Kalamazoo Literacy Council

Tutor Training part 1
2025-05-05 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-09-15 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Detroit) | 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 part 2
2025-05-08 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-09-18 18:00 - 19:30 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001

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

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

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!

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
2025-07-23 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!

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

Tutor Orientation
2025-09-11 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-11-06 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
2025-09-24 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!

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.

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!

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 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

New Tutor Orientation
2026-01-08 18:00 - 19:30 | 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 1 & 2
2026-01-17 09:00 - 13:00 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001
Welcome to the Kalamazoo Literacy Council’s tutor training! The January sessions are held over two Saturdays, in person or online. After this training, you will be certified to tutor adults using the Laubach method and the Challenger series and you will then be matched with an adult learner. To sign up, please use the tutor registration form.

Tutor Training Parts 3 & 4
2026-01-24 09:00 - 13:00 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001

Albert White Bust Unveiling
2026-02-06 16:00 - 17:00 | Kalamazoo Public Library Central Branch, 315 S. Rose St., Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, United States
The public is invited to attend an unveiling of a bust of Albert J. White, created by local artist James Palmore and cast in bronze by Brent Harris. The event, which falls on White’s birthday, is part of Black History Month celebrations. Albert White was an African American mason who built some of Kalamazoo’s iconic structures, including Western Michigan University’s Heritage Hall and the County Health & Community Services building. Palmore also painted a portrait of White, which was dedicated in February 2025 and hangs in the lobby of the County building.

New Tutor Orientation
2026-03-05 18:00 - 19:30 | 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-min 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 Part 1
2026-03-09 18:00 - 19:30 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001
Welcome to the Kalamazoo Literacy Council’s tutor training! The training is held in four parts, over two weeks, in person or online. After this training, you will be certified to tutor adults using the Laubach method and the Challenger series and you will then be matched with an adult learner. To sign up, please use the tutor registration form.

Book Club: Take My Hand
2026-03-12 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-19 13:00 - 14:00 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001
Join adult learners and other readers as we read and discuss the powerful book “Take My Hand” by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. The story explores the life of Civil Townsend, a Black nurse in 1970’s Alabama, who exposes a grave injustice suffered by her young patients. The Book Club is led by compassionate volunteers in a safe and supportive environment. You can join in person or online. Contact Abbey at (269) 382-0490 ext. 219 if you’re interested!
This class is part of the community read-along, being led by Kalamazoo Public Library, in advance of the author’s visit to Kalamazoo on April 11.

Tutor Training Part 2
2026-03-12 18:00 - 19:30 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001

Tutor Training Part 3
2026-03-16 18:00 - 19:30 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001
