Chester Gregory performs at Gary Literacy Coalition fundraiser

Not out of nowhere -- the Gary Literacy Coalition

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The ‘I told you so’ moment for Chester Gregory, as he tells it, came at Chase School in Gary.

When a classmate told him, “Chester, you’re going to make it,” that became the affirmation he chose to live up to. Today, he is a nationally known Broadway actor, singer, and dancer currently touring with Motown, the Musical. Gregory stars as Berry Gordy, Motown’s founder.

He fit well as this year’s headliner for the Gary Literacy Coalition’s annual fundraiser, an evening of dinner-theatre that helps support the coalition’s literacy programs in schools and homes throughout Lake County.

Just about the time Gregory was making his name in the Black Ensemble Theater of Chicago production of The Jackie Wilson Story, the Gary Literacy Coalition was getting its start. It was 2001 when Era Twyman joined with pediatrician Steve Simpson and Methodist Hospitals to support and expand “Reach Out and Read,” a literacy program that provides books to parents and their young children. Dr. Simpson understood the connection between reading aloud to children and their language development. Beginning with infancy, the program urges parents to read to their children.

Since its formation with Twyman as one of its founders and executive director, the coalition has become an umbrella organization for partners who recognize that improving literacy in children and adults is an investment in their community.

In its projects in Gary at the Watson Boys and McCullough Girls academies, GLC mentors called “Learning Partners” are matched with each 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade student.

Mentors visit during the school day at least twice per month encouraging excellence in academics and behavior. The U-Read literacy component of the project engages mentors and mentees in reading selected books and participating in large group book discussions each month. Special activities – Barber Shop Days, Spa Days, Anti-Bullying Sessions with a Magician, Community Leader Presentations, Brandon Moore Day (NFL Football Player) – broaden the experiences of the students.

At Watson, the coalition partnered with the National Aeronautics & Space Administration Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (NASA ARISS), putting students on the radio to speak directly with astronauts on the space station as it passed over the Midwest.

Dr. Seuss Day, celebrating the birthday of author Theodor Seuss Geisel, brings volunteers to read his books to pre-school, kindergarten and first grade classrooms. Dr. Seuss books are donated to each room’s library.

R.E.A.D. extends the pediatric reading program. Mothers of newborns at Methodist Hospitals two campuses receive a gift of books.

Local authors join in to promote reading and share their books when GLC hosts Authors' Row.

The coalition also provides books to families in Gary and neighboring communities encouraging reading in the home, averaging over 40,000 books per year.

Highlighting the evening’s theme of “Straight Outta Gary,” students in the drama department at Wirt-Emerson Visual and Performing Arts, Gregory’s alma mater, filled out the entertainment bill with a short play written by the school’s drama teacher Nichole Palmer.

In a pre-performance sit down with emcee Ben Clemente, Gregory said he didn’t get into Emerson until his third try, failing auditions for the vocal and drama departments. The dance department accepted him.

Gregory is not one of those performers who came out of nowhere. He said, "Everywhere I go, I tell them I’m from Gary, Indiana.”

Story Posted:11/25/2016