27th Ex Libris Event Once Again Inspires Audience

Over 110 guests gathered at the Village Club in Bloomfield Hills on October 13th to hear best-selling author Johnathan Rand discuss the link between his writing and adult literacy.  The Ex-Libris event, in its 27th year, is an annual dinner that supports the work of the Oakland Literacy Council.

Johnathan Rand, the bestselling author of dozens of suspense books for adults and children including the American Chillers series, shared a powerful and moving personal story of connecting with an adult learning to read through his books.

Attendees also heard from Ossie Tate, a student in the Oakland Literacy Council program who has made remarkable progress.  Tate talked about his reading problem as, “one of the most shameful things I have ever experienced was not be able to read.  The shame that I carried all of these years because I didn’t want anyone to know find out I couldn’t read.”

Tate also relived his experience with his volunteer tutor Adelia Cooley, “She took her skills and sat down with me and got busy and came up with a program that really worked.”  Cooley also shared her personal literacy journey that began in grief after the passing of her husband.

According to Judy Lindstrom, event chair, “It was a magical evening.  It was wonderful being surrounded by people who support our mission and believe good things about people.  Our student and tutor speakers captured the soul of our organization.”

Thanks to generous sponsors such as Oakland County Michigan WORKS and Rita Lindstrom, the event raised over $36,000 for adult literacy including over $1,000 in book sales that Johnathan Rand donated to the Council.

Additional books are available for $10 and can be purchased by contacting the Oakland Literacy Council at 248.253.1617.

The Council would also like to enthusiastically thank event chair Judy Lindstrom for continued and dedicated work that made the evening a success.