by Beth Dempsey

Washtenaw Literacy, a non-profit organization devoted to eradicating adult illiteracy, is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2021-22 school year. Washtenaw Literacy’s purpose is straightforward: the non-profit helps adults change their lives through literacy. Since 1971, the organization has helped men and women improve their reading, writing, math, and English as a second language skills.

The 23rd annual fall benefit, Gala Storytelling, will celebrate Washtenaw Literacy through the art of storytelling by sharing stories from the first fifty years on a variety of platforms. The event will be a live-stream broadcast on Thursday, October 21, 2021, beginning at 7:00 PM.

The emcee for the live event is Shannon Cason, a host, MainStage storyteller, and GrandSlam champion with The Moth. The Peabody Award-winning Moth Radio Hour is broadcast throughout the world, locally on National Public Radio. He has told stories all over the country on countless podcasts and storytelling stages, including Snap Judgment, TEDx, RISK!, Third Coast Festival, Podcast Movement, and upcoming film projects. He hosts three podcasts of his own – Homemade Stories, The Trouble, and In Good Company Detroit. He is the chief educator for the Brutally Honest Storytelling workshop series. Mr. Cason was featured in the 2017 anthology All These Wonders: True Stories about Facing the Unknown. Shannon is originally from Detroit. www.shannoncason.com

Gala Storytelling will feature stories told by Washtenaw Literacy volunteers and learners that Mr. Cason has helped develop. Additional stories will be shared through Washtenaw Literacy’s podcast, Literacy Mic, through the gala blog, and by the Honorary Storytellers. Honorary Storytellers have set individual goals to raise funds to support literacy.

Washtenaw Literacy’s long-running literacy programming at the Washtenaw County Jail will be highlighted. Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton will be a featured guest and joined by volunteer Tutors.

Amy Goodman, Washtenaw Literacy’s Executive Director, notes: “Michigan’s largest and oldest literacy council has delivered services tailored to the community and individuals for fifty years; we uniquely fill a gaps in services in the education community. Literacy and education are foundational to equity and inclusion.”

For additional details and tickets, please visit: https://www.gala2021.washtenawliteracy.org