addByline("Sharlea Brooks","Celtics.com","Celtics");
BOSTON – At the height of this year’s presidential election, the Senate Chamber of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute played host to the launch of the Read to Achieve program presented by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Students from Hooks Elementary School in Chelsea, Massachusetts and Higginson Lewis School in Boston joined Celtics forward Jae Crowder and Celtics alumni Leon Powe for the tip-off read along.
When the doors of the Chamber opened Tuesday afternoon, the students emulated future Senators as they orderly sat at the state’s respective desks. With a copy of Big George written by Anne Rockwell and Matt Phelanat in hand, the youth smiled bright, eager to begin reading.
Institute staff greeted the students and explained how the Senate Chamber functioned before answering questions on the presidential election process. During the discussion, the youth learned the importance of using their voice, even at a young age, to influence change.
The Celtics guests then began to read the story about the 1st U.S. President, George Washington. The VIP’s received an assist along the way from senior director of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Andrew Russell and ELA specialist of Belmont Public Schools Jaynene Young – wife of Celtics assistant coach Jamie Young.
A reoccurring theme in Big George was that President Washington recognized injustices and knew that he had to step up and lead others despite how difficult a task it appeared to be.
After reading about the journey to Washington’s presidency, there was an opportunity for students to ask questions.
Crowder made a brief, yet powerful, statement regarding the importance of reading as the students grow up to eventually become voter-eligible.
“If we want the world to be a better place we have to act positively to make that change,” explained Crowder. “At this point, in your life, use reading as a tool to keep learning and growing your knowledge of our culture.”
The students left the read along motivated by Crowder’s words to learn more about how they can make a positive impact in our nation ahead of the next presidential election.