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.

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Honored to Be Recognized by Washtenaw County My Brother’s Keeper

Our Community Reads is deeply honored to be recognized by Washtenaw County My Brother’s Keeper for the heart work we do in our community. This acknowledgment means so much to our team, our families, and the young people we serve — it reminds us that love, literacy, and connection truly make an impact.

We were especially moved to celebrate alongside Pastor Harold Wimberly of Christian Love Fellowship International, whose decades of service have touched countless lives throughout Washtenaw County and beyond. His leadership, compassion, and unwavering commitment to community uplift continue to inspire us all.

We share this recognition with every volunteer, caregiver, partner, and young scholar who believes in the power of reading, belonging, and hope. Together, we are building a village where every story matters.

With gratitude,
The Our Community Reads Family

  • "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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Kallista Marie reading to young scholars at the Washtenaw County Eastside Summer Camp

Kallista Marie reading to young scholars at the Washtenaw County Eastside Summer Camp

Queens with Michigan Author, Kelly Baptist at a workshop at Booksweet

Queens with Michigan Author, Kelly Baptist at a workshop at Booksweet

Books and Brews Adult Storytime at 734 Brewing in collaboration with Tamara Tucker-Ibarisha of Black Men Read

Books and Brews Adult Storytime at 734 Brewing in collaboration with Tamara Tucker-Ibarisha of Black Men Read

Pharaoh's Club Field Trip to the Detroit Fox Theatre's showing of How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The Musical

Pharaoh's Club Field Trip to the Detroit Fox Theatre's showing of How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The Musical

The Amazing Our Community Reads Team

The Amazing Our Community Reads Team

Pharaoh's Club outing to Johnny's On The Lake Bar and Grill in Belleville, MI

Pharaoh's Club outing to Johnny's On The Lake Bar and Grill in Belleville, MI

Kallista Marie Adult Storytime at Ujamaa House Stanford University in California

Kallista Marie Adult Storytime at Ujamaa House Stanford University in California

Queens Club Washington D.C Fundraiser at Go Ice Cream with Rob Hess

Queens Club Washington D.C Fundraiser at Go Ice Cream with Rob Hess

Queens during a visit to the Shaker Heights Library Readers's Garden (also attended an HBCU College Fair)

Queens during a visit to the Shaker Heights Library Readers's Garden (also attended an HBCU College Fair)

Our Community Reads and Mentor 2 Youth collaborate for Reading in The Park Mondays at Rutherford Pool in Ypsilanti

Our Community Reads and Mentor 2 Youth collaborate for Reading in The Park Mondays at Rutherford Pool in Ypsilanti

Queen at Mahogany Books in Oxon Hill, Md during their transformational field trip to Washington D.C

Queen at Mahogany Books in Oxon Hill, Md during their transformational field trip to Washington D.C

Books and Brews Adult Storytime Participant at 734 Brewing

Books and Brews Adult Storytime Participant at 734 Brewing

Cherisa Allen and Lisa Jones of Women and Men Working for Change with books for Domestic Violence Awareness (videos can be found on our YouTube channel)

Cherisa Allen and Lisa Jones of Women and Men Working for Change with books for Domestic Violence Awareness (videos can be found on our YouTube channel)

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

Purpose + Mission