy in Community’s (LINC) Chief Programs Officer, Laura Walsh joined an all star speaker lineup at the 2026 SOMOS, Inc. New York Conference in Albany for a timely panel discussion: Workforce to Careforce: Advancing Equitable Childcare Solutions for New York’s Working Families. This dynamic panel was featured during session three in the legislative office building, thanks to the sponsorship of Senator Jamaal T. Bailey and Assemblywoman Maritza Davila. The speakers on the panel included: “I was incredibly honored to have the opportunity to speak on the panel: Workforce to Careforce: Advancing Equitable Childcare Solutions for New…
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Literacy in Community’s Work for Decoded Futures Under the Tech:NYC Foundation is Highlighted on NY1 Spectrum News
Tech:NYC President and CEO Julie Samuels joined Errol Louis on Spectrum News Inside City Hall and discussed, among other topics, how Decoded Futures at Tech:NYC is training NYC non-profits like Literacy in Community (LINC) to build AI capacity to scale their impact. Nonprofit CEO looks at AI in NYC schoolsBy Spectrum News Staff New York City Last week, parents and advocates held a rally to try to convince Mayor Zohran Mamdani to impose a two-year moratorium on the use of artificial intelligence in the classroom. The rally followed Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels last month issuing preliminary guidance on AI use in schools.…
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City’s First Readers to Present Landmark Early Literacy Research at the 97th Annual Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Meeting
City’s First Readers (CFR), a New York City Council funded initiative comprised of 17 nonprofit organizations to foster the literacy development of children birth through five, is proud to announce that their latest research into the population-level impact of integrated early literacy programs has been selected for an oral presentation at the 97th annual Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) meeting in Boston, MA. The abstract, titled “Population-level integration of early literacy programs across health care and community settings: Evidence for reach and impact,” was chosen from thousands of submissions for its innovative approach to Early Relational Health (ERH) and will be…
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City’s First Readers Month Starts with a Glow Safari at The Bronx Zoo
April is City’s First Readers (CFR) Month, and that means welcoming in spring with special reading events across the city. This season’s signature program started on a bright Friday afternoon, April 10, when a troop of New York City families traversed The Bronx Zoo as part of CFR’s Little Readers Glow Safari. The adventure began inside with glow-in-the-dark sensory activities, a scavenger hunt, free tickets to explore the zoo, and a chance to win a zoo membership. CFR partners: the New York Public Library, JCCA, and La Fuerza provided free books. Over 50 families flocked to the great Schiff Hall…
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A New Look & More Resources for Upper Manhattan Early Childhood Connect at UMECC.org!
Upper Manhattan Early Childhood Connect (UMECC)* invites you to visit our new digital home and tell your neighbors: www.umecc.org! UMECC supports caregivers and partners in promoting healthy childhood development and early literacy in Upper Manhattan from Harlem to The Bronx. Serving as a hub for all things early childhood, UMECC connects caregivers with Early Intervention, CPSE, 2K-preK, childcare, and a range of other literacy and learning resources in Upper Manhattan. Learn about UMECC’s collective impact work, why early support matters so much, and how to get involved. The team is here to support caregivers and partners in promoting healthy childhood development…
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LINC Advocates for State Budget Updates to the Foundation Aid Formula to Add a Weight for Students who are Homeless or in Foster Care
April 8, 2026 Literacy in Community (LINC) is a New York City based nonprofit serving families with children from birth through age five. We work in high poverty neighborhoods across all boroughs to provide empowering programs that help parents and caregivers prepare their children for the formal instruction they will encounter in school as well as share the joy and adventure of reading together. The majority of our families enroll their children in New York City public schools. Therefore, the structure of the Foundation Aid formula has a direct bearing on the resources available to the families we have served…
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LINC’s Executive Director, Shari Levine Interviewed for the Washington Square News’ Magazine
How NYC is relearning reading education* By Aashna Miharia, Deputy Managing Editor, Washington Square News Over the last couple of years, New York City’s public school system has drawn national attention after drastically altering how elementary schools teach students to read. As city officials continue to roll out curriculum changes — part of the initiative “New York City Reads” — field experts warn that improving literacy rates will require more than just an overhaul of reading instruction, but an emphasis on the cogs of the education system that are often overlooked. “If you don’t learn to read and write, there’s…
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LINC in the Media: Diversity Through Literacy Featured in the “Riverdale Press”
Children’s literacy program at Kingsbridge Library highlights immigrant stories and identity By Michelle Mullen At the Kingsbridge Library this month, young readers are setting off on a literary journey. For some, it’s a chance to embrace their own stories. For others, it’s a chance to discover someone else’s It’s part of this year’s Diversity in Literacy campaign, an annual initiative by the nonprofit Literacy in Community, or LINC, which uses children’s books to introduce young readers and their families to stories that reflect the many languages, traditions and backgrounds that make up the five boroughs. This year’s theme, “A Love…
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NYC Reads Together: A Historic Step Toward Every Child Reading by 2035
Last week, leaders from across New York City’s education, nonprofit, research, and policy sectors came together for what many are calling a historic moment for early literacy: the NYC Reads Together Literacy Ecosystem Summit. Organized by the Center for Public Research and Leadership (CPRL) at Columbia University, this convening brought together an extraordinary group of leaders—from NYC Public Schools Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels and SUNY Chancellor John B. King, to NYC Department of Youth and Community Development Commissioner Sandra Escamilla-Davies and Council Member Eric Dinowitz—alongside practitioners, researchers, and community organizations working on the frontlines of early learning. What emerged was…
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Running for Readers for the 4th Year in a Row: LINC is an Official Charity Partner for the 2026 TCS NYC Marathon
New York Road Runners (NYRR), the nonprofit that “runs” New York City, has named Literacy in Community (LINC) an Official Charity Partner of the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon for the fourth year in a row. 2026 is the 50th anniversary of the iconic five‑borough course, and a milestone year for LINC as we celebrate our 30th birthday. Our programs have been running in all five boroughs of NYC since 1996 – just like the 26.2-mile marathon, and we are pumped to participate again on Sunday, November 1, 2026. On your mark, get set, and go – start spreading…
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Media Advisory: Literacy in Community (LINC) and Fidelis Care Join Together to Send “A Love Letter to NYC Immigrants & Working Families” at LINC’s Diversity Through Literacy 2026 Campaign
Campaign celebrates diverse representation and inclusion in children’s literature NEW YORK, NY, March 11, 2026 – Literacy in Community (LINC), an early childhood literacy nonprofit, and Fidelis Care, a New York State health plan, announced the sixth year of their collaborative Diversity Through Literacy campaign. Started in 2021, Diversity Through Literacy is an annual campaign recognizing the power of children’s literature to celebrate diversity in all forms by sharing many voices, embracing unique perspectives, honoring different cultures, and more. From March 14 – April 4, 2026, LINC and Fidelis Care will host eight separate Diversity Through Literacy events across New…
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Play, Partner, Progress: LINC Leaders Present A Bilingual Approach to Family-Educator Literacy Engagement at the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE)’s 55th Annual International Conference in Chicago
From February 9-13, LINC’s Chief Program Officer, Laura Walsh and Bilingual Content and Delivery Specialist, Stephanie Santos, joined educators from around the world advocating for the power of bilingual programming at the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE)’s 55th annual conference in Chicago. Laura and Stephanie presented Play, Partner, Progress: A Bilingual Approach to Family-Educator Literacy Engagement and described how Literacy in Community (LINC) partners with families and educators to support early literacy development in culturally and linguistically diverse communities. LINC’s new “LINCubator” model pairs professional learning for educators with parent workshops, introducing low-lift, high-impact literacy games rooted in the…
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LINC Leaders Present “Thrive by Five: Why Literacy Must Be Part of Universal Childcare and Every Early Childhood System” at the 55th Annual Legislative Conference
On Saturday, February 14, love for early childhood well-being was in the air! Literacy in Community’s (LINC) Chief of Strategic Initiatives, Emmanuel Novy, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Karen Rogel, and Chief of Advocacy & Community Mobilization, Albania Jimenez, joined collective voices in Albany for the 55th Annual Legislative Conference. Organized by the The New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislators (The Association), the 2026 conference theme was emphatic: “Legacy Forward: Transforming Tomorrow Together.” Together, is the operative word here, as cross-sector collaboration is essential in shaping children’s futures. Collaboration was at the heart of our…
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LINC Reads in the Lunar New Year at the New York Taekwondo Park in Staten Island with Most Terrific Day Care
New moves, new books, new year! As we enter the Year of the Horse, LINC’s Staten Island team enthusiastically breathed fire into the passions of young readers. On Thursday, February 12, with the support of our friends at New York Taekwondo Park and Most Terrific Child Center in Rosebank, LINC delivered an unforgettable morning of Lunar New Year treats, crafts, and stories to dozens of families. Master Ray Park, the Korean martial artist, started off this program with taekwondo exercises that got the children moving in unison and voicing their appreciation for their parents. Just like reading, martial arts promote…
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City’s First Readers Celebrates World Read Aloud Day with Guest Author Susie Jaramillo
On Wednesday, February 4, 2026, City’s First Readers (CFR) joined readers around the globe to commemorate one of our favorite days of the year, World Read Aloud Day (WRAD). WRAD started in 2010 and is celebrated annually on the first Wednesday in February. This monumental reading movement includes over 170 countries and 90 million people and grows each year! This year’s celebration was our biggest yet, a virtual bilingual program entitled Canta con Migo (Sing with Me) with a special guest author, the Emmy-nominated storyteller and founder of Encantos, Susie Jaramillo. All who registered received a free copy of…
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City’s First Readers Celebrates City Council Leadership and a Shared Commitment to Early Literacy Across New York City
New York, NY — City’s First Readers (CFR), the New York City Council’s only early literacy initiative, applauds Speaker Julie Menin and City Council leadership for elevating early childhood education through new committee and subcommittee appointments. “I am so pleased to see Speaker Menin recognize the importance of a child’s earliest years by establishing a Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education within the Committee on Education,” said Emmanuel Novy, Chief of Strategic Initiatives at Literacy in Community (LINC) and facilitating partner for City’s First Readers. “If we are serious about improving literacy outcomes, we must start early. We are excited to continue working with…
