Photo: Shayla McKinney, a Central Michigan University Neuroscience major with a concentration in Clinical Health, is volunteering at a Reading Room Saturday open house for the community in December of 2025. Shayla is also minoring in Disability Studies and Community Inclusion.
Courtesy photo
By Annette Hannula Shauver
LANSING, MI – There is a small, unassuming building at 1028 East Saginaw Street, just east of Pennsylvania Avenue, that many people drive by without a second glance. It is a place whose actual social and community impact is revealed only when you step inside.
A Fresh Look at a Lansing Jewel
That building on East Saginaw Street is the home to The Reading People, the organization once known as the Capital Area Literacy Coalition, founded by the late, esteemed Michigan State University (MSU) professor and reading pioneer, Lois Bader. Over the past 40 years, it has been a place where literacy became liberation and isolation became connection.
Bader’s vision has not faded. It has evolved. It has grown and adapted to meet the needs of a changing tri-county area, Ingham, Clinton, and Eaton Counties. Based in Lansing, which is a city rich with immigrants, refugees, working families, elders, and emerging readers, people simply want a fair chance to navigate life.
“Lois built this program with the belief that reading changes everything,” Executive Director Brian Babiasz often reminds people. “We are simply carrying that vision forward.”
And inside The Reading People, the magic is still happening.
Words Become the Pathway Forward
Adults who walk through the door are often balancing fear, frustration, and the belief that they cannot change their circumstances. Yet within weeks, that belief cracks open and confidence begins to shine through.
The Reading People, which champions adult literacy, encourages people of all backgrounds to embrace reading as a pathway to learning and self-improvement, mirroring the recent efforts of influential figures like Kai Cenat. Cenat, a popular streaming personality with almost 15 million viewers, has publicly committed to reading every day and to proactively looking up unfamiliar words, demonstrating a relatable example of using reading as a tool for knowledge acquisition that resonates with the organization’s mission. You can find him at https://www.youtube.com/@kaimind3
Photo: Kai Cenat is reading aloud on YouTube to better articulate himself. The dictionary has become his friend. This 24-year-old social media influencer is shaking up the norm by publicly focusing on improving himself.
Kai’s net worth is estimated at about $35 million. He is one of the highest-earning content creators in the world, largely due to his presence on Twitch and YouTube.
YouTube screenshot
There are special lessons on completing job applications, obtaining a driver’s license, and filing tax forms. The students range in age from 17 to 85. One young father came in because he could not read the instructions on his new baby’s prescription. He knew he needed to learn to read to keep his child safe. Another student is a woman in her 80s who is finally fulfilling her lifelong dream of reading. The reasons differ, but learning to read or improving reading skills can significantly improve someone’s life.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
The Reading People’s English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are free, taught by trained volunteers who understand that language is the key to belonging. Michigan ranked among the nation’s top refugee resettlement states in 2024, and Lansing welcomed hundreds of newcomers.
One family saw the Reading People banner at the 2025 MSU Homecoming Parade, came to the center the following Monday, and has been actively involved in English classes and tutoring. ESL classes are always free. One ESL student said, “I have become fascinated with words, their meanings, and their origins. I find reading English words interesting and challenging.”
Ellen, an ESL tutor, said, “Working with two recent immigrants to increase their comfort level with speaking, reading, and writing English has been enriching and rewarding. Every small light of understanding that lights feels great!”
General Educational Development Test (GED)
Adults can also study for the General Educational Development Test (GED), which consists of four subject tests that, once passed, earn you a high school equivalency credential. Supplies and tutoring are provided free of charge. When ready, students take the GED test at no charge. Having a GED increases your chances of getting a job, can prepare you for college, and is necessary to join the military. People with a GED earn an average of $8,000 more per year than those without. After earning a GED, students may take college classes. Michigan currently has free courses at Lansing Community College for adult students without a bachelor’s degree. Obtaining your GED opens doors for a better future.
One of the GED students had passed her first three tests but was not having any luck with the math portion. After being paired with a tutor, they worked together for three months to prepare her to try again. She retook the test, passed it, and earned her GED, then went on to study nursing at Lansing Community College.
Another GED success story was Josh, who wrote, “I just wanted to say thank you to your organization. I came to you as a 27-year-old dropout and fed-up line cook. Thanks to you guys, I was tutored, tested, and received my GED at no cost. I now have a job making $20 an hour with great benefits that I couldn’t have without my GED.”
Josh is now pursuing a mechanical certification in HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning). The stories are all different, but earning a GED opens many opportunities for students and those around them.
The Numbers – Understanding the Challenge
About 20% of adults in the greater-Lansing counties of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham – or 80,000 individuals – lack basic literacy skills.
According to the National Literacy Institute:
- 130 million adults in the United States are unable to read a simple story to their children.
- 21% of adults in the United States were functionally illiterate in 2022. 45 million adults read below a 5th-grade level.
- 20% of Americans read below the level needed to earn a living wage.
- 50% of unemployed people aged 16-21 cannot read well enough to be considered functionally literate.
- Between 46% and 51% of American adults have income well below the poverty level because of their inability to read.
- Approximately 50% of Americans lack the skills to perform simple tasks such as reading prescription drug labels.
The Reading People is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit. It receives no federal funding but relies on grants, sponsorships, endowments, and donations. They recently received a wonderful grant from One Hundred Women Who Care. They were also honored to be chosen as one of the charity partners of The Izzo Legacy Foundation 2026.
The Reading People is open Monday – Thursday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and open Friday by appointment. The second Saturday of each month, the book room is open from 9:00 until 1:00. Anyone can stop in and take home books. You may also drop off gently used books.
To learn more about The Reading People, call 517-485-4949. Their website is www.thereadingpeople.org.
Annette Hannula Shauver is a retired English teacher who tutors at The Reading People. Her student is from Guinea and speaks French. He was a United Nations diplomat but wanted to improve his English. They have worked together for almost two years. Annette is learning as much as her student is and is loving the experience!! She also serves on the Board of Directors at The Reading People.
Please click here for the obituary of Dr. Lois Bader.
