The United Black Association for Development (UBAD) Educational Foundation (UEF), in an effort to positively impact the community, conducts through its educational arm the Read and Reason Talk Show, hosted by Perry “Stickz” Smith and YaYa Marin-Coleman, on KREM Radio on Monday nights from 9:30 to 10:30 p.m.
True to the name of the program, the hosts, guests, and callers read and reason about a variety of topics with the hope of stimulating independent thinkers, and fostering healthy debates.
Beginning Saturday, March 1, Read and Reason will be taken to the streets through the hosting of reading and reasoning discussion circles at Battlefield Park from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday morning. The first chapter of the book, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, by John Perkins, will be read by a facilitator and then participants will reason about that chapter. The interaction between community members will determine the pace of the reading content, and length of time spent on discussions.
Marin Coleman said that the event involves a collaboration between The National Library Service, The Image Factory Bookstore, and UEF. The book mobile unit from the National Library Service will be at the Battlefield Park to facilitate the reading and reasoning sessions for children, as well as to encourage them to be library members. Books, including the Confessions of an Economic Hit Man will be on sale by the Image Factory Bookstore.
Marin-Coleman said that the aim of the program is to promote literacy and urges everyone to attend the event in the park beginning this Saturday. She noted, however, that the Belize City Council is charging a fee of $50 for each occasion on which the park is used to conduct the activity. Those who attend the event can make contributions to cover this fee.
The activity is a family event, and community members are urged to bring something to sit on, so they can be comfortable while reading and reasoning.
People in the districts who would like to facilitate Read and Reason discussion circles in public parks in their communities on Saturday mornings are urged to contact YaYa Marin-Coleman at phone number 661-8050 or at her email address [email protected].