ArtsCorpsDetroit co-sponsors "Detroit Literacy Flags Project," volunteers needed...

Acknowledging the importance of literacy in a democratic society, social reformer Frederick Douglas once said, "Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." With the functional illiteracy rate in the City of Detroit near 50%, the Dominican Literacy Center at 11148 Harper (near Conner) offers one-to-one tutoring enabling learners to transform their lives by learning to read and by acquiring other basic skills that empower them to become successful parents, productive workers and responsible citizens.

ArtsCorpsDetroit is proud to partner with the Dominican Literacy Center on Forever Free - Detroit Literacy Flags Project to raise awareness about literacy in our community and to support efforts to address this issue. Inspired by the model of colorful, handcrafted Tibetan prayer flags strung along ridges of the Himalayas to spread wishes for goodwill throughout the land, Literacy Flags are handmade and hung from the rafters of Eastern Market's Shed #2 to mark International Literacy Day on September 8, 2011, and will remain in the market the rest of the month.

Volunteers are needed to help on this project in various ways:

Tuesday, August 23 - Volunteers are needed to affix flags to the twine that will be used in stringing up the flags. 1:00 to 6:00 PM. Come any time. At the Dominican Literacy Center, 11148 Harper, Detroit MI 48213.

Thursday, September 8 - Eastern Market, Shed #2, 10am to 4pm: help hang the flags! Volunteers are needed to climb ladders and others to hold the flags and ladders. RSVP ahead of time to Sue Schreiber, below, so her team can know how many to expect.

Friday, September 9 - Eastern Market, Shed #2, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM: It's the Forever Free - Detroit Literacy Flags Project's Opening Event with guest speakers, refreshments, dancers, music by DJ LaRoc and continued flag making.

Saturdays the rest of the month, Sept. 10, 17 and 24: Come to Eastern Market to help with continuous flag making, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. (Perhaps two shifts each day).

CONTACT:

Sue Schreiber
Community Outreach/Publicity
Dominican Literacy Center
11148 Harper
Detroit, MI 48213
313-267-1000
dominicanliteracy@yahoo.com