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Green Bay Area Public School District

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A person engages children seated in a gymnasium; another person enthusiastically reads to children in a classroom decorated with educational materials.
6th Annual Read Your Heart Out

This year marked the 6th Annual of Read Your Heart Out celebration at Howe Elementary Community School. Students, staff, and community members gathered for an all-school assembly on April 24, 2026, which was followed by guests reading books in each classroom.

This year’s assembly featured Miriam Brabham, the inaugural Poet Laureate for the City of Green Bay. Her work highlights storytelling, creativity, and the power of words to build community and inspire young learners.

Brabham shared a poem she wrote with students, and then led the students in creating their own poem as a school. Students from each class chose specific words and phrases to be added to something Brabham created. One student came up to read the poem in front of the assembly. Students wrote the bolded sections below:

"I saw a tree today, the bark was green, and the leaves were hearts and pink. I felt life, happy, calm, and air as it stood so big next to me. I reached out and touched the triangle tree, rough bark against my hands as I climbed this brown tree. I could hear swish through the oval leaves which felt rough like a rock on my cheek. I could hear bees calling out to me. Hugging the tree so close to me I began to think of all the things a tree gives to me like a tree. Is this what it means to have trees? Trees mean we have air to breathe? As I stood on a branch next to this tree I thought of things that I shared with this tree like they grow and they breathe. But what if we had no trees, what would it mean? We wouldn't have any paper, because paper comes from wood and wood comes from trees. We wouldn't have enough oxygen. Life as we know it will end. So then I wondered what I could give back to the trees. A good environment to grow and live in. If the trees help me breathe and I help the trees breathe it must mean the beauty in trees is also in me."

After the assembly, volunteer readers visited classrooms to read a selected book. Six books were selected this year: 

  • “Hey Black Child” by Useni Eugene Perkins
  • “I’m From” by Gary R. Gray, Jr.
  • “I Am Ruby Bridges” by Ruby Bridges
  • “Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona Judge” by Ray Anthony Shepard
  • “We March” by Shane W. Evans
  • “Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free” by Alice Faye Duncan

Volunteers included leaders from community organizations and Howe family members. This event was made possible thanks to funding from the Brown County United Way. Thank you to all of the people who came together to make this day special for our Howe Huskies.

Thanks to the volunteer readers:

  • Eddie Boyce from Angelina's
  • Yolanda Butler an honored Howe Family Member
  • Dr. Dawn Crim from University of Wisconsin Green Bay
  • Rhonda Chandler from Lovin the Skin I'm in
  • Robyn Davis from Brown County United Way
  • Charm Der from Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin
  • Carnardo Johnson from NeighborWorks Green Bay
  • Laura Jones from African Heritage, Inc.
  • Yussuf Kassim from Green Bay Area Public Schools
  • Ivy McGee from NeighborWorks Green Bay
  • James McGee from We All Rise AARC
  • Lamecia Merchant an honored Howe Family Member
  • Letesha Nelson from Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin
  • Linda Osborne an honored Howe Family Member
  • Venus Robertson from Boys and Girls Club of Greater Green Bay
  • Tanya Westmooreland an honored Howe Family Member

Click on the images below to see larger photos.

The image shows a person wearing a beige coat and glasses, sitting at a desk in what appears to be an office or classroom setting, with bookshelves and other items visible in the background.
A young student in a colorful patterned shirt is sitting on the floor, surrounded by other children and various toys and decorations in a classroom or playroom setting.
The image shows a classroom setting with bookshelves and storage containers, and a student with a hand raised.
The image shows two young children, hugging and smiling in what appears to be a classroom setting, with shelves and other children visible in the background.
A woman is sitting on a red chair in a classroom, reading a book to a group of young students seated on the floor in front of her.
A group of diverse children sitting at desks in a colorful and cluttered classroom, with a teacher or adult figure visible in the background.
A person in a leopard-print jacket is sitting on the floor, reading a book, while another person is visible in the background.
A group of children sitting on the floor, listening attentively to an adult in a patterned outfit who appears to be leading a discussion or activity in a classroom setting filled with various educational materials and supplies.
A group of young children, some wearing colorful hoodies and others in casual clothing, are gathered in what appears to be a classroom or daycare setting, with shelves and storage units visible in the background.
The image shows a woman sitting on a chair reading a book to a young child sitting next to her, with various educational materials and posters visible in the background.
A classroom setting with a teacher sitting on a chair and several young students seated on a colorful alphabet-patterned rug, surrounded by educational materials and displays on the walls.
The image shows a classroom setting with a volunteer reader interacting with several young students seated on the floor. The classroom is filled with educational materials and displays, creating a vibrant and engaging learning environment.
The image shows a person wearing a red t-shirt sitting on the floor in a classroom-like setting, surrounded by bookshelves and other educational materials.
A woman wearing glasses and a black shirt with text on it is sitting in a classroom setting, surrounded by bookshelves, educational posters, and other classroom materials.
A group of diverse children sitting on the floor in a colorful classroom environment, surrounded by various educational materials and furniture.
A man in a Chicago bears hat is sitting in a chair, interacting with a young girl in a colorful outfit in what appears to be a classroom or daycare setting, surrounded by various educational materials and toys.
The image shows a group of young children, likely in a classroom or daycare setting, surrounded by colorful toys and decorations on the walls.
The image shows an energetic teacher in a red %22Read your heart out%22 t-shirt interacting with a group of enthusiastic students in a colorful classroom setting.
A man wearing a Chicago Bears cap is sitting on the floor of a classroom, surrounded by a group of young students, engaged in what appears to be a discussion or activity.
A group of people, mostly women, are seated in a gymnasium-like setting, some wearing colorful and stylish outfits, while the background features a plain gray wall and a fire extinguisher.
A group of people, including adults and children, are gathered in a gymnasium-like setting, with a projection screen displaying text and basketball hoops visible in the background.
A smiling person in a brown sweater is standing in front of a projection screen in what appears to be a classroom or educational setting.
A smiling woman in a brown sweater is speaking to a young boy wearing a green shirt in what appears to be a school or community center setting.
The image shows a group of children, some wearing red shirts, gathered in a classroom or community space, with adults interacting with them.
A person is speaking into a microphone in a room with a basketball hoop visible in the background.
A group of young students, both girls and boys, are gathered in a classroom setting, with a teacher or instructor interacting with them.
A group of children, some in wheelchairs, are gathered in a room, with an adult interacting with them.
A large group of young girls, mostly wearing colorful shirts, gathered in a gym with gray walls.
A large group of children, both seated and standing, gathered in a crowded indoor space, with a diverse mix of ages, genders, and ethnicities represented.
A woman in a brown sweater stands at a podium in a room with gray walls, holding a microphone and surrounded by colorful balloons.
A smiling woman in a brown sweater stands in the foreground of a gymnasium filled with seated students.
A large group of children, both boys and girls, sitting on the floor in a crowded indoor setting, with some wearing colorful clothing and others in more casual attire.
A group of diverse individuals, including people of different ages, genders, and ethnicities, are seated in a room with a hardwood floor and white walls.
A woman in a red t-shirt stands at a podium, surrounded by silver, gold, and red balloons, in what appears to be a formal event or celebration.