Founded in 2020 as a Community Project by Ypsilanti Community Organizer, Kallista Marie.

A goal of Our Community Reads is to replace the negative, traumatic stories that Black children see and experience growing up.

  • "The DC trip inspired me to continue to discover, study, learn and share our true history which has been purposefully distorted and buried!"

    — Pamela Glover, Our Community Reads Board President

    Queens Take Washington D.C. Trip

  • “Stories are important for all ages and that often a book meant to teach our children, is a reminder to ourselves, to not forget.”

    — Eden Spring

    Books & Brews Event

  • “Community is everything and I love my sisters Tamara and Kallista to the core of me!”

    — Anonymous

    Books & Brews Event

  • “The readings were great and the event was a great opportunity to read new a book and be apart of the community”

    — Roy Finny

    Books & Brews Event

  • “Thank you so much Ms.K and your team for giving these girls this opportunity they will never forget, love it. You rock😘😘😘”

    —Queens Club Parent

    Queens Take Washington D.C. Trip

  • “📚 🌈 Kallista Pronounced Kalleesta Marie & Tamara Tucker-Ibarisha manifesting inner child dreams for community! It is a love language to be read a children’s book & to read one, too. It is another love language TO BE OUT with cool adults at 734 Brewing Company, yummy drinks & reading children’s books WITHOUT CHILDREN."

    —Heather Martin, Executive Director of Youth Arts Alliance

    Books & Brews Event

  • “At one point during this amazing Books And Brew event.. my eyes started to tear up because I was feeling this sense of joy unexplained. To have my sisters @wonderfullyhuman68 and@tibarisha and my friends reading picture books to each other... UBUNTU!"

    — Curtis Wallace

    Books & Brews Event

Upcoming Events

Want to join us for our next community event? Check out our schedule so you can add the events to your calendar.

Featured Stories

 

Jeana Austin

My Hair is Magic

Justin Harper

Let The Children March

Roshanda Mitchell

All Are Welcome

Gregory Anglin

Brown Boy Brown Boy What Could You Be?

Visit YouTube Channel

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Our Community Reads aims to plant seeds of possibilities with the youth in Ypsilanti.