by vikki bowes-mok, words alive volunteer
Brian Fidler is Words Alive’s Community Engagement Volunteer of the Year.
This award is new this year and was created to recognize extraordinary efforts to mobilize a volunteer’s own community to support Words Alive. We tend to think of engagement as “time, talent, and treasure” - Brian goes above and beyond in all of these! In addition to spreading the word about our organization, programs, and volunteer opportunities, Brian helps fundraise for Words Alive by activating his friends, family, and personal network. He also is a consistent volunteer with the Adolescent Book Group and a new member of the Words Alive Board of Directors.
Brian at a pickleball tournament fundraiser he organized for Words Alive
Brian lives in San Diego and is a retired Episcopal priest, who taught and spent 38 years as a chaplain in independent day and boarding schools around the country. In addition to his work with Words Alive, he spends a lot of time writing.
Now let’s hear from Brian about his work with Words Alive.
Why do you volunteer with Words Alive?
I started volunteering in the Adolescent Book Group (ABG) because of the Words Alive mission “to open opportunities for life success by inspiring a commitment to reading.” I continue to volunteer three years later because it makes a difference! Note: Brian also serves on the Words Alive’s board of directors.
Is there a story you’d like to share about working with Words Alive?
Volunteering with Words Alive is energizing because of its great mission, an amazing and hard-working staff, wonderfully talented and committed volunteer teammates in the classroom (shout out to Meg and Darlanne), and especially the young people with whom we work. We’ve had the joy of tracking alongside the same teacher and many of the same students for three years now, and the growth in their love of reading and discussion is gratifying. Not every day in the life of an adolescent is high octane, but we get to be with them on some of those days, most notably when they reveal some breakthrough insight into the reading, or a character, and especially themselves. When you work alongside adolescents, you’re in it for the long game, and it is so totally worth it!
What are you reading right now?
In the ABG program, we’re reading graphic novels now: Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos; Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts by Rebecca Hall; and Citizen Illegal by Jose Olivarez. In my own personal reading, I just finished The Women, by Kristin Hannah.
Any book recommendations?
If you like historical fiction, I would definitely recommend The Women, by Kristin Hannah. In fiction, I’d also recommend The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride.
Anything else you’d like to share about yourself?
In addition to reading, I also love to write.