The Building a Culture of Community and Literacy with the Power of Storytelling project will offer a series of in-school presentations and breakout sessions for Brookfield students in 5th-8th grades, and one community-wide event, with acclaimed author Sherri L. Smith.  Championed by Jennifer Brown, Library Media Specialist, Whisconier Middle School, this two-day event will bring together students, parents and the greater community to highlight the importance of building a culture of community and literacy with the power of storytelling.  Having the chance to hear from and work with an established author will inspire students not only to read more, but to write more, thus increasing their literacy skills. Writers will have the opportunity to workshop their writing with an established award-winning author who is also a professor of creative writing at Hamline University.  Stakeholders in the community will learn more about the importance of literacy and how they can instill a love for reading and writing from an early age and maintain it through the years. By offering this opportunity, the library can bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world experiences from an author who has captured the attention of readers across a wide range of ages and interests.