"Spring reading" combines kids, non profits and local business.

MAARUF has planned its first Spring Reading event for May 8, 2009 @ Brownstone Books.
The event is designed to address three issues at once: increased
childhood literacy, local small business stimulus and a non profit's
vision for community development. The first school to be involved is PS 308. All our program participants are issued cards through our "Local Savings" initiative.
Brownstone Books is the first business that has agreed to honor each
card for discounts. At MAARUF, we believe that local business houses the true spirit of
community life and the promise of renewal. This means that despite
this economy, we can't afford to lose our local shops. So we design
activities for our youngsters that seek to tie them into our local
cultural assets. Brownstone Books has played an anchor role in Bed Stuy's renewal and
must be supported at all costs. Bed Stuy needs all creative
approaches to ensure that our renewal continues on pace. This is just
one of MAARUF's contributions with more coming.
(Read Tyler Brulè's "Retail Therapy" in Monocle magazine's current issue.)