Girls Inc. Family Reading Night Brings Reading Joy to Life
By Jennifer Bloom, Director of Programs
Girls Inc. of Alameda County hosted an inspiring Family Reading Night on June 30, 2026, perfectly capturing the spirit of the Reading is Joy quarter of the Oakland Is a Reading Town campaign. Families filled the event, creating a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where girls and their caregivers explored literacy together through interactive stations, hands-on activities, and practical learning.
The evening featured creative experiences that celebrated the joy of storytelling, including a sand tray story-building station where girls used a story arc to create imaginative stories on the spot. After completing a variety of literacy stations, campers selected “just-right” books to enjoy throughout the summer, reinforcing the importance of reading beyond the classroom.
Families gathered over hot dogs before participating in a caregiver workshop led by Vanessa and Hada, who shared the importance of reading 20 minutes every day and modeled several research-based literacy strategies that parents and caregivers could immediately use at home including memory games, BUSTED! word cards, and sentence trees to build reading fluency. Families had ready-made materials to equip them with fun, accessible ways to support literacy all summer long. The workshop concluded with exciting movie-themed book basket raffles, sending a few lucky girls home with even more books and reading inspiration.
Throughout the event, one message remained front and center: reading doesn’t stop when school ends. By weaving the importance of summer reading into every activity, Girls Inc. created a joyful and meaningful experience that empowered families to keep reading, talking, and learning together all summer long.
OLC Action Grants support literacy and reading projects outside of school time for Oakland youth ages 0-18. This summer’s awardees, including Girls Inc., support opportunities beyond access for young people to read with one another, talk about books, and build connections through shared reading experiences.