reading

A barbershop-based event in Dubuque, IA lets kids use literacy as currency.

Barber Courtney Holmes will give free haircuts to children that read to him while in the chair as part of a city promotion to get kids ready for the upcoming school year and to keep them looking spiffy.

The Globe Gazette ran the story from an Associated Press wire report.

"I just want to support kids reading," Holmes said.

St. Mark Youth Enrichment gave away books during the event, some of which were read to Holmes. Outreach coordinator Beth McGorry with St. Mark said she enjoyed watching Holmes help young children sound out the words they didn't know yet.

Caitlin Daniels, grade-level reading coordinator with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, also helped struggling readers in the barber chair.

"It's great. All the kids, they want to have a good haircut to go back to school," she said. "They're paying through reading."

The city's acting resource manager, Anderson Sainci, coordinated the event, which involved nonprofits and other community partners.

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