“I want to do everything I can to encourage these teens and ‘tweens to continue reading when they’re out.” ~ Luke Ellington
Twice a month, our Teen Services Manager Luke Ellington visits the Chelan County Juvenile Justice Center to meet with youth serving sentences or awaiting court hearings.
He brings books, talks about popular teen books, and demonstrates some our makerspace technology to youth who attend school daily at the center. He has also lead students in writing exercises.
“Reading was already very popular with youth inside when I began, and I want to do everything I can to encourage these teens and ‘tweens to continue reading when they’re out,”said Ellington, who previously worked as a work-crew supervisor for incarcerated youth in Kittitas County.
The students look forward to Ellington’s visits, said Michelle Lindell, a Wenatchee School District teacher who instructs youth in the juvenile center. They are able to check out library books and read in their rooms.
“I love listening to them talk about books,” she said. “They recommend books to each other, talk about authors and characters, and books often get handed around between them.”
Last month, Ellington brought one of our Egg-Bot machines to the center and the students and staff were able to make personalized Christmas ornaments.
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