The LaundryCares Foundation and the Laundry Literacy Coalition, including Too Small to Fail, have announced that the 4th annual LaundryCares Literacy Summit will be held September 21, 23 and 28. This free, three-day, virtual series will focus on bringing the laundromat industry together with early childhood development and literacy experts, foundations, library systems and other advocates to help create new, innovative ways to connect resources with those families that are most in need.
“Business is not all about the money,” said Jane Wolfe, owner of WashWorld in New Orleans. “It’s about what you’re doing inside the community in which you serve. Adding a literacy space is a decision you will never regret. I only wish we had done it sooner.”
This year’s theme will be “Reimagining Together: Learning in Everyday Spaces.” Given that, the Summit will highlight how everyday spaces in communities – from local laundromats to pediatric clinics, parks and grocery stores – can be reimagined and redesigned to support early learning and foster positive relationships between children and their caregivers.
Each of the three virtual sessions will run from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (EDT). During these two-hour programs, attendees will:
• Hear from diverse parents and caregivers, who will share their visions for their neighborhood spaces.
• Learn from community and business leaders, architects, and designers who have led innovative work to turn everyday spaces into learning-rich environments.
• Discover how to reimagine, design and transform environments in your community into family-friendly, learning-rich spaces.
“These learning spaces change lives, and that’s real,” explained Brian Holland, co-owner of The Laundry Café in Philadelphia. “When you invest in your communities, the residents see that you’re making an investment in them – and people remember that and begin to see you as part of the fabric of their community.”
“It gives everyone a better feeling about our industry – and that is good for all of us,” noted Paul Hansen, owner of Su Nueva Lavanderia in Chicago. “It makes us look more modern and like more than just a place to wash your clothes.”
Registration for the 2021 LaundryCares Literacy Summit is free. For more information, visit www.laundrycares.org.
