Kalamazoo Literacy Council

New Tutor Orientation
2026-01-08 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Detroit) | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001
Welcome to the Kalamazoo Literacy Council’s new tutor orientation! In this 90-minute presentation, you will learn about our mission, services, the training process, and what to expect from being a certified volunteer tutor with the KLC. This is a hybrid training, so you may participate in person or online. To sign up, please use the tutor registration form.

Tutor Training parts 3 & 4
2025-11-22 09:00 - 13:00 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001
This is the training that is required to become a certified reading tutor with the KLC. You will learn how to teach adults using the Laubach method and the Challenger reading series, plus effective strategies for tutoring and engaging native English speakers and English language learners. These sessions are hybrid, so you can choose to participate in person or online. If you have any questions, please contact Abbey at (269) 382-0490 ext. 219 or aweathers@kalamazooliteracy.org. Thanks for supporting adult literacy!

Tutor Training parts 1 & 2
2025-11-15 09:00 - 13:00 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001

Tutor Orientation
2025-11-06 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-09-11 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-05-01 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-03-06 18:00 - 19:30 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001
Welcome! This is the training that is required to become a certified reading tutor with the KLC. In this orientation, we will introduce you to our mission and why we believe “Everyone Needs To Read.” We will also share what you can expect during and after tutor training. If you have any questions, please contact Abbey at (269) 382-0490 ext. 219 or aweathers@kalamazooliteracy.org.

Family Literacy Day
2025-10-22 17:00 - 19:00 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001
Join us for the last Family Literacy Day of the season! We’ll have pumpkin decorating, story time, free books, and festive activities. The fun happens INDOORS at 420 E. Alcott St. Hope to see you!

Adult Literacy Research & Training Symposium
2025-10-10 08:00 - 15:30 | Sangren Hall, 2050 W. Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, United States
The Symposium is a free, annual one-day event produced by the KLC and Western Michigan University, that offers insights, strategies, and best practices for adult education. Volunteer tutors, educators, and others who are passionate about literacy are invited to attend. The theme is “Closing the Literacy Opportunity Gap,” and presentations will feature content around AI use, workforce development, multigenerational learning, adult ed with incarcerated populations, and more.
Friday, October 10
8:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
College of Education & Human Development
2050 Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Please register here by September 26th.

Tutor Training part 4
2025-09-25 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-05-15 18:00 - 19:30 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001

Family Literacy Day
2025-09-24 17:00 - 19:00 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001
Celebrate “community” with us! This month’s Family Literacy Day is all about the beauty of community. The featured Story Walk book is “Change Sings,” by Amanda Gorman and Loren Long. We’ll have fun garden activities and free books from KPL. The Read & Seed community garden is located behind the Goodwill Industries building. All are invited!

Tutor Training part 3
2025-09-22 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-05-12 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-03-17 18:00 - 19:30 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001

Tutor Training part 2
2025-09-18 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-05-08 18:00 - 19:30 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001

Tutor Training part 1
2025-09-15 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-05-05 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-03-10 18:00 - 19:30 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001

Family Literacy Day
2025-08-20 17:00 - 19:00 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001

14th Annual Kalamazoo Scrabble Fest
2025-08-09 12:00 - 15:30 | Radisson Plaza Hotel and Suites, 100 W. Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, United States
Kalamazoo’s favorite Scrabble tournament is back! Join us for our annual FUNdraiser to support adult literacy. Choose to play in the Just For Fun or Competitive division and let the games begin. Showcase your wordplay skills and take home a trophy or a great prize. It’s a great day of gaming for a great cause.
Each $25 ticket includes a t-shirt, food, parking, and gaming materials. Get tickets here by July 18. See you there!

Family Literacy Day
2025-07-23 17:00 - 19:00 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001
Join us in the Read and Seed community garden for Family Literacy Day! This month’s Story Walk(TM) features “Something, Someday”

by Amanda Gorman. We’ll have a fun hands-on activity making garden gnomes, plus the Mobile Library will be here with free books to enjoy at home. All are invited, hope to see you!

Family Literacy Day
2025-06-25 17:00 - 19:00 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001
Join us in the Read and Seed community garden for Family Literacy Day! This month, our special guests from The Home Depot will show us how to make a Birdy Buffet. Friends from the library will have books for everyone and Little Scholars will enjoy story time with “Garden Time.”
The garden is located behind the Goodwill Industries building at 420 E. Alcott St. All are welcome!

Family Literacy Day
2025-05-28 17:00 - 19:00 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001
It’s garden season again! Families are invited to join the Kalamazoo Literacy Council in the Read and Seed community garden for fun in the sun. We will learn about gardening, healthy eating, and of course, reading! Enjoy fun activities, a Story Walk, and take home books from the Kalamazoo Public Library. All are welcome.
Contact Kamaria at (269) 382-0490 ext. 263 with questions. Hope to see you!

Albert White Literacy Trail Earth Day Clean Up
2025-04-22 12:00 - 14:00 | Bryant St.
Help beautify a new learning and play space in the Edison neighborhood! The Albert White Literacy Trail is a 1/8 mile stretch along the Portage Creek between Alcott and Reed St. It is home to the Literacy Lane street mural and a Little Free Library and is the future home of a Story Walk and Reading Corner. All are invited join the Edison Resident Scholars & the Edison Neighborhood Association to help clean up the trail as we prepare for the exciting upgrades!
Please meet at the mural site at 12pm – dead end of Bryant St., off Portage St, between Alcott St. and Lane Blvd., behind the Marathon station.
RSVP to Abbey at (269) 382-0490 ext. 219 or aweathers@kalamazooliteracy.org. Hope to see you!

Tutor Training part 4
2025-03-20 18:00 - 19:30 | MI

Tutor Training part 2
2025-03-13 18:00 - 19:30 | MI

Albert J. White Commemoration
2025-02-19 16:30 - 17:30 | Kzoo County Dept. of Health & Community Services, 311 E. Alcott St., Kalamazoo, MI, 49001, United States
The community is invited to join the Kalamazoo County Department of Health & Community Services (HCS), Kalamazoo Literacy Council, and Western Michigan University for a special program to commemorate the life and legacy of Albert J. White. White, an African-American mason born in the 1800’s, is responsible for some of the city’s iconic landmarks including East Campus’ Heritage Hall and the HCS building. The program includes an unveiling of a portrait by famed local artist James Palmore and remarks from White’s descendants. This event is free and open to the public.

Albert J. White Proclamation
2025-02-18 18:30 - 19:30 | 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave., 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, United States
On Tuesday, February 18, the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners will read a proclamation during its regular Board meeting honoring the life and work of Albert White. White served the Kalamazoo community for over five decades, from the 1870s until 1930, earning his journeyman status as a stone mason and bricklayer at the age of 23 after 6 years as an unpaid apprentice. At 25, he founded White’s Construction Company, assembling a diverse team of more than 50 Black, white, and immigrant workers and overseeing the construction of numerous buildings, many of which still stand today. Among his notable projects are the Illinois Envelope Company building, completed in 1905, which now serves as the home of Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services, and Western Michigan University’s Heritage Hall. This event is free and open to the public.
