Light on Literacy Week in Utah, March 2-9, coincides with Crossroads Plaza's 10th anniversary, and the mall will be celebrating the event with a number of literacy activities.
The mall has donated space for a Literacy Center on the Richards Street level to house these events, and the Wasatch Front Chapter of Literacy Volunteers of America will sponsor reading workshops for parents, tutor training and a recognition event for volunteers and classroom instruction for literacy students. In-service on holistic language training was conducted by Roy Bartoo from the State University of New York on March 1 and 2.The center will also be used for a book drop and exchange of "gently used books" and a poetry and short story contest, with pupils from Lowell and Upland Terrace elementary schools participating.
DESERET NEWSpaper in Education will conduct a "No Books Literacy Day" March 6, to coincide with the statewide No Books Day sponsored by the Deseret News, with pupils from Lowell Elementary participating in newspaper reading activities.
Elsewhere in the plaza, artists from Cartoonists Across America will paint two billboards promoting literacy, assisted by elementary pupils from Lowell and Upland Terrace schools.
The public is invited to participate in a "Word Hunt" contest March 2-9, co-sponsored by the plaza and the Deseret News. Shoppers can pick up "clue cards" at the information desk and use them to identify stores in which Deseret News pages will be on display with information for completing cards. Participants will be eligible for a drawing, with a $250 shopping spree at Waldenbooks as first prize. Daily clues will appear in the Deseret News March 3-8.
Literacy events during Light on Literacy Week will also take place in Provo, Brigham City and Logan.