City-Wide “Outdoor Storytime”
Contact: Allister Chang 202-735-7062, allister.chang1@dc.gov
Members of the DC State Board of Education (DCSBOE) have partnered with the DC Public Library to organize a city-wide “Outdoor Storytime” on April 14th. This event builds upon previous “Outdoor Storytime” sessions led by Brenda Richardson with the Friends of Oxon Run Park in Ward 8 and Allister Chang with the Friends of Rose Park in Ward 2.
The Library will be donating books for participating students to take home. Abner and Ian Get Right-Side Up is one of the selected titles. Students shake and turn the book to help the characters find a solution. Author Dave Eggers says, “I love that members of the DCSBOE are putting on community-wide reading programs. I'm thrilled that Abner and Ian Get Right-Side Up has been chosen to be part of the program. The first time I read it to any class anywhere, in fact, was at Malcolm X Elementary.”
Members of the DCSBOE extended invitations to students at public and public charter elementary schools in closest physical proximity to the locations selected for this event. Following COVID-19 Phase Two Mayor’s Orders, each group is limited to 50 people.
“Learning how to read can be frustrating, particularly if you feel like you’re doing it in isolation,” says Allister Chang, the event’s lead organizer and the Ward 2 Member on the DCSBOE. “All of us have a role to play in supporting students in their literacy learning. Today is about neighbors supporting neighbors in a time of extreme isolation.” Representative Chang invites community members to reach out via e-mail (allister.chang@dc1.gov) if they are interested in co-organizing more “Outdoor Storytime” events in their neighborhood.
"Outdoor storytime is not only educational, but a fun time for our beloved children to connect with nature.” – Brenda Richardson, Vice Chair of the Friends of Oxon Run Park (Ward 8) and former Trustee of the DC Public Library
“It has been a long, hard year of with too little socializing and way too much screen time. That is why, now more than ever, we need to find safe and creative ways to reconnect, to celebrate and learn together.” – Emily Gasoi, Ward 1 DCSBOE Member
“Kids need to be with kids. Kids need to be outside. We need models for learning outside, as the pandemic continues. Outdoor Storytime has it all.” – Ruth Wattenberg, Ward 3 DCSBOE Member
"Reading is a fundamental building block of education and reading together is a wonderful & simple joy. I am proud that the DC State Board of Education is making time to gather with our neighbors in all eight wards today to celebrate the chance to be and to read together. Thanks to the DC Public Library and all event participants for making time to read outside with us!" – Jessica Sutter, Ward 6 DCSBOE Member
Councilmembers, ANC Commissioners, and educators will read to neighborhood students alongside SBOE representatives in the following locations:
Ward 1, Columbia Heights Educational Campus (CHEC), 1:00 p.m.
SBOE Member Emily Gasoi and Columbia Heights Educational Campus (CHEC) librarian Chris Stewart
Contact: Emily Gasoi (emily.gasoi@dc.gov)
Sign up form: https://forms.gle/z1qiJHYvg2CWnnE1A
Ward 2, Rose Park (2600 O Street NW), 10:30 a.m.
Councilmember Brooke Pinto and SBOE Member Allister Chang
Contact: Allister Chang (allister.chang1@dc.gov)
Sign up form: https://forms.gle/EHcKsAXxiZ93578r8
Ward 3, Palisades Hub (5200 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016), 1:30 p.m.
SBOE Member Ruth Wattenberg and Mann Elementary School teacher Collin Radix-Carter
Contact: Ruth Wattenberg (ruth.wattenberg@dc.gov)
Sign up form: https://forms.gle/HYtuqKT8xbUmDQEP6
Ward 4, Upshur Playground Basketball Courts (4300 Arkansas Ave NW), 10:30 a.m.
Councilmember Janeese Lewis George and SBOE Member Frazier O’Leary
Contact: Frazier O’Leary (frazier.OLeary@dc.gov)
To sign up, please e-mail Frazier O’Leary (Frazier.OLeary@dc.gov)
Ward 5, Tanner Park (227 Harry Thomas Way NE, Washington, DC 20002), 10:30 a.m.
SBOE President Zachary Parker
Contact: Zachary Parker (zachary.parker@dc.gov)
Sign up form: https://forms.gle/zpF7xPZz4PVcvPacA
Ward 6, Southwest Duck Pond (6th and I Streets SW), 10:30 a.m.
SBOE Members Jessica Sutter and Alex O’Sullivan
Contact: Jessica Sutter (jessica.sutter@dc.gov)
Sign up form: https://forms.gle/Jb3R3aN6R7gr9iQz9
Ward 7, National Youth Baseball Academy (3675 Ely Pl SE, Washington, DC 20019), 11:00 a.m.
SBOE Member Eboni-Rose Thompson and the National Youth Baseball Academy
Contact: Eboni-Rose Thompson (eboni-rose.thompson@dc.gov)
Sign up form: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/books-baseball-tickets-149986071377
Ward 8, Oxon Run Park (13th and Mississippi Avenue SE WDC 20020 Amphitheater), 10:30 a.m.
Councilmember Trayon White, SBOE Members Jacque Patterson and Carlene Reid, and Friends of Oxon Run Park Vice Chair Brenda Richardson
To sign up, please e-mail Brenda Richardson (brendarichardson724@gmail.com)