Native American Literacy Event Set for June 22 in Schaumburg

SCHAUMBURG, June 7, 2024 — “Summer Youth Powwow: Read, Learn, Grow” is set for Saturday, June 22 and will celebrate the Native American culture and youth leadership through literacy. The first-time event, free to the public, will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. at Trickster Cultural Center, Trickster Cultural Center, 190 South Roselle Road in Schaumburg.

The Summer Youth Powwow is presented by Trickster Cultural Center and sponsored by Follett Educational Foundation, Meet Chicago Northwest and ICJIA.

According to event organizer, Gina Roxas, executive director of Trickster Cultural Center, more than 250 people are expected to attend. “Native American Powwow is a vibrant cultural event that celebrates Native American traditions through music, dance, and social gathering,” Roxas said. “It features traditional drumming, singing, and dancing, and serves as a communal space for honoring heritage, reconnecting with community, and passing down traditions to younger generations.”

Free book bundles, featuring age-appropriate content of Native American culture, will be available free to the first 30 registrants for each of four age groups: kindergarten to second grade, third to fifth grade, sixth to eighth grade, and high school.

As part of its expanded philanthropic mission to get books into the hands of students in the Native American community, Follett Educational Foundation is funding the donation of the 120 backpacks filled with books and a journal. The Foundation partnered with McHenry-based Follett Content Solutions to curate  the book bundles with all titles written by Native American authors.

The bundles include picture books for younger readers and novels for older students in a variety of genres: historical fiction, realistic fiction, mystery, fantasy, and science fiction. Title selection also includes two bilingual books – one with text in English and Ojibwa, another in English and Cherokee.

Roxas emphasized the event is designed to be “wholly inclusive and welcoming of all youths regardless of cultural background.” She added the Summer Youth Powwow marks her organization’s start of an extensive summer literacy campaign, which also will include formation of a book club and family-oriented reading activities.

Britten Follett, CEO of Follett Content and President of Follett Educational Foundation, said the event’s timing is perfect as it will encourage summer reading for youths in hopes it will become a lifelong habit.

“We are honored to be part of the inaugural Summer Youth Powwow as we know there is a strong need among families in this community and this event will be instrumental in helping build home libraries,” said Follett. “The Follett Educational Foundation has big dreams of building school libraries in tribal schools and this event is the just the start of a wider commitment.”

To register and be eligible for the book bundle giveaway, visit tricksterculturalcenter.salsalabs.org/2024-summer-youth-powwow-registration-form.

For more information about Summer Youth Powwow, visit www.tricksterculturalcenter.org/summer-youth-powwow-2024 or call (847) 301-2090.

About Follett Educational Foundation

Established in 1964, the Follett Educational Foundation has issued more than $5 million in higher education scholarships.  Today, its Four Brother Scholarship program, named after Dwight, Garth, Bob and Laddie, the brothers who grew the individual divisions of Follett Corporation, awards college and trade school scholarships to deserving students at Oak Park River Forest High School and Proviso East, both in the Chicagoland area.  The Foundation is expanding its philanthropic endeavors to improve literacy outcomes in communities in need, starting with Native American families. 

About Follett Content | follettcontent.com

Follett Content is the largest provider of educational materials to PreK-12 libraries, classrooms, learning centers and school districts in the United States, and a major supplier to educational institutions worldwide. Follett Content distributes textbooks, supplemental books, hands-on learning resources, audiovisual materials and digital resources through Titlewave, the most powerful online collection development and curriculum support tool for school libraries, librarians, and educators. Find Follett on Facebook and Instagram and follow them on X (formerly Twitter) (@FollettContent).

Media Contact | Doug Thompson | Thompson Drake Public Relations | 541.419.4471 | doug@thompsondrake.com