Read Out Loud! Summer Street Fair
In honor of Caribbean Heritage Month, Paerdegat Library is taking to the streets to invite you to read out loud! This is a reading-themed block party--and everyone is invited!
DJ Leecy T will curate the vibe with a special Caribbean-themed music mix that's easy to read along to. Bring your own book (and a chair!) to read together in community. Cool off with some sweet treats for sale by Mint Porch Cafe.
Festivities will include a reading by author Christina Cooke from her book Broughtupsy. Told through an intimate and atmospheric first-person account, the book follows 20-year-old Akúa as she attempts to reconstruct her fractured family by flying from Canada to her native Jamaica to reconnect with her estranged older sister Tamika, bringing her younger brother Bryson's ashes in tow.
Don't miss a visit from Representative Jamie Williams, too. Several local community organizations will be offering free resources, giveaways, and workshops, including iamCarribbeing, NYC Parks, CABS Community Health, and more. Discover new titles from the Bookmobile or get live recommendations from our Bklyn Bookmatch librarian team.
Ready to read? Please RSVP in advance.
FEATURED PARTICIPANTS
Named a “Writer to Watch” by CBC Books and Shondaland, Christina Cooke is the author of Broughtupsy—which has been shortlisted for the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize; named a "Best Book of 2024" by Elle, Electric Literature, CBC Books, and Debutiful; and listed as recommended reading by over 30 outlets including Vogue, The Toronto Star, The Atlantic, and Harper’s Bazaar. A Journey Prize winner and graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, her short fiction and nonfiction has appeared in The Caribbean Writer, PRISM international, LitHub, Prairie Schooner, Autostraddle, and elsewhere. Born in Jamaica, Christina is now a Canadian who lives and writes in New York City.
DJ Leecy T is a multi-talented Brooklyn-based DJ who was born and raised in Detroit and Virginia Beach. Known for her dynamic sets that seamlessly blend a range of genres, DJ Leecy T has played events locally and internationally, captivating audiences with her unique style and infectious energy. Although her roots lie in hip hop, DJ Leecy T has recently explored her love for multiple genres, incorporating different sounds into her sets and gaining widespread acclaim for her ability to keep the dance floor moving. From pop to funk to house to disco to afrobeat, DJ Leecy T's eclectic taste and skills behind the decks continue to captivate audiences and push the boundaries of what it means to be a DJ.
