At the Mississippi Humanities Council, we believe that reading, literacy, and thoughtful discussion are essential to understanding the humanities, ourselves, and our world. To share these beliefs with Mississippians, MHC provides two programs designed to instill a love of reading in youth, promote an interest in public libraries, and encourage communities to read and share their ideas.
Luciérnagas (Luci), a bilingual family reading program for our Spanish-speaking Mississippians, gives lower elementary-aged students and their parents or guardians the opportunity to read as a family, engage with dynamic storytelling and award-winning titles, and take part in group discussions. Over the course of seven weeks, Luci families meet weekly to read aloud with trained storytellers and are led by a skilled discussion leader in humanities-themed conversations about the books, focusing on topics like bravery, fairness, community, and identity. After each meeting, families get to take the books home to continue reading and learning together.
Since 2023, MHC has provided Mississippi youth the opportunity to read, reflect, and share ideas on topics that resonate with them through the American Library Association’s Great Stories Club (GSC), a literature-based outreach program for teens. Over the course of a GSC program, students will read a selection of books from one of 13 themes centered around humanities themes like empathy, community, and identity. Led by a discussion leader, the students will meet regularly to discuss what they’ve read and what they’ve learned. Moving beyond just reading – GSC offers teens a chance to talk openly, think deeply, and explore the world in new ways. The Great Stories Club is funded through the generous support of the Selby and Richard McRae Foundation.
MHC has partnered with organizations across the state to successfully host Luciérnagas and Great Stories Club programs, and we are always looking for additional sites and partners to participate in these important literacy opportunities for Mississippi youth.
If you are interested in hosting a program or would like more information, please contact Katie Molpus, Program Officer at the Mississippi Humanities Council, at kmolpus@mhc.state.ms.us or (601) 432-6752.
Partners
Community Foundation for Mississippi
Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi
American Library Association
Mississippi Arts Commission
Links
Great Stories Club Programming Guide
Luciérnagas Program Application
Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education
Contact:
Katie Molpus (kmolpus@mhc.state.ms.us)