Before you head home tonight, stop down to 392 Pearl Street. There, at The Read to Succeed Buffalo Community Art Project, a reception will be held for twelve local artists who have donated their efforts to promote literacy. The works feature images conveying ideas such as: "Literacy is power" and "Too many adults have put books aside in favor of electronics and computer screens."

The images have been blown up into large banners which will hang in various locations throughout the city. Artists who have contributed their efforts to the cause include: Vivian Boyd (Lockport), Jim Cookfair (Buffalo), Jeffrey Coutch (Buffalo), Marybeth Cunningham (Buffalo), Colleen Darby (Snyder), Shannon Deyell (Marilla), Jesse Horst (Clarence Center), Marinette Kozlow (Buffalo), Fran Laguna-Brooks (West Seneca), M.L. McElroy (Buffalo), Brian Nesline (Buffalo) and Elizabeth Horne (Corfu).

According to Read to Succeed, Buffalo has a significant literacy problem: One in three adults in Buffalo--approximately 65,000 people--read at or below a 5th grade level. Fifty eight percent of 8th graders in Buffalo are not meeting grade level standards and nearly half of the children entering kindergarten do not have the skills or knowledge to be ready for school.

The reception will be held this evening from 4pm - 6pm.