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Madison Metropolitan School District

MMSD Celebrates 21 Years of “Read Your Heart Out”

MMSD Celebrates 21 Years of “Read Your Heart Out”

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is marking 21 years of its “Read Your Heart Out” initiative, an annual celebration of literacy, cultural pride and community engagement that embraces the African concept of Sankofa and the seven principles of Kwanzaa

Every year, the program invites schools to host family members, community partners and volunteers who identify as African American/Black to read books, recite poetry and connect with students through visual and oral storytelling. This year’s theme is Kujichagulia, a Swahili word/Kwanzaa principle that translates to “self-determination” and is meant to inspire feelings of pride and agency in students.

“We, in the spirit of Sankofa, are leaving this world a better place than when we entered it,” said Michelle Belnavis, retired MMSD educator and “Read Your Heart Out” founder. “‘Read Your Heart Out’ is about families, communities, staff and students joining hands and coming together for the love of reading [with the belief that] everyone matters.”

Typically kicked off on National African American Parent Involvement Day with an in-person event at an MMSD building, this year’s program launched virtually – featuring prerecorded messages from key stakeholders, music and dance performances by Mendota Elementary School students, and a story read by Superintendent Dr. Joe Gothard – so all District elementary schools could participate simultaneously. 

“Today, we come together as a community to celebrate the power of reading, the joy of storytelling, and the incredible impact books can have on our lives,” said Sarita Foster, MMSD’s community schools manager. “This is a day to inspire and be inspired. … It's about fostering a lifelong love of reading, nurturing curiosity, and empowering students to explore the world through books.”

“Read Your Heart Out” ties into the recent launch of the District’s “Mad for Reading” campaign, which is also geared toward building student enthusiasm for/confidence in reading, as well as encouraging community and family involvement in students’ literacy journeys. Since its inception at Midvale Elementary School in 2004, more than 40 schools in eight districts across Wisconsin now organize annual “Read Your Heart Out” events.

Over the next two weeks, all MMSD elementary schools will dedicate at least half a school day to hosting a “Read Your Heart Out” event.