Creating Access Through Art: What LASAA Means for Our Mission
A Note from Our Founder, Taylor Sorrells:
As the founder of Read With Me MN, I wanted to personally share what this moment and fundraiser means to me and why your support matters so much.
Creating Access Through Art: What LASAA Means for Our Mission
Since our launch in February, Read With Me MN has donated over 100 books, supported more than ten author read-alouds and events, and connected with countless passionate individuals who believe in the power of representation in children’s literature. I’ve seen firsthand how much energy and love there is for this work in our city, and we’re just getting started.
That’s why we’re so excited to host our first-ever fundraiser: LASAA: Live Action Silent Art Auction. We feel lucky to have partnered with Studio 42 Mpls and have an Art Committee behind this event because it is so much more than just an art auction fundraiser. LASAA is a celebration of creativity, culture, and the collective belief that every child deserves to see themselves in the pages of a book.
Why This Work Matters
Although Read With Me MN officially launched this year, the need for this work has been apparent for much longer. When I stepped into my first classroom as a teacher in Chicago Public Schools in 2015, I had ten different languages spoken among my students but little to no representation in my curriculum or classroom library. There was no school librarian or access to a school library. And yet, every day, I was expected to foster a love of reading without the tools to help my students see themselves in stories.
Now, nearly a decade later, I’m still an educator and while we’ve seen a meaningful increase in the number of diverse books being published, those books often aren’t making it into schools.
I know I’m not alone in this experience. For many of you reading this, the lack of representation in books has been a lifelong reality. You’ve navigated entire educational experiences without once seeing yourself or the people you love reflected in literature. That absence speaks volumes and the research is there to back it up.
The reality is that we are in a literacy crisis. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only 31% of fourth graders are reading at or above proficiency. In Minnesota, the problem is compounded by limited access to resources. Wilder Research reports that among schools that do have libraries, only 6% are staffed at the level recommended by the American Association of School Librarians.
The responsibility to bring culturally relevant books into classrooms too often falls solely on teachers and administrators, who are already overwhelmed, underfunded, and under-supported. As our student populations become increasingly more diverse in our communities, this work is more important than ever.
That’s why I started Read With Me MN and that’s where we come in.
Why LASAA? Why Art?
At Read With Me MN, we’re committed to being a bridge, not the center, of this movement. Our mission is to uplift the voices of those already doing this powerful work: the authors, illustrators, educators, and artists in our community who are telling the stories that matter.
That’s why LASAA isn’t your typical fundraiser. We chose to center both local art and diverse books in the same event because both are essential tools of expression, education, and liberation. Art and literature together tell a fuller story of who we are and who we hope our children become.
LASAA will feature
• A live and silent auction of work by 19+ incredible local visual artists
• Delicious food and drink from community vendors
• Live performances that celebrate the cultures and voices we serve
• A space to connect with those making an impact across our city
It’s a night of community, creativity, and commitment to a shared cause.
What $30,000 Will Do
Our goal for this fundraiser is to raise $30,000. Here's how we’ll put those dollars to work:
• Fund our first school mural celebrating reading, identity, and community through large-scale art. Partnering with local muralist and illustrator, Emiko Rainbow, who will be at the fundraiser sharing more about her work.
• Sponsor at the minimum 10 school visits from local authors and illustrators next school year, ensuring that students not only read diverse stories but meet the people behind them.
• Continue to donate books to classrooms and organizations across the Twin Cities through teacher book sets. Teachers tell us directly about their student population and what they're missing from their classroom library. We send them a book set specifically curated to their student population for free, thanks to your donations.
• Launch new community programming that makes culturally relevant literature more accessible than ever. More community events, engagement, and resources.
This is more than a fundraising target. It’s the fuel for real, measurable change.
We Hope You’ll Join Us
There is so much more work to do. If you believe in the power of stories, representation, and community, we invite you to join us for a night that will uplift voices and build bridges.
Tickets are available now. Get your tickets here.
Event Details:
August 8, 2025. 5-10pm
The Hennepin
900 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis MN 55403
Can’t make it? You can still donate or help spread the word. Follow us on social media to stay up to date! Together, let’s create a future where every child sees themselves on the page and in the world around them. Thank you for reading if you made it this far!
Questions? Concerns? Suggestions? Contact me:
Taylor Sorrells
taylorsorrells@readwithmemn.org