Word Up! Fun. Family. Free. 2nd Annual Community Learning Fair At Marin Center In San Rafael October 7th

Literacyworks introduces first KNOW SPEAKER SERIES with Michael Krasny interviewing Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jane Smiley and Jane Smiley in conversation with New York Times Bestselling author Ian Morris

PETALUMA, Calif., Sept. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Paul Heavenridge, Executive Director of Literacyworks (www.literacyworks.org), a nationally recognized nonprofit providing literacy resources to adult and family education programs, announced today the organization's second annual WORD UP! Community Learning Fair (www.wordupfair.org) to be held at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall in San Rafael, California on Sunday, October 7^th from 11AM – 5PM. The Fair is FREE to attendees. This year, Literacyworks will launch its KNOW SPEAKER SERIES, a fundraiser for the nonprofit, in the Marin Center Showcase Theater during the WORD UP! Fair from 2PM – 7PM (ticket information below).

Heavenridge says: "We are producing our Word Up! Fairs to promote and support the rich variety of exciting learning opportunities in the community. The more literate a person becomes the better they're able to self-advocate. I'm very excited about launching our KNOW Speaker Series with such luminaries as Jane Smiley, Jill Tarter, Ian Morris and Michael Krasny. We intend this to be an ongoing series of onstage conversations with influential writers and subject experts about the important role literacy and education play in our society and communities."

The WORD UP! Community Learning Fair will be held at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael, CA 94903. Admission is FREE to 30 Learning Lounges – wonderful areas to hone a new skill or learn about a new community resource – with five fun themes:

1. Green Up! – All the dirt on how to live sustainably on the Earth
2. Health Up! – The "how-to" guide to health and happiness
3. Mix Up! – Arts and Crafts – Everything from writing a yarn to actually knitting with yarn
4. Village Up! – Parks, Tutors, Sports, Adventures and more
5. Tech Up! – Hands-on technology, science, math and space adventures

On the Exhibit Hall Stage will be acclaimed author and US Space & Rocket Center's Hall of Fame inductee, Francis French, speaking on Neil Armstrong and the Race to the Moon.

WORD UP! features a stellar array of exhibitors this year including:

• The Space Station Museum: hosting NASA/Kepler scientists and astronauts to teach folks about life in space (www.thespacestationca.org)
• Paleotechnics: teaching attendees about primitive living skills (http://www.paleotechnics.com)
• The Crucible: offering participants an urban-forged arts experience (http://www.thecrucible.org)
• 826 Valencia: providing writing workshops to all ages (www.826valencia.org)

The KNOW SPEAKER SERIES will take place inside the Marin Center Showcase Theater during the WORD UP! Fair. The following events will raise funds for Literacyworks's programs for life-long learning and are ticketed events (tickets available at Marin Box office: http://tickets.marincenter.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=35)

2 – 3:15 PM Women scientists, technology leaders, engineers, and mathematicians discuss what it takes to be a S.T.E.M. woman. Panel features: Dr. Jill Tarter of SETI among others. ($10)

4 – 5:15 PM New York Times Bestselling author and world-renowned historian Ian Morris in conversation w/Jane Smiley ($20*)

5:30 – 7 PM Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jane Smiley in conversation w/Michael Krasny ($30*)

* Special ticket pricing of $40 is available to attend both Jane Smiley talks

This year, WORD UP! is partnering with Book Passage (www.bookpassage.com), who will provide books for purchase and book signings by the KNOW SPEAKER SERIES authors and a group of favorite children's authors – part of the FREE events in the Fair – including Mac Barnett, Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant.

This is just a small sampling of the wonderful learning experiences to be found at this year's WORD UP! Community Learning Fair. For more information and to purchase tickets to the KNOW SPEAKER SERIES visit www.wordupfair.org.

This fundraising event is presented by Literacyworks (www.literacyworks.org), a nationally recognized, nonprofit leader in literacy resources and advocacy headquartered in Petaluma, CA.

Media Contact: Elizabeth Howland
P: 707-364-4567
E: [email protected]

SOURCE Literacyworks