Meet Celeste

Words Alive is thrilled to announce a new addition to our team: Celeste Brown, our Administrative Coordinator! Read on to learn more about Celeste and her drive to join the Words Alive team.

In July 2023, Words Alive welcomed Celeste Brown to the team as our Administrative Coordinator, supporting the organization’s daily operations, facility operations, and accounting. She is the key staff member supporting the Board of Directors and Executive Director. Celeste earned a B.S. in Clinical Psychology and B.A. in Human Developmental Sciences at UCSD, and has years of professional experience in administration, reception, and retail.

Now, a few words from Celeste:

What intrigued you about Words Alive?

Aside from my lifelong love of reading and all things books, what most interested me about Words Alive was its commitment to serving the highest need communities. Working in, and giving back to, underserved populations has always been important to me in all aspects of my life, so finding an organization that I felt shared that sentiment was really inspiring. I felt like Words Alive wasn’t just doing the work to be able to say they did it, but rather to really make an impact for the youth they served. After my first interview, I felt so comfortable, and so seen that I knew I had to be a part of Words Alive one way or another.

What are you most excited about in this position?

I’m most excited about learning more about the innerworkings of a nonprofit organization. Doing administrative work really allows me to peek into all the different parts of Words Alive and get a holistic understanding of what goes on. It’s been great to be a part of such a hardworking and amazing team. Also, I’m excited to be in a space where I can be representative of the populations that we serve. I know that if little Celeste had seen someone that looked like her in more spaces like these, it would’ve had such an impact.

What is your relationship with literacy and learning?

Learning is one of my favorite things in the world. Growing up, my mom was a teacher, and so the classroom has always been a safe space for me. The library too. A lot of my childhood was spent in the library, checking out stacks of books that I’d finish in a week. Being a pretty introverted and shy child (and adult), reading has always provided me with an escape when life can get too overwhelming. I’m so grateful for the opportunities that education and literacy have provided for me, and for having a parent who encouraged that love for learning. I hope to do that for others.

What are you currently reading?

I just finished Dirt Creek by Haley Scrivenor. I’m always looking for a good mystery/who done it, so if you have any suggestions, please send them my way!  I also love fantasy books. My favorite book of all time is The Chronicles of Narnia. I have the whole series packed into one book and it’s a classic that I can always go back to.

Meet Our New Storytelling Intern, Steven!

Introducing another new addition to the Words Alive team: our summer Storytelling Intern, Steven Zhao!

Steven is on the right!

Steven’s drive to engage with Words Alive’s undertaking of empowerment through literacy and tell the stories of its individuals, communities, and programs is driven by a love for reading and other forms of human expression as well as a fervent appreciation of literature as a crucial medium through which people contemplate their lived experiences.

His work as a storytelling intern is informed by his personal journey with reading and his learning experiences at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), at which he pursues a major in communication studies and a minor in philosophy. 

Steven’s bicultural identity and exposure to books in both English and Chinese growing up served as major sources of nurture and wonder, whether that is in learning to understand viewpoints and worlds different from his own, contemplating expressed messages and values, or in being challenged to reflect on himself. In combination with his studies, he believes reading to be not just the consumption of the written word, but a well of potential for enjoyment and meaning and an integral aspect of the human capacity for communication. 

In terms of his minor, Steven is most interested in the areas of moral and political philosophy. He places high value on and believes in the benefits of curiosity, a lifelong capability for learning, and approaching unfamiliar ideas with critical thinking and charity. He resonates with how reading and Words Alive’s programs empower communities through cultivating these traits. 

Steven’s experience with reading has also inspired him to explore creative expression. He wrote for the Arts and Entertainment section of the Daily Bruin, enjoys creative writing, and is currently taking an intensive screenwriting program at UCLA’s Summer Film Institute as he works with Words Alive virtually from LA.

In his free time, Steven loves to take in fantasy books, Dungeons and Dragons podcasts, and mystery shows. He also enjoys working holistically on his health by working out and keeping a journal. Occasionally he likes to turn his brain off and play Pokémon or League of Legends. He is also a tenor for UCLA’s Awechords A Capella. 

How did you discover Words Alive? What drew you to interning here?

I discovered Words Alive through their posting on Handshake! I was drawn to the storytelling internship as it aligned with my personal passions and professional interests. Reading is and has been such a significant source of enjoyment for me, and I love to immerse myself in the awesome worlds and stories authors create. 

Now that I’m older, I’ve also realized that I have extracted so much meaning from the various stories I’ve read over the years that contribute to the way I look at the world. Words Alive interested me as an organization that works to improve literacy, and resonates deeply with me in its understanding of reading as a crucial skill set and critical to social and cognitive development. 

What book or story has had a big impact on you? Do you have a favorite quote?

““Sometimes a hypocrite is nothing more than a [person] in the process of changing” ”

— Dalinar Kholin, The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

That would probably be The Stormlight Archive, an ongoing fantasy book series by my favorite author Brandon Sanderson. Set to be two five-book halves with a time skip in the middle, The Stormlight Archive is truly a story of epic proportions and great detail that is deserving of multiple rereads. It has an incredible thoughtfulness and complexity behind its interwoven storylines and there is an astounding attention to detail and consideration in its world building. 

This series is host to a plot of great scale, yet both this greater plot and the individual, interlocking stories of its diverse cast of characters are well written and exude urgency. Its most recent release, Rhythm of War, ended with quite literally one of the craziest twists that I’ve ever read and subverted expectations going forward in a very unsettling manner. 

The Stormlight Archive also uses its expansive world, cast, and story to ask a multitude of poignant questions throughout its different books – What is the value of a human life? When does one take responsibility? When is the law right? What lengths are justifiable in the face of a great threat? What is worth fighting for? – and more while exploring those questions from varying perspectives. Importantly, I feel that the story is, at its core, about broken people trying to get back up on their feet and figure out what they think is the right thing to do. It’s a story of resilience. 

What is your favorite recent read?

My favorite recent read is actually a fanfiction named Doors to the Unknown by Silver Pyromancer on the SpaceBattles forum. It’s a crossover between the Dungeons and Dragons universe and the self-published web serial Worm by John C. “Wildbow” McCrae, and it follows the related stories of a functionally immortal psionicist who travels across worlds and an unlikely band of stranded superheroes and villains who have to team up to survive in an unknown world. I’m a gigantic fan of stories with vast and intricate worldbuilding, and I’m incredibly impressed by the way Doors to the Unknown worked the complexities of D&D and Worm together in a way that made sense while having also compelling character arcs.

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We are so excited to have Steven on our team! Are you interested in working with Words Alive? You can find open internship and employment opportunities here or click here to learn about how to volunteer with us!

Meet Bailey, Our Family Literacy Program Intern

Hi everyone! My name is Bailey Dill and I am a third year Child and Family Development student at San Diego State University. I am so excited to be a part of the Words Alive Family Literacy program because it will provide me with more experience on how to make reading more engaging and fun for others.

I want to pursue a career in becoming a teacher, so this opportunity to learn about making books more captivating is a perfect skill to have and then apply down the road. Words Alive was really intriguing for me to become a part of because I also want to be able to empower other families in becoming reading advocates as well! I think reading is so important for so many different reasons, such as inspiring imagination and creativity.

I personally have been reading since before I even knew how to read words. When I was younger, I loved picture books and even though I couldn’t understand the story itself I would make up stories using my imagination and I would entertain myself by just staring at the pictures.

The first books I actually remember reading are the Junie B. Jones books by Barbara Parks and Denise Brunkus. I owned every book in this series and I read each one multiple times. These books were so fun for me because they are chapter books, so I could split up the time I spent reading them, and they also had illustrations which helped with my visualizations.

Reading has always been something that I love, and before all the electronic devices became popular, that’s how I would entertain myself. I also especially love books that connect to a movie or series, because then I can compare my imagination to what someone else imagined. One summer, I read the entire Twilight series, and then I watched all the movies right after. Reading the books beforehand made the movies so much more fun to watch because I had that opportunity to compare what I had pictured in my head to what the movies actually looked like.

Overall, I think reading is such a wonderful skill to have, and it is such a fun way to improve other skills as well. I am so excited for this semester, and I am so happy to be able to share my love for reading with all of you through my position here at Words Alive! 

Meet Our New Young Adult Program Manager, Marisol Vasquez !

We are so excited to announce a new addition to the Words Alive team: our new Young Adult Program Manager, Marisol Vasquez! Read on to learn more about Marisol and their drive to join the Words Alive team!

Marisol (they/them & she/her) is an activist and educator with a career centered around the critical relationship between K-12 education and reproductive justice. She graduated from San Diego State University in 2018 with a degree in Political Science and minor in Chicana/o Studies. Marisol comes to Words Alive with ten years of social justice and community organizing experience. Marisol has been recognized for her contributions by the Human Rights Campaign in 2014 for the Outstanding Youth Award and again in 2018 by SDSU for the Ned Joy Award for Excellence in Scholarship, Leadership & Community. A self-described lifelong-learner, Marisol is excited to share her enthusiasm for literary empowerment with students and volunteers alike.

Now a few words from Marisol!

What intrigued you about Words Alive? Why did you want to join the team?

I was determined to join the team before I had even finished reading the job description for the position. My personal values are incredibly linked to the mission and values of Words Alive. I became a student advocate quickly and haven’t stopped working to support others and foster a love of learning. My career is dedicated to supporting and empowering marginalized youth through education, and Words Alive has amazing partners who support families experiencing extraordinary circumstances—this is very much a dream job to me, and I am ecstatic to be a part of such a talented team.

What are you most excited about in your new position?

I am probably most excited for the incredible people I am partnered with through the Adolescent Book Group. Not only do I get to work with the communities I am most passionate about, I get to work with educators and volunteers who are just as passionate about these communities.

What is your relationship with literacy and learning?

My relationship to literacy and learning is incredibly political and personal. By the time I left kindergarten, I had watched my mom earn her master’s degree while I was learning how to read. Conversely, when my grandma was in kindergarten, she wasn’t allowed to read the books in her classroom because she is Mexican. My family raised me to understand clearly that the passion to learn and read is an economic advantage and the key to personal empowerment. I am grateful to my family that my love of reading and writing has always been encouraged and I look forward to sharing that encouragement with others.

What are you currently reading?

I am currently reading Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts by Rebecca Hall. It’s a fantastic graphic novel telling the story of the historian writing the book and the women she learns about along the way. It combines my two favorite genres of historical nonfiction and biographies

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We are so excited to have Marisol on our team! Are you interested in working with Words Alive? You can find open internship and employment opportunities here or click here to learn about how to volunteer with us!

Words Alive Board of Directors Approves Supplemental Paid Family Leave for Employees

Literacy Nonprofit Hopes Others Will Institute Similar Policies

SAN DIEGO (July 20, 2022) – This week, Words Alive’s Board of Directors approved supplementing paid family leave benefits, guaranteeing that employees receive 100% of their regular salary while on qualified paid leave. Words Alive, a San Diego-based children’s literacy nonprofit, has 7 full-time and 3 part-time employees now eligible for this benefit.

“Words Alive employees tirelessly serve the San Diego community,” says Words Alive Board Chair Karen Silberman, “and today, I am proud to announce we are investing in our employees by adopting policies that create a more family-supportive workplace.”

Under the new benefit, Words Alive will supplement employees’ paid leave as qualified through the California Family Rights Act and Pregnancy Disability Leave Act.  This benefit will support employees through significant life changes and challenges, including family planning.

California is one of 11 states to administer a state program for paid leave funded through a payroll tax. The state benefit covers roughly two-thirds of an employee’s regular salary during the leave period. For families for whom taking a temporary pay reduction imposes a hardship, employees may choose not to take the full leave time available to bond with children, care for ill family members, or fully recover from pregnancy. By adopting this policy, Words Alive empowers employees to make the best decisions for their family, without financial influence.

“We hope other nonprofits and businesses will join us in creating supportive and caring workplaces for employees and their families,” Executive Director Rachael Orose adds. As such, the text of the Board proposal is available on the Words Alive blog or by contacting [email protected].

Founded in 1999, Words Alive connects children, teens, and families with the power of reading. Words Alive provides access to relevant and quality books, shared reading experiences, and a connection to reading that lays the foundation for continued success.

To learn more about Words Alive visit: www.WordsAlive.org

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Meet Our New Program Director, Melinda Cooper!

We are so excited to announce a new addition to the Words Alive team: our new Program Director, Melinda Cooper! Read on to learn more about Melinda and her drive to join the Words Alive team!

Melinda joins Words Alive with years of experience in nonprofit management, mindfulness, and arts-based programs, specifically for children and young adults. She has a degree from the University of Virginia and is a certified Project Management Professional, Scrum Master, and soon-to-be Associate Professional of Human Resources. Her past work includes serving as Co-Producer of the International Shakespeare in Prisons Conference, a board member of The Mind Body Project, and managing nonprofit programs locally at The Old Globe Theater and A Reason to Survive (ARTS). Melinda enjoys writing, museum dates, walks, and live music in her free time.

Now, a few words from Melinda!

What intrigued you about Words Alive? Why did you want to join the team?

Professionally, I am focused on access. How to create pathways to it, how to cultivate it, how to advocate for it. Personally, I am preoccupied with books. I experience reading as both a revolutionary act of pleasure and of personal liberty.

Words Alive naturally piqued my interest not only because of the urgency of its mission (California has the lowest statewide literacy rate in the nation) but also because of its obvious commitment to rigorous program analysis. As a certified project management professional, it is my ethical responsibility to uphold project management principles and practices wherever I go.

Words Alive felt like a great fit for me. We have a shared love of access, books, and process! What more can a person ask for?!

What are you most excited about in your new position?

Honestly, just getting to work every day with some of the most caring, focused, creative people I have ever encountered. These folks are passionate about connecting young people and their families to the power of reading, and they each do their work with their whole heart every single day. I have a lot to learn from them.

What is your relationship with literacy and learning?

I mentioned earlier that I believe reading is a revolutionary act in two ways: both as a form of radical pleasure and of personal liberty. In a society that values output, achievement, and compliance, reading offers human beings an opportunity to slow down and expand. “Once you learn to read, you will forever be free,” wrote Frederick Douglass.

What are you currently reading?

Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus, as well as a nonfiction book called Crucial Conversations. I have 2 small kids, so I listen to a lot of audiobooks as they are more accessible for me than physical books. The library app called Libby has been a hero-figure in my reading life. I also use Audible and Google Play, but with Libby everything is totally free. I wish everyone knew about it!

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We are so excited to have Melinda on our team! Are you interested in working with Words Alive? You can find open internship and employment opportunities here or click here to learn about how to volunteer with us!

The Words Alive Reader: March 17, 2022

Welcome to the Words Alive Reader, our newsletter keeping you up-to-date with the latest in how we’ve been connecting children, teens, and families to the power of reading. We have exciting new stories and opportunities to share as we continue our celebration of National Reading Month!​​​​​​​

Thank You Bentivoglio Family Fund!

We are thrilled to share Words Alive recently received an astounding $200,000 gift from the Bentivoglio Family Fund - the single largest donation ever received by Words Alive! We are humbled by such an investment in our work to uplift children, teens, and families through the power of reading!

​​​​​​​In partnership with local Head Start, Boys & Girls Clubs, elementary and high schools, and more than 1,000 volunteers all over the world, this historic gift will help Words Alive reach more than 4,500 students and families throughout San Diego this school year. To learn more about this gift, click here.

Reading with Teens at the Jackie Robinson YMCA

This week, Words Alive is launching new spring book clubs for teens at the Jackie Robinson YMCA in collaboration with United Way, San Diego Foundation, and amazing community partners. We are training YMCA leaders to run our Adolescent Book Group for students in the Lincoln High School cluster, starting with the award-winning graphic novel, Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka.

Are you an experienced or past ABG volunteer? We would love your help training and coaching partners to facilitate the program. Email us at [email protected] if you're interested!

New Books and Learning Kits for 2,400 Students

This week 2,460 students at 15 partner schools throughout San Diego will be receiving a new hardcover book - Bruce's Big Storm by Ryan T. Higgins - and a learning kit for each student with the supplies to make their own cloud viewer!

This project is thanks to an amazing collaboration: books were donated by the San Diego Council on Literacy and were paired with a learning kit imagined by the Fleet Science Center, supported by Hunter Industries, and compiled by UCSD's Center for Student Involvement.

Check it out and read along! Click here to download the learning kit and family guide (available in 8 languages). You can find the book at your local library.

2021 Volunteer Trends

Words Alive's volunteers are amazing! Our 2021 Volunteer Round Up report is hot off the presses with incredible data about the community who supports our work!

Did you know:

• 58% of Words Alive's volunteers are under the age of 25

• 35% of our volunteers identify as Asian

• 20% of our volunteers have a graduate degree

• 6% of our volunteers are active-duty military or veterans

Representation matters at Words Alive, and we are dedicated to reflecting our community's lived experiences in everything we do. This report highlights our evolving demographic data on our volunteer base's ever-changing gender, racial, educational diversity and more.

Check it out here to learn more about our 2021 volunteer trends.

Thank you EY!

In a celebration of service, 225 EY employees from around the world participated in Words Alive projects around Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year! We'd like to thank our corporate partner, EY, for their commitment to empowering communities through reading!

Do you have a group of 25+ people and/or might be interested in sponsoring a service day for your team? Email us at [email protected] or call us at 858-274-9673. We'd love to talk about custom group service projects and/or opportunities to host service events at your office.

RSVP For Volunteer Appreciation Celebration

Register at our Zoom link to attend Volunteer Appreciation Celebration!

You are cordially invited to our 13th annual Words Alive Volunteer Appreciation Celebration that will take place virtually on Thursday, April 21 at 4:00 pm Pacific. Words Alive would not be the robust, thriving nonprofit it is today without the contributions of our volunteers!

Join us at this hour-long virtual event by signing up at this Zoom registration link. We hope to see you there as we honor our outstanding volunteers!

This newsletter, in addition to our blog and social media content, is written by us, a cohort of staff, interns and volunteers! Do you love writing and have an interest in helping Words Alive create this type of content? We'd love your help! Email to learn more.

The Words Alive Reader: February 10, 2022

Welcome to the Words Alive Reader, our newsletter keeping you up-to-date with the latest in how we’ve been connecting children, teens, and families to the power of reading. What have we been up to and how can you help? Read on to find out!​​​​​​​

Welcome Families!

This week we welcome 292 families, and their 364 children, to Let's Read with Words Alive, our family literacy program!  

Each week families participate in a 45-minute virtual session, in English or Spanish, reading a story and completing a craft together. Between sessions for the next six weeks, parents will receive SMS-based support from volunteers to encourage at-home reading with their new books.

Teachers at Harriet Tubman Village Charter School sharing Let's Read with Words Alive books.

Through this wave, we are excited to offer parallel tracks for families with preschoolers and those with school-age students (TK-2) through partnerships with:

• Diamond Educational Excellence Partnership

• Edison Elementary

• Freese Elementary

• Harriet Tubman Village Charter School

• Neighborhood House Association

• Rolando Park Elementary

We are deeply grateful to the Dr. Seuss Foundation and Conrad Prebys Foundation for their leadership in helping us transform our family programming this year!

Thank you S. Mark Taper Foundation!

We are so grateful to the S. Mark Taper Foundation for making an incredible $35,000 investment in Words Alive!

The S. Mark Taper Foundation, founded in 1989, is a private family foundation dedicated to enhancing the quality of people’s lives by supporting nonprofit organizations and their work in our communities.

Unrestricted support, like this, enables us to invest in our incredible staff, develop new connections with community agencies, and build our capacity to reach more children, teens, and families. Thank you, S. Mark Taper Foundation!

Welcome Board Members!

Please join us in welcoming Meredith Baratz and Laura Galinson to the Words Alive Board of Directors! 

We look forward to their wealth of expertise and leadership to foster Words Alive's growth. You can learn more about Meredith and Laura, as well as the rest of our Board members, here.

If you're interested in serving on our Board of Directors or supporting one of our many committees providing professional guidance to the organization, please reach out to Rachael Orose to start a conversation.

Read Aloud Volunteers Needed

Help children learn to become a reader by volunteering today!

Each week, teachers and principals ask how Words Alive volunteers might read aloud with their students. If you are excited about reading remarkable stories aloud with classrooms of children (TK-3rd grade) and can commit to read for one hour a week through May, we have a spot for you!

We have virtual and in-person openings for readers at schools in central and southeast San Diego. 

Our best Read Aloud volunteers are excited, engaging, and love sharing stories.  No prior experience is necessary! Volunteers bilingual in Spanish and English are in high demand. 

We host weekly, virtual volunteer orientations where you can learn more. You can also email us for more details.

This newsletter, in addition to our blog and social media content, is written by us, a cohort of staff and volunteers! Do you love writing and have an interest in helping Words Alive create this type of content? We'd love your help! Email to learn more.

The Words Alive Reader: January 12, 2022

Happy New Year and welcome to the Words Alive Reader, our newsletter keeping you up-to-date with the latest in how we've been connecting children, teens, and families to the power of reading. What have we been up to and how can you help? Read on to find out!​​​​​​​

We Need Your Help

We have an incredible opportunity to connect thousands of readers to Words Alive: Christopher Weil & Company, Inc. is matching the next $5,000 donated to support Words Alive in the Champions for Youth competition! 

Your gift will reach twice as many children and bring us closer to our $60,000 goal before the January 30 deadline.

​​​​​​​Every gift counts! Even if you're a regular donor to Words Alive, a simple $10 gift made on this link can help.

Through the Champions for Youth competition, Words Alive earns bonus funds from the Century Club of San Diego and Farmers Insurance based on how we rank, against five other charities, in two categories: number of donors and funds raised. Thanks to Christopher Weil & Company, Inc.'s match, your gift today will propel us forward in both categories. 

 A very special thanks to the William Gumpert Foundation and the S. Bernstein Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation for matching earlier gifts to the campaign, enabling us to reach the first 75% of our $60,000 goal.

Volunteers Compile Hundreds of Learning Kits from Home

Debbie Wappler, volunteer, stands with hundreds of Learning Kits she, her family, and colleagues created.

During the holidays, Debbie Wappler mobilized her family and colleagues at Commonwealth Financial to compile 700+ Learning Kits for children and families participating in this spring's "Let's Read with Words Alive" family literacy program.

Debbie set up assembly lines at her home and office to compile take-home bags for families reading two titles, Penguinaut! and Giraffes Can't Dance.

Learning Kits include tips for families, a copy of a book, and a simple craft activity related to each title. Since the new COVID variant is limiting our ability to compile kits at our office, we're looking for volunteers, like Debbie, interested in organizing family, neighbors, or colleagues to help compile the remaining Learning Kits at your home or office for our spring sessions.

Our Program Coordinator, Murphy Hernandez, can help you get started. He can be reached at [email protected] or 858-274-9673.

Welcome New Team Members

We are thrilled to welcome amazing new team members to Words Alive.

Jenn Belgarde joins Words Alive as our Young Adult Program Manager, leading our signature programs for youth ages 12-24. 

Kristi Stoza joins Words Alive as our Engagement Coordinator, playing a key role in mobilizing volunteers and engaging donors. 

Read about Jenn and Kristi on our blog.

We are also thrilled to welcome Julie Chen, a student at UCSD and our new Page Turners intern. Know someone interested in learning more about working with nonprofits? We are currently recruiting for spring and summer volunteer interns. Details here.

Volunteer Opportunities Available

Help young children learn to become a reader by volunteering today!

New in 2022, we're thrilled to expand our programming at many school sites throughout San Diego - reaching more classrooms and more ages. 

For example, at Rolando Park Elementary, a new partner in 2022, our volunteers are starting the new year both reading aloud to elementary students and leading family literacy workshops.

This is creating many new, engaging volunteer opportunities both virtually and in-person. To learn about ways you might be able to help, we host weekly volunteer orientations. Click here to find the virtual orientation schedule and more details. 

This newsletter, in addition to our blog and social media content, is written by us, a cohort of staff and volunteers! Do you love writing and have an interest in helping Words Alive create this type of content? We'd love your help! Email to learn more.

Meet Our New Engagement Coordinator, Kristi Stoza!

We are so excited to announce a new addition to the Words Alive team: our new Engagement Coordinator, Kristi Stoza! Read on to learn more about Kristi and her drive to join the Words Alive team!

Kristi brings with her years of experience in volunteer management, fundraising, and program work serving families facing homelessness, domestic violence, and substance abuse.  She holds an undergraduate degree in social work from SDSU and is an active volunteer with Shoreline Community Services serving unhoused individuals in the central beach areas. Her past work experience includes positions at Vista Hill, Center for Community Services, and the LGBTQ Youth Space in San Jose.  In her free time, Kristi enjoys running, paddle boarding, checking out new restaurants, and planning weekend adventures with her family.

Now, a few words from Kristi!

What intrigued you about Words Alive? Why did you want to join the team?

I’ve always loved to read and my background is in social work, so I was immediately interested when I heard about Words Alive’s mission! In prior work, I noticed how access to books and engaging literacy education varied drastically even among schools in the same city, not to mention what was available to youth facing extraordinary circumstances like homelessness and involvement in the juvenile justice system. Even more disheartening was witnessing how so many kids didn’t get to see themselves reflected in the books available to them or engage in classroom discussions based around literature that was relevant to their lives and experiences. I find Words Alive so exciting since the mission connects my passions for reading, social justice, and building equitable communities!

What are you most excited about in your new position?

I’m thrilled to get to work with such a kind and brilliant group of staff and volunteers! Additionally, I firmly believe in the power of unpaid labor, so honoring the volunteers that make Words Alive able to operate so many amazing programs is very exciting to me! I enjoy helping people see the impact of what they’re doing, which makes me really look forward to demonstrating to volunteers and donors the power of their contributions. I also really love how positive and asset-based Words Alive is, as well as the organization’s commitment to community collaboration and empowerment.

What is your relationship with literacy and learning?

Books have always been a big part of my life. As a child, I enjoyed escaping into other worlds by reading books that let me experience things I could never have imagined. I moved a fair bit in my childhood, so books were a constant – something that I could always count on and connect with! As I got older, books helped me develop my own identity as I grew to understand the world around me by reading new perspectives and exploring topics previously unknown to me. Reading helps me learn new things, challenge my previous assumptions, and continue to grow as a person.

What are you currently reading?

I’m currently reading Right of Way: Race, Class, and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America by Angie Schmitt. I also read a lot of fiction, especially horror and thrillers!

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We are so excited to have Kristi on our team! Are you interested in working with Words Alive? You can find open internship and employment opportunities here or click here to learn about how to volunteer with us!