Hillsborough Reads promotes nightly reading with bilingual book Mi Comunidad

Lynn Gray, School Board member for District 7 of Hillsborough County Public Schools, used her time at the meeting to promote the district’s Hillsborough Reads initiative and encouraged parents and caregivers to read nightly with children, highlighting the bilingual book Mi Comunidad ("My Community").

Gray said the program reinforces at-home reading habits that support classroom learning. "We can't really say enough about the importance of community involvement with our children," she said, adding that when parents or significant others "reach them with purpose every evening," children may come to school "with perhaps more enlightenment, more excitement, and basically and most importantly have a stronger ability to read and learn." She acknowledged that nightly reading "is a lot to ask" but urged community members to participate where they can.

The remarks were presented as an informational announcement; no formal action or vote was recorded on the topic during the meeting. Gray thanked community members for ongoing involvement and invited them to join Hillsborough Reads and support children by reading to them each night when possible.

The presentation emphasized family engagement and literacy promotion within Hillsborough County; additional details such as program dates, distribution plans for Mi Comunidad, or follow-up activities were not specified in the remarks.