Kalamazoo Literacy Council

06/05/2026

Book Club is going strong! They finished "Take My Hand" by Dolen Perkins-Valdez, and were thrilled to meet her at her book talk. The group is now reading "Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden," a powerful memoir by scholar and poet Camille T. Dungy. Special thanks to volunteer Debora Gant for her deep insights and compassion as Book Club Leader.

06/04/2026

Ready to level up? We are thrilled to announce that the KLC is now licensed to provide adult learners with a Grow with Google certificate, in one of several high-growth fields like IT, Project Management, or Ecommerce. The FREE course of study involves online self-paced training and is specifically designed for beginners, who benefit from hands-on experience without needing a degree.

Whether you're looking to:
✅ Build computer skills
✅ Learn Google tools (Docs, Sheets, Gmail)
✅ Prepare for digital-focused jobs
✅ Boost your professional qualifications

Contact us today to enroll in Digital Skills: (269) 382-0490 ext. 222 or [email protected]. Let's GROW together!

06/02/2026

Nichael Todd, a KLC learner, launches "Season to the Bone," a food truck serving authentic Jamaican cuisine right here in Kalamazoo. According to his tutor John, Nichael is a dedicated and earnest individual who works hard to improve his literacy skills despite a demanding schedule of a full-time job and the food truck business with his son. His passion as a father and business owner keep him motivated and with a great sense of humor. He recently started using his first KPL library card to check out and enjoy graphic novels. Way to go, Nichael!

A father/son team brings Kalamazoo a jolt of Jamaican flavor with the cuisine at Season to the Bone.

06/02/2026

A warm thank you to the volunteers who scraped, peeled, and painted the mural at Literacy Lane last weekend. Participants in the Edison Mural & Public Art Academy, led by Heidi Weiss, have enjoyed learning techniques for repainting and tips for maintaining the work. This community project is truly a labor of love and we are grateful for the many helping hands! Come check it out at 400 Bryant St. 🪒🎨

05/28/2026

This week we said goodbye to an amazing instructor. Laura. Thank you for making learning English fun, challenging, and rewarding. Thanks for caring, for listening, and for being an inspiration, more than you know. We'll miss you! 🥰

05/22/2026

Mark your calendars for Kalamazoo Scrabble Fest, happening Saturday, August 8th from 12-3:30 p.m. Whether you're a word wizard or a casual player, Scrabble Fest is the place to be. Each $25 ticket includes a tshirt, snacks, & parking, so your tickets today and join us fun, friendly competition - all for a great cause! https://bit.ly/4cYa0Wg

05/21/2026

Thanks to all the families and Little Scholars who helped us kick off the Read and Seed season! It was awesome to see so many familiar faces and warm smiles. Huge thanks to our friends at KPL and Kalamazoo Nature Center for their extra special touch of fun. Events are on the third Wednesdays, May-October, 5-7 p.m. at 420 E. Alcott St.

05/21/2026

05/20/2026

Everything’s shaping up beautifully for a great time in the garden! We’ll be reading “Don’t touch that flower!” and enjoying the new Farmers’ Market with its own Market Buck$ you can earn just by doing fun activities. Tonight, 5-7pm, 420 E. Alcott St. All are welcome ☀️

05/19/2026

Join us tomorrow for free fun in the garden! Family Literacy Days are back, and we welcome everyone to the Read and Seed community garden for activities, stories, books, and more. We're especially excited for our new Farmers' Market. Come check it out! Wednesday, May 20, 5-7 p.m., 420 E. Alcott St.