LINC Communities

LINC Communities We are Literacy Inc.’s communities of parents and literacy advocates working together to ensure children are prepared to enter school ready to achieve.

When a community reads, children succeed!

🚇📚 What a ride! Yesterday, more than 400 LINC families from across all five boroughs came together for our 🌟12th annual ...
08/16/2026

🚇📚 What a ride! Yesterday, more than 400 LINC families from across all five boroughs came together for our 🌟12th annual Reading on the Rails,🌟 a citywide literacy adventure that turned public transit and Central Park into spaces for reading, discovery, and connection.

From early-morning subway rides to a picnic in Central Park, a story-inspired exploration of Bow Bridge, the Hans Christian Andersen Statue, and the Alice in Wonderland Statue, families spent the day discovering just how much learning can happen along the way. 🧺🏞️

📖 We were thrilled to welcome beloved children's author and longtime LINC friend Tish Rabe Books, who shared a special read-aloud from her new book, "Central Park, You Can See Why It’s the Best Place to Be," and generously donated books to participating LINC families.

A huge thank you to our LINC families for bringing your energy, curiosity, and love of reading; to our incredible staff and volunteers for making every part of the day possible; and to Iovino Enterprises for their generous support of this year’s Reading on the Rails. 🫂💙

Together, we’re helping make literacy a part of everyday life: on the subway, in the park, and everywhere in between. Read the full blog post: https://tinyurl.com/LINCRotRThankYou

🎒📚 Back-to-school season is here—and there’s no better way to get ready than with stories, songs, and plenty of family f...
08/12/2026

🎒📚 Back-to-school season is here—and there’s no better way to get ready than with stories, songs, and plenty of family fun! Join LINC August 17–23 for a week of free, family-friendly programs across the city designed to help little learners build excitement for the year ahead.

📍East Harlem
️🗓️️ August 17, 10am | Summer Storytime at Central Park's Bernard Family Playground. Cozy up for an interactive morning of stories and songs, perfect for little ones ages 0–2. Older siblings welcome!
🎟️ FREE Registration: tinyurl.com/y2kx84yf
️🗓️️ August 20, 11am | Fun in the Gardens at New York Restoration Project's Los Amigos Community Garden. Enjoy stories, songs, and activities outdoors for children ages 0–6. Older siblings welcome!
🎟️ FREE Registration: tinyurl.com/bdcvyh4j

📍East New York
️🗓️️ August 21, 12pm | Reading Is the Best School Supply at New York Restoration Project's Essex Community Garden. Kick off the school year with stories and literacy fun!
🎟️ FREE Registration: tinyurl.com/528ynvrr
️️🗓️ August 21, 1:30pm | Book to School at New York Restoration Project's Essex Community Garden. Pick up books and get ready for a new year of learning!
🎟️ No Registration Required

📍Kingsbridge
️️🗓️ August 20, 10:15am | Stories in the Garden at Wave Hill Park. Bring stories to life through interactive readings and activities surrounded by nature.
🎟️ FREE Registration: qrco.de/bgunuo

📍Inwood
️️🗓️ August 20, 10:30am | Little Garden Readers at New York Restoration Project. Riley-Levin Children's Garden. Enjoy bilingual stories, songs, and games designed to bring families together and spark a love of reading.
🎟️ FREE Registration: tinyurl.com/37m6pzsw

📍South Jamaica
️️🗓️ August 19, 11am | Summer 2026 Program at New York City Department of Parks & Recreation's South Jamaica Infinity Garden. Get ready for an interactive morning of stories, songs, and games!
🎟️ FREE Registration: qrco.de/bgt3R7

📍Staten Island
️🗓️️ August 18, 11:15am | Serve & Return Workshop series at West New Brighton Library. Learn playful, practical ways to build your baby’s early communication skills through responsive interactions, games, and activities.
🎟️ FREE Registration: qrco.de/bgvEVV

📍Washington Heights
️🗓️ August 18, 10:30am | Books & Blankets at the Little Red Lighthouse. Settle in for outdoor stories, songs, and early literacy activities beside the river.
🎟️ FREE Registration: tinyurl.com/hzvhj27

All LINC programs are designed for families with children ages 0–5, but all ages are welcome!

🚇🏙️ What if every trip across New York City could become a learning opportunity?That’s the idea behind LINC’s Reading on...
08/12/2026

🚇🏙️ What if every trip across New York City could become a learning opportunity?
That’s the idea behind LINC’s Reading on the Rails.

As Tish Rabe Books shares in her conversation with NBC News Joe Fryer, literacy doesn’t have to happen only at home or in the classroom. A subway ride, a bus trip, a walk through the park, or a visit to a neighborhood destination can all become opportunities to read, explore, ask questions, and spark a child’s imagination. ✨🧠📚

Now in its 12th year, Reading on the Rails is one of LINC's signature literacy initiatives, helping participating families discover how everyday journeys can become meaningful moments of reading and learning.

Summer may mean a break from school, but it doesn’t have to mean a break from learning. LINC’s community literacy model helps families build reading into the places and routines they already know, helping children stay engaged, build skills, and get ready to thrive when school begins again.

Watch Tish share why the journey matters, and why, at LINC, we believe literacy can happen anywhere and everywhere. 💛 Watch the full interview and read our blog post here: tinyurl.com/LINCRotRNBCNews

🌳🍃Looking for a family adventure before summer slips away? The new New York State Literacy Trail turns story time into e...
08/09/2026

🌳🍃Looking for a family adventure before summer slips away? The new New York State Literacy Trail turns story time into exploration time.

Created by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, this statewide initiative pairs children's books with parks and environmental education centers across New York, and is inviting families to read, imagine, and discover the outdoors together. 🦋🌲📚

Featuring a diverse selection of stories that celebrate nature, community, curiosity, and adventure, the trail connects families to beloved picture books while encouraging children to experience the world beyond the page. 📖🏞️From Brooklyn's Marsha P. Johnson State Park to Watkins Glen, Letchworth, and beyond, each destination offers a new opportunity to read, explore, and learn together.

🗺️🔍 This summer and fall, pick a book, choose a park, and see where the next chapter takes your family. Learn more about the New York State Literacy Trail and find a location near you: ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/literacy

📚👶🏾👶🏽 Reading to your baby starts sooner than you think! In her latest blog post, literacy expert Maya Smart Reports sha...
08/07/2026

📚👶🏾👶🏽 Reading to your baby starts sooner than you think! In her latest blog post, literacy expert Maya Smart Reports shares 3 simple tips for making story time meaningful from day one:

✨ Make it a conversation, not a monologue
✨ Prioritize connection over screens
✨ Keep it simple and follow your baby's lead

At LINC, we believe every moment of connection is an opportunity for learning and growth. Even a few minutes with a book can help build language, strengthen bonds, and spark a lifelong love of reading.

📖🌱 Read Maya's full blog post and discover how story time can support your baby's development from the very beginning: tinyurl.com/LINCMayaSmartReadingTips

☀️🌳 Summer adventures are still going strong! From farm-fresh stories to zoo explorations, reading celebrations, and bac...
08/04/2026

☀️🌳 Summer adventures are still going strong! From farm-fresh stories to zoo explorations, reading celebrations, and back-to-school fun, LINC is bringing FREE family programs across NYC where little readers can learn, play, and grow with their caregivers. Here's what's coming up August 8-10 across our neighborhoods:

📍East New York
️🗓️ August 15, 10am | Growing Little Reading with Books and Fruits at East New York Farms!. Enjoy stories, songs, rhymes, and fresh fruit in the garden while discovering how talking, singing, and playing help build early literacy skills.
🎟️ FREE Registration: tinyurl.com/528ynvrr

📍Bronx
🗓️ August 11, 10:30am | Books in the Wild at WCS Bronx Zoo. Explore the zoo through stories, play, and discovery while building a love of reading alongside your little ones.
🎟️ FREE Registration: tinyurl.com/4zdssmyp
🗓️ August 14, 11am | The Power of Play & Literacy Reading Celebration with our VIPs! at Van Cortlandt House Museum. Celebrate reading with an interactive storytime followed by field day games that inspire movement, connection, and family fun.
🎟️ FREE Registration: https://qrco.de/bgvEaK

📍South Jamaica
🗓️ August 12, 11am | Summer Program at Jamaica Community Partnership. A joyful family celebration filled with stories, games, dancing, and summer learning fun.
🎟️ FREE Registration: qrco.de/bgt3R7

📍Staten Island
🗓️ August 13, 12pm | Hop on the Reading Bus! at P.S. 18R (John Greenleaf Whittier, P. S. 18). Get ready for the school year with books, songs, games, and hands-on activities that support early learning and confidence.
🎟️ FREE Registration: tinyurl.com/yps2evb6
🗓️ August 14, 10am | Breastfeeding Celebration. Connect with other families during a supportive community gathering celebrating caregivers and their journeys.

📍Virtual
️🗓️ August 12, 4pm | Get Ready for a Great School Year. Read along online with music, games, and raffles. Join LINC and children's author Orlenny Alvarez for a virtual celebration with reading, music, games, raffles, and school-ready tips.
🎟️ FREE Registration: tinyurl.com/uun6taap

All LINC programs are designed for families with children ages 0–5, but all ages are welcome!

This week’s Vroom tip (⬆️ Desliza para español): some of the most meaningful learning moments happen when we slow down a...
08/03/2026

This week’s Vroom tip (⬆️ Desliza para español): some of the most meaningful learning moments happen when we slow down and connect.

🎵👩🏾‍🍼Whether you're swaying to a favorite song, humming a tune, or sharing a quiet dance together, these simple moments help children feel secure, connected, and engaged. When caregivers respond to a child's smiles, sounds, and movements, they're building relationships while supporting early development through everyday interactions.

The best part? No special materials or extra planning needed—just music, movement, and time together.

⚽ 🏟️ A day of firsts for our VIP families! Earlier this month, a group of LINC's Very Involved Parents (VIPs) and their ...
08/01/2026

⚽ 🏟️ A day of firsts for our VIP families! Earlier this month, a group of LINC's Very Involved Parents (VIPs) and their families headed to Citi Field to experience a historic moment: the first-ever National Women's Soccer League regular-season match played in New York City.

From pre-game festivities and family fun to witnessing a record-breaking crowd of more than 42,000 fans, it was a memorable day filled with community, celebration, and inspiration.

🗣️ "This was great and an experience that I would not have been able to give them without you [LINC]," shared LINC VIP Gladys Gomez, who attended the match with her two children.

Opportunities like these help create meaningful experiences for the incredible caregivers who champion literacy in their communities every day. 🫶🏾🤝 Thank you to Playworks (Playworks) for making this unforgettable experience possible! Read the full blog post: tinyurl.com/LINCVIPWomensSoccerLeagueMatch

07/31/2026

Bubbles were popped, stories were shared, songs were sung, and plenty of summer memories were made this July! 🫧🎨🎶

Across NYC, LINC families explored literacy through garden storytimes, creative activities, music and movement, cooking, outdoor play, and family celebrations in parks, libraries, museums, and community spaces.

Every book opened, conversation shared, and activity enjoyed helped children build early literacy skills while giving caregivers new ways to support learning at home and in their communities. 💛Thank you to the families, caregivers, community partners, and LINC staff who made July’s reading adventures so special!

🗓️ Explore August's lineup of FREE literacy-rich experiences to neighborhoods across NYC. 🔎 find your family's next opportunity to read, play, and grow together: lincnyc.org/programs

🌦️ Warmer weather is on the way, making it the perfect week to get out, explore, and learn together. Join LINC from Augu...
07/30/2026

🌦️ Warmer weather is on the way, making it the perfect week to get out, explore, and learn together. Join LINC from August 4–9 for free family-friendly programs across the city! Here's what's coming up:

📍East Harlem
️August 4, 11am | Baby Talk workshop series at Settlement Health. Stories, songs, and playful activities that help expectant parents and caregivers support their baby's language development.
🎟️ FREE Registration: tinyurl.com/uv32b4an
️August 6, 11am | Fun in the Gardens at the New York Restoration Project. Los Amigos Community Garden. Enjoy stories, songs, and outdoor activities while building early literacy skills together. Free books included.
🎟️ FREE Registration: tinyurl.com/bdcvyh4j

📍Bronx
️August 7, 11am | The Power of Play & Literacy with our VIPs at Van Cortlandt House Museum (). An interactive storytime followed by family-friendly field day games that inspire movement, connection, and a love of reading.
🎟️ FREE Registration: https://qrco.de/bgvEaK
️August 7, 2pm | LION Day Reading Celebration at Kingsbridge Branch Library, NYPL's. Celebrate reading together with favorite stories, family learning tips, and literacy fun for all.
🎟️ FREE Registration: tinyurl.com/read-kbl25

📍Inwood
️August 5, 10:30am | Read and Paint with LINC at the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation's Payson Park. Listen to a story, then bring it to life through a hands-on painting activity that sparks creativity and imagination.
🎟️ FREE Registration: tinyurl.com/37m6pzsw

📍South Jamaica
️August 5, 11am | Summer 2026 Program at P.S. 160Q. Join us for stories, games, movement, and outdoor fun designed for young children and their caregivers.
🎟️ FREE Registration: qrco.de/bgt3R7

📍Staten Island
️August 5, 11am | Cooking Up Good Readers at La Colmena - Community Job Center. Discover how cooking together can strengthen literacy skills through stories, snacks, and hands-on learning.
🎟️ FREE Registration: tinyurl.com/3jt2rdac
️August 5, 2pm | Boogie Woogie Wednesday: Irish Step Dance at the Staten Island Children's Museum (). Enjoy stories, songs, movement, and dancing in this lively family program.
🎟️ FREE Registration: tinyurl.com/3he54he3

📍Washington Heights
️August 4, 10:30am | Books, Bubbles & Sunshine at the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation's GW Bridge Playground. Read, sing, play, and enjoy bubbles outdoors while building early literacy skills together. Free books while supplies last.
🎟️ FREE Registration: tinyurl.com/hzvhj27

📍Virtual
️August 5, 6pm (English) + 7pm (Spanish) | Talk on Early Intervention! Learn about NYC Health's free Early Intervention Program and how it can support your child's development.
🎟️ FREE Registration: tinyurl.com/6fe4sdpj

All LINC programs are designed for families with children ages 0–5, but all ages are welcome!

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