LiTeach participants- Use all lowercase to download: www.living-libraries.com/liteach
Welcome
Living Libraries operates under the 501(c)(3) non-profit umbrella of Children and Family Services Center. Our mission is to utilize educational, emotional and social capital to creatively and collaboratively unlock the unlimited potential of 21st century Superhuman learners and leaders.
Introducing LiLi University
Now you can earn your LiLi Degree!
Earn your LiLi Degree, just like it says in The LiLi Key, Second Edition!
Last year Living Libraries set out on a mission to create more than 500 Living Libraries. (A Living Library is a new term for an upgraded, modern bookworm on a mission to change the world!) When COVID-19 shut down our in-school book tour, we had to regroup. This became a blessing in disguise as we were able to broaden our reach and ended up piloting out The LiLi Key book, interactive literacy game and program with 500+ Living Libraries is 40+ states during the 2019-2020 school year.
Now it's time for the self-proclaimed LiLis to step into the next phase of their own unlimited leadership potential by enrolling in LiLi University. which we will be offering the 2020-21 school year in both english and Spanish.
LiLi University is an online advance training program for Living Libraries across the nation. We are currently accepting applications for our inaugural 2020-21 class. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina has generously stepped up as a sponsor for LiLi University to support diversity and inclusion efforts, and is helping provide funds for needs-based scholarships. We also have some other monies available for merit- based scholarships. At virtual LiLi University, you will learn and practice 26 life-skills all LiLis must possess to be successful in school and in life. Classes will be held via our online portal for :30 approximately 3 times per month from October through May. If you miss the live class you can watch the replay on our YouTube channel LiTV @LivLibraries. In May you will earn your actual LiLi degree and become a certified Living Library!
(Presentamos LiLi University, un programa de capacitación avanzada en línea para LiLis en todo el país. Gracias a los generosos fondos renovados de Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, ahora estamos aceptando solicitudes para nuestra clase inaugural. En la Universidad virtual LiLi, aprenderás y practicarás 26 habilidades para la vida que todos los LiLis deben poseer para tener éxito en la escuela y en la vida. Las clases se llevarán a cabo a través de nuestro portal en línea para :30 minutos aproximadamente 3 veces al mes desde octubre hasta mayo. Si se pierde la clase en vivo, puede ver la repetición en nuestro canal de YouTube LiTV @LivLibraries. En mayo, obtendrá su título LiLi real y se convertirá en una Biblioteca Viviente certificada. Gracias a nuestros patrocinadores, tenemos suficientes dólares para becas disponibles para la mayoría de los solicitantes tempranos, así que asegure su lugar hoy mientras duren las existencias.
Thank you to our Diversity and Inclusion sponsor for providing needs-based scholarships.
Programs
What is LiVING LiBRARIES?
LiVING LiBRARIES is an interactive, multi-faceted branded virtual and in-person platform that brings reading and learning to life for young leaders ages 4 to 14. Programs are hosted by our LiVING LiBRARIES' mascots LiBro and BibLi O. Teca and their team of Superhuman, book-wearing Living Libraries. All programs are based off of our core book The LiLi Key, now in Second Edition which transforms ordinary willing children into self-proclaimed Superhuman Living Libraries, or LiLis pronounced "Lee-Lees," for short. LiLi’s are 21st century heart-centered, coherent and resilient, self-empowered Superhuman learners and leaders who are on a mission to leave their Superhero mark of LiLi excellence on this earth by collectively and individually contributing to upgrading the quality of human life for all. They do this by using their actual LiLi Key to kinesthetically unlock all the books they can get their hands on, which fills up the living books inside them--transforming them into the best versions of themselves.
LiLis learn that small acts, done over time and with conviction, add up to enormous gains and notable positive changes. LiLis transform themselves so they can also transform the world. LiVING LiBRARIES’ products and curriculum help children and classrooms accomplish these bold goals. In our 2019-2020 pilot, LiLis on average read 50% longer per day than before they became Living Libraries.
Our Founder and CEO Kristina "Kristi" Cruise is also the Founder and former Executive Director of an award-winning Charlotte-based book up-cycling organization. Cruise founded the company out of her garage after being inspired by a story she covered during for a news station during the recession of 2008. After leading the ever-growing and changing non-profit for nearly a decade and working with many children who needed help with developing a life-long love, joy and habit of daily reading, Cruise turned the page and created Living Libraries in pursuit of the grand vision to help all children to thrive via books. Living Libraries aims to unlock the full potential of children so they can feel empowered to bring their best everyday as they grow into our future leaders.
“Living Libraries are our century’s readers and leaders, dreamers and doers.
Their abilities have the power to become untethered and limitless.
Filled with knowledge, positive self-worth and community driven purpose,
they will do for humanity what past generations could not.
They are the hope of the future.
Whatever support we can bring to them now,
as they develop into the best versions of themselves,
will soon reverberate for generations to come.
We have no time to waste.”
LiLiDers Program
Are you a LiLeader?
There are already millions of LiVING LiBRARIES or LiLis living all across the world; they just don’t know they are LiLis yet. They are our parents and teachers, our elected officials, our entrepreneurs and business owners, our athletes and celebrities who are using their time, talents and treasure to make the world a better place.
Some of best and brightest Li Leaders across the nation will be hand selected to participate in delivering portions of LiLi University as special guest lecturers. This is a one time :30 to 1:30 in-person or virtual commitment where the LiLiDer gets to share their wisdom and knowledge with the class in an effort to inspire the young LiLi’s to unlock their own true potential so they too can grow up to be a great community LiLiDer.Contact us below to nominate someone to participate as a LiLiDer special guest.
Living Literaries Virtual Mentorship Program
Do you have 10-15 minutes a week to change a life?
The Living Literaries mentorship program aims to use technology to pair good-standing role models with our young Living Libraries. LiLis are students in our in-school and at-home programs who are using our books and programs to focus on literacy, leadership, empathy and self-esteem and community. The LiLis use their actual Keys to unlock books, which unlocks the gifts inside them. This process allows them to grow into the best versions of themselves. Our LiLis range from ages 4 to 14 and come in all different shapes, sizes, colors, orientations, abilities and backgrounds.
We know that not everyone has an hour plus travel time each week to become a traditional mentor or reading buddy. This means there are a lot of kids waiting for mentors/tutors who will never come. To solve this critical problem of social capital and social support for our next generation of leaders, we aim to make this mentoring program as accessible and easy to follow as possible so that we can pair as many Living Libraries (kids) and Living Literaries (you--mature older students/professionals) together as as possible. (Please invite your friends to become mentors!)
The time commitment is :10- :15 a week or about 1 hour per month. Modes of communication and interaction include physical mail (pen pals), email, text, FaceTime, Zoom, phone and in some cases, only where applicable and mutually agreed upon, in- person. (Your LiLi's parent/guardian will help determine which modes of communication are most welcomed for the situation.) LiLiteraries are permitted, but are not required to send 2 personal gifts a year to the child, not to exceed $50, with birthday and holidays being the preferred choices. (Please note, LiLit mentors are not permitted to lend money or pay bills to the LiLis family.)
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