MRA Café-Coffee and Conversations
Welcome to the October updates of the Massachusetts Reading Association. MRA Café is a monthly publication that connects our members, inspires joyful collegiality, shares insights into literacy education, and celebrates success stories.
October Reading Challenge
The Boyden Library (click here for more information) has provided the following October reading challenge book list! How many can you read this month?
MRA Scholarship Spotlight
Sylvia D. Brown Scholarship
The MRA invites you to submit a proposal for the Sylvia D. Brown Scholarship. Proposals are due by January 31, 2026, and must be submitted electronically as a Word document to the Sylvia D. Brown committee chair. A three-to-five-page detailed description of the Action research project must be submitted. At least one of the participants in the project must be a member of MRA. Each participant must submit a Participant’s Information Form and a professional resume.
A sample proposal, information brochure and forms are available on the MRA website: Sylvia D. Brown Scholarship
MRA Conference Corner
MRA Awards Spotlight
Celebrate Literacy Award
Nominate candidates who have shown exemplary accomplishments in any of the following areas maybe suggested for consideration:
Direct literacy teaching
Organizing local literacy programs
Promoting public support for enhancing literacy
Producing teaching materials or special media for literacy programs
Conducting literacy research
Providing young people the opportunity to help in literacy activities
Conducting informal literacy activities of a social, cultural, economic, or political nature, in which literacy activities are included
Reminder: Members of the MRA Board and Advisory Group are not eligible for nomination. Applications must be completed in entirety to be considered.
Nominations deadline: January 31, 2026
Minigrants are Back!
Massachusetts Reading Association is happy to share with you the exciting opportunity for local councils to make an impact on their community by promoting literacy and professional development. MRA Minigrant applications for the 2025-2026 year will be available beginning this month. The MRA Minigrant is designed to support Local Councils in developing innovative programs that encourage reading and literacy engagement within their communities. These grants are intended to provide funding for programs that foster a love for reading, improve literacy skills, and create accessible educational resources for all age groups.
The minigrant can be used for a variety of initiatives. Some examples of past Minigrants include:
● Children’s Literature Festival (Berkshire Reading Council)
● Character Breakfast (Greater Boston Reading Council)
● Project Just Because Back to School Program (Nobscot Reading Council)
● Establishing a Lending Library at the New Bedford Family Resource Center (Southeast Regional Reading Council)
● Books for JRI Kids (Cape Cod Reading Council)
The deadline for applying for the 2025-2026 MRA Minigrant is March 1, 2026. The Google Form is available on the Massachusetts Reading Association website at MRA Minigrants
We hope to see your council take advantage of this wonderful opportunity and look forward to assisting you in promoting literacy within your community.
Donald L. Landry Student Awards Season
The Donald L. Landry Student Awards were established to encourage students to become active members of professional organizations, and in particular MRA. The award was named after Donald Landry to honor his many years of service to MRA as President and Executive Treasurer. Student Applicants must be enrolled in an Educational Program in MA at the undergraduate or graduate levels and write an essay, responding to a prompt, that is scored by a committee.
Recipients receive
Full Conference Registration, meals and lodging
And an Annual MRA Student Membership
Submission information will be published on the MRA website soon or you can email: Dr. Marlene Correia (mcorreiamra@gmail.com) for more information.
Upcoming Events and Programming
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How does the experience of diaspora shape one's life and their art? In this free, 6-week workshop, we'll read and discuss work by contemporary immigrant poets like Li-Young Lee, Safia Elhillo, Marcelo Hernandez-Castillo, Kaveh Akbar, Hala Alyan, Chrysanthemum Tran, and many others. Inspired by prompts based on our readings, participants will generate new poems each week with our own explorations of diaspora. All levels of poetry experience are welcome!
During weeks 1 through 4, we will focus on reading, discussion, and writing new work. Participants may send their drafts to the instructor for feedback throughout the workshop. On weeks 5 and 6, we will revise at least one poem and craft our own visual collages to pair with the revised poem.
All participants will have the opportunity to read their work and display their collages in a public community gathering at the end of the program. An anthology showcasing the work of all cohorts will be curated by the facilitator as well.
Participants can choose to attend one of two cohorts on Wednesdays, 6-8pm starting September 3rd or Sundays, 1-3pm starting September 7th. It is alright if you can't make it to every workshop, but you will get the most out of the program if you attend consistently.
Time
6:00pm - 8:00pm (EDT)
Location
The Foundry Cambridge
101 Rogers Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts United States
Get Directions
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Booktober Library Crawl
By Old Colony Library Network
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Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Three V Restaurant, Plymouth, MA
Space Will Be Limited
Click Here to RSVPIn our time together, we will:
Connect both explicit instruction and an integrated approach to best support reading and writing development
Understand the links between handwriting, keyboarding, and overall literacy success
Examine the importance of a multisensory literacy approach to meet the diverse learning styles and needs of students
Join us to learn how integrating these skills can have a lifelong impact on PreK-Grade 5 students’ literacy development.
Brought to you by:
South Shore & Cape Cod Reading Councils
Sponsored by:
Learning Without Tears
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CAPE COD READING COUNCIL Fall Kickoff!!
Author ELLY SWARTZ: Courage, Connection, Compassion ~ Changing Lives One Book at a Time4:30-6:00 PM - Dan’l Webster Inn & Spa, 149 Main Street, Sandwich, MA 02563
Hors d’oeuvres, CCRC Annual Membership, Socializing and Presentation ~ $25To register and pay online, please click on QR CODE or here: CCRC Fall Kickoff
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Join us for a dynamic professional development session focused on integrating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) into your literacy instruction. We'll delve into the three UDL principles- Multiple Mean of Representation, Action & Expression, and Engagement- and brainstorm concrete was to apply them to common literacy tasks like reading comprehension, argumentative writing, vocabulary acquisition, and more. Leave with a toolkit of practical strategies and resources to differentiate instruction proactively and empower all students to become confident and capable communicators.
Virtual Presentation
Time: 4:30- 6:00PM
Presenter: Dr. Amy Mercado
Join Our Councils!
Please take a look at the map above and consider joining your local council as a member or become involved in the board! You can visit the local council’s website or email the president directly to express your interest today! Our councils are the grassroots movement of MRA and they are the life of the organization. Our councils put on almost 90% of the events from MRA across the Commonwealth yearly! It is dedicated volunteers like you that make us thrive, connected, and become established. We NEED YOU!!! Please take a look at where you live and join your local council today!
Berkshire
Please email for information:
Cape Cod
President: Mary Weatherby
mary.weatherby@comcast.net
Website
Greater Boston
President: Jeanne Conley, Liz Colantuonio
Merrimack Valley
Merrimack Council is currently inactive. If you have an interest in leading literacy initiatives in your area, please contact MRA at info@massreading.org
Nobscot
Presidents: Marley Jallah-Deveaux, Kathy Renfrew
North Shore
North Shore Council is currently inactive. If you have an interest in leading literacy initiatives in your area, please contact MRA at info@massreading.org
Pioneer Valley
President: Sherry Sausville
sausville@stcc.edu
Christina.borgatti@gmail.com
SERRC
President: Kaitlin Donahue
South Shore
President: Kerri Fuller
Thank you for your dedication to literacy. Together, we can ensure every student becomes a confident and capable reader, writer, and learner.
MRA information
The Massachusetts Reading Association is a professional non-profit organization of individuals whose primary purpose is to improve the quality and level of literacy in the state of Massachusetts. The MRA is affiliated with the International Literacy Association (ILA), a worldwide literacy organization. Our Mission The mission of the Massachusetts Reading Association is to promote literacy for all learners through professional development, research, publications, and advocacy.
