New York Times Bestselling author of WICKED SAINTS

Award-winning author of ANGER IS A GIFT

Acclaimed author of ENCHANTEE

The CLE Reads Book Festival aims to promote literacy and foster a deep love for reading within the Cleveland community, with a particular focus on our local youth. The festival will emphasize the importance of championing diversity in what we read and recommend to others. Not only will the festival highlight work from several local authors, it will also feature award-winning and best-selling writers from across the country, serving as an opportunity to highlight the beauty of our community beyond our borders. We are well aware of the rich reading culture already established in the Greater Cleveland area, and our mission is to expand upon those traditions, while also spearheading a new literary experience for all residents and visitors.

We are especially honored to work in partnership with the Cleveland Public Library, as an integral part of their bicentennial celebration this summer. Our other major partner is impact!, an after-school college access program hosted by College Now Greater Cleveland. Impact! is dedicated to assisting underserved middle school and high school teens with their coursework and ultimately with preparation for college.

As such, we are providing transportation to and from the festival for at least 100 local teens and we have secured funding to gift each participating teen two books.

Additionally, in the spirit of community, we have invited local independent booksellers; they will have a selection of books for young and old, including those written by our attending authors, for purchase.

CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY

We are the “People’s University,” the center of learning for a diverse and inclusive community.

Cleveland Public Library has been fortunate to serve the Greater Cleveland community for the last 150 years. We are taking this year to celebrate 150 years of learning, discovery, and enrichment with our Greater Cleveland Community through a series of free events and activities throughout 2019 - from a citywide street festival to a puppetry exhibit, flagship Writers & Readers author appearances, neighborhood events, and more.

For more info about Cleveland Public Library, its mission, and its sesquicentennial year celebration:

COLLEGE NOW GREATER CLEVELAND

College Now’s mission is to increase postsecondary educational attainment through college and career access advising, financial aid counseling, and scholarship and retention services.

College Now helps students as early as middle and high school students as well as adult learners achieve their dreams of going to and succeeding in certificate, two-year and four-year degree programs.

We reach over 29,000 students and adult learners a year, providing college access and success advising, financial aid counseling and scholarship and retention services. Many of our students are from low-income families and are first-generation college students.

College Now works with middle and high school students in schools and community-based settings across five Northeast Ohio counties and our advisors create a “college-going” culture in the schools by engaging students and their families individually and in group sessions.

College Now’s focus on adult learners is critical to the success of developing Greater Cleveland’s talent. We provide our solutions to adults, ages 19 and older, who want to return to college or are enrolling for the first time. The College Now Resource Center is a primary point of contact with adult learners, including dislocated workers, unemployed individuals, displaced homemakers, and veterans.

For more info about College Now Greater Cleveland and its mission: