Who We Are

Children’s Literacy Network, is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) grassroots organization founded in 1991 by a group of educators dedicated to promoting the benefits of literacy. The mission of the Children's Literacy Network (CLN) is to ensure that all children in our community have an equal opportunity to develop a love of reading and books. We are a volunteer-based nonprofit agency in Washtenaw County, Michigan dedicated to closing the book and reading achievement gap to keep low-income students from falling further behind their more affluent peers. CLN accomplishes this through innovative programming at the early childhood and school-age levels.

We are proud to be an active participant in the Cradle to Career Initiative which is focused on meeting children's needs throughout their educational and developmental stages. CLN is strongly aligned with this effort through every program we offer: CLN takes an active role in making sure children are ready to succeed in kindergarten; in ensuring all children will read proficiently by the end of 3rd grade; and in supporting the overall goal, that all youth will graduate high school.

Core Beliefs

We believe

• being able to read is the foundation of success in school and to a great extent, in life.
• in promoting the learning and loving of reading at all age groups.
• it is never too early to start reading to children. We encourage reading to newborns.
• it is never too late to develop a love of reading.
• in providing multicultural books with the belief that children need to see themselves depicted in the books they read.
• reading to a child includes an important emotional bonding experience.
• in focusing on low-income families since they often do not have the means to have many books in their homes.
• in striving to include an educational element in all of our programs rather than simply giving books away.
• our mission is best served through community partnerships and collaborations.

Points Of Pride

• Over 85 volunteers carried out our programs, staffed events, provided office support, and served on our Board.
• Volunteers contribute more than 2,500 hours each year.
• 36 partner organizations distribute our books to children in Washtenaw County.
• The Read to Kids program reaches over 500 families, with over 5000 books. Parents log over 100,000 minutes of reading a month with their child.
• Our goal in 2016 was to replicate the Summer Book Program in four new schools. We increased our book distribution by 56% in just one year!
• With the SICT program, CLN has reached over 500 families each year and sent over 1200 books.

For more information or to make a donation, please visit us at: www.childrensliteracynetwork.org.