Next Door’s Read for Children in May Strives to Read 135,000 Minutes to Kids!
The month-long event promotes the importance of early childhood literacy in Milwaukee with volunteer reading opportunities for community members and special guest readers including Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Author Natasha Tarpley, DeDe Williams of Reach Out and Read, and Next Door Graduate Jace and his mother.
MILWAUKEE, WI [MAY 1 to MAY 31, 2026]: Next Door – a leading provider of early childhood education in Milwaukee for more than 1,100 children each year – will host Read for Children throughout the month of May, offering the community a chance to engage in powerful and joyful reading experiences with our little learners!
Growing early literacy skills is a cornerstone of Next Door’s work in early childhood education. It represents a critical part of the strong educational foundation that Next Door helps each child build for success in school – and in life.
Our Read for Children event – now in its fourth year – is one of the many ways that Next Door supports early literacy development for children. Volunteers can sign up as individuals or in groups to read with children for two-hour sessions at one of Next Door’s two campuses and help Next Door reach its goal of 135,000 minutes of reading over the month of May.
Event Details
- Programming from 9am to 11am, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
- Reading locations at Next Door’s 29th Street campus (2545 N. 29th Street) or Capitol Drive campus (5310 W. Capitol Drive)
- Opportunities to read with infants, toddlers, K3 and K4 children in our libraries or classrooms, either one-on-one or in small groups
- Come with friends and family or groups from corporations, schools, congregations, service clubs or other organizations
- Bring donations of new or gently-used children’s books for Next Door children
- Event registration link: www.NextDoorMKE.org/ReadForChildren
Our Line-Up of Special Guest Readers
- DeDe Williams of Reach Out and Read on May 8 at 9 am at our 29th Street campus
- Jace, Next Door Graduate, on May 11 at 9:15 am at our 29th Street campus
- Author Natasha Tarpley on May 13 at 3 pm at our 29th Street campus
- Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson on May 18 at 9 am at our Capitol Drive campus
About Next Door
Next Door has served the Milwaukee community since 1969. We provide critical access to research-driven, family-focused early childhood education for more than 1,100 under-resourced children each year. Our programming spans two campuses, Wisconsin’s largest home-based program and eight partnership sites across Milwaukee. Learn more about how Next Door creates a strong start to life for children at www.NextDoorMKE.org.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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