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.

Learn More

What an honor. What a gift. What a moment for our village. 💛

We are overflowing with gratitude to be selected as a 2026 Beneficiary of the Big House 5K hosted at Michigan Stadium by the University of Michigan.

To be invited into a space so iconic, so full of history, and to have Our Community Reads named as a partner in this experience… it feels like someone looked at the quiet, consistent work happening in Ypsilanti and said, we see you.

This opportunity is more than a race.
It is fuel for our dreams.

Because when you run for Our Community Reads, you are helping us:

✨ Put more culturally affirming books into the hands and homes of families in the 48197/48198 zip codes
✨ Create more joyful 40-minute reading circles where children and caregivers read together
✨ Expand the reach of our Queens and Pharaohs Clubs as literacy, exposure, and life-skills spaces
✨ Strengthen the behind-the-scenes infrastructure that allows this heart work to be sustainable, organized, and ready to grow

This partnership gives us room to breathe.
Room to build.
Room to dream bigger for the children and families we walk alongside every day.

It means deeper capacity.
Stronger systems.
And more literacy-filled moments rooted in joy, connection, and possibility across Ypsilanti.

To everyone who will run, walk, donate, share, and cheer us on — you are becoming part of the story we are writing with our community.

With full hearts and grateful spirits,
The Our Community Reads Team

Reading in Community

Silent Book Club Meet Up

Our Community Reads Silent Book Club
March 6th •

3:00pm-5:00pm
Ypsilanti District Library

229 W Michigan Ave

Sometimes the most beautiful thing you can give yourself is a quiet moment, a good book, and a little community. Our Community Reads invites you to our monthly Silent Book Club, a cozy, judgment-free space where adults can simply be.

There’s no assigned reading, no pressure, no expectations. Just bring a book you love (or one you’ve been meaning to start), settle in, and enjoy dedicated time to read alongside others who appreciate the simple joy of turning pages.

Here’s how it works:
✨ We gather, greet, and connect for a few minutes
✨ Everyone finds a comfortable spot
✨ We read quietly together
✨ We wrap up with light conversation, reflection, or simply a peaceful goodbye

Feel free to bring a friend, your favorite snacks, your favorite tea, a little honey, and your favorite mug—I will have a pot of hot water ready for everyone.

Whether you’re looking to build a reading habit, meet new people, or take a break from the busyness of life, this space is for you.

You deserve it.

"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
“The trips tho? For me, it’s the icing on the cake. The ‘icing’ is fantastic, of course-but it’s the actual CAKE that fills my soul as their parent. The ‘cake’ being the monthly meetings… these gatherings and events are made individually special EACH time, often with special guests or speakers that I’d LOVE to have been exposed to as a child. My children are exposed to authors, poets, professors, artists, journalists, music, college students, financial advisors, etc. they’ve learned more about budgeting, etiquette, mental health, travel, art, education and all the things-probably more than I have even as an adult.”

— Maureen Davis
Queens and Pharaohs Club Parent
Impact of our monthly Royal Sunday Meet Ups
“Community is everything and I love my sisters Tamara and Kallista to the core of me!”

— Anonymous
Books & Brews Event
“ A great teacher brings the ideas from the dark into the light and that is what Kallista and the team at Queen’s Club do. They make it tangible for girls. They connect the dots for some girls and for others they introduce an idea, and light a match that will become the spark of success and accomplishment."

— Michele Wallace
Queens Club Parent
Reflection on Boston/Harvard Trip
“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
Our Community Reads has impacted my entire family's literacy journey. As an educator, it's important to me that my own kids love to read, but they were both often resistant, especially coming out of COVID. My son was a part of the Young Pharaohs program. We have attended book parties, library events, storytimes and pop-up events throughout the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area, and are always met with love, hugs, positivity and BOOKS! Ms. K and her team are beloved community members fostering a joy for literacy, learning and bringing people together. Their work in Ypsilanti is genuine, consistent and so very valuable!”

-Lauren Fardig-Diop
Community Member/Parent/Educator
Community Storytime Events

Upcoming Events

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

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

Purpose + Mission

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

Reading in Community

Silent Book Club Meet Up

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

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

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

“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!"

Upcoming Events

Featured Stories

My Hair is Magic

Let The Children March

All Are Welcome

Brown Boy Brown Boy What Could You Be?

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

A Community That Reads Together Grows Together!