Miami, FL July 7, 2020 — Miami Dade College (MDC)’s Miami Book Fair (MBF) has received an Art Works grant for $25,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for its 2020-21 Generation Genius programs, a group of literacy and learning initiatives designed to engage youth of all ages in learning through reading and writing.
“It’s crucial for children to have access to authors and books and learning in an entertaining way. Reading well, and widely, and deeply – slowly developing those critical thinking skills throughout childhood and adolescence – is crucial to academic success, and eventually, at career success,” said Lissette Mendez, MBF’s director of programs. “Getting kids to love books and reading in childhood is part of helping children grow up healthy.”
The funds will be used to support literary activities for children at the 2020 Miami Book Fair in November and throughout the year, including specially programmed educational author presentations and Q&A’s; creative writing workshops; the Children’s Alley learning activities section of the Fair; and a series called Storybook Picnic, which takes place each spring and offers free, literacy-building performances and family reading time. MBF has been awarded similar grants in three prior years.
This grant is part of NEA’s funding commitment of more than $84 million for the 2020 fiscal year.
“All children are our children, and now more than ever we want to make sure we support families and schools in our community with programs that instill a love for reading,” said Delia Lopez, director of operations, Miami Book Fair. “Financial support, such as this grant from the NEA, will make it possible for us to fulfill our mission.”
About Miami Book Fair
Miami Book Fair, widely considered the largest and finest literary event in the U.S., is part of the Cultural Affairs Department of Miami Dade College. In addition to the annual eight-day festival that takes place on the Wolfson Campus of the College in Downtown Miami, Miami Book Fair presents literary programs throughout Miami all year long. Miami Book Fair is made possible through the generous support of the State of Florida and the National Endowment for the Arts; the City of Miami; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; Miami-Dade County Public Schools; the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau; the Miami Downtown Development; and the Friends of the Fair; as well as many corporate partners.
For more information, please visit www.miamibookfair.com. Follow the Fair on social media @miamibookfair.