Meet Our New Young Adult Program Manager, Jenn Belgarde!

We are so excited to announce a new addition to the Words Alive team: our new Young Adult Program Manager, Jenn Belgarde!

Read on to learn more about Jenn and her drive to join the Words Alive team!

Jenn Belgarde began her professional journey as a tutor for under-served youth in Los Angeles. She grew up in a community where there was a severe economic and cultural divide in the education system. Seeing the inequities first-hand led her to fully invest in leveling the playing field for all young people, ensuring everyone has a chance to succeed. She became the Assistant Director to the founder at The Study Institute, the same program where she first tutored. There, Jenn developed and implemented educational and recreational activities to prepare students for life-long study skills and improve their standardized test scores.

Jenn’s passion for service resulted in her attaining a degree in Program in Leadership and Community Service from Mercer University. While at Mercer, Jenn had the opportunity to do mission work in Haiti, where she provided supportive guidance to earthquake victims and hosted several book and resource drives for Haitian children. Subsequently, Jenn co-founded the Belgarde Mission House, a non-profit community resource organization that helps Haitian residents re-build their communities from the ground up. Her organization gives children, many who are orphaned, opportunities to continue learning after they finish school, which in Haiti is usually around middle school. Many of these children have been able to attend college and trade schools and some have found success in the United States. Jenn has witnessed how literacy can change lives and give voice to the voiceless. At Words Alive, she hopes that through her work in the San Diego community, she can continue to empower youth and young adults through reading.

And now, a few words from Jenn!

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

My passion has always been to ensure that young people get equitable opportunities in this life no matter where they come from. When I first learned about Words Alive, it was very clear to me that I found an organization whose missions and values align with my own. There are so many families with limited exposure to a world beyond their experience. Words Alive boldly addresses social disparities in the education system and provides relevant books, resources, and a community of people that meet youth where they are. It took me a very short time to know that I wanted to serve on this team.

What are you most excited about in your new position?

I am most excited about liaising with our community partners, school administrators, teachers, and volunteers. In my experience, students and young adults tend to thrive in environments where they are fully surrounded and supported by a diverse group of caring adults. The idea that I can play just a small role in serving as a conduit to connect all the key people that empower our students and enhance their lives, brings me so much joy!

What is your relationship with literacy and learning?

I faced many health challenges in my adolescent years, which led to me to learn independently and in an unorthodox school setting. There were sometimes entire months I would have to take off from school and I was still responsible for maintaining excellent grades. For me, reading was my source of comfort during times of stress and anxiety, my teacher when I could not learn from the adults in my life, and an opportunity for me to discover my voice in a very loud world. Reading and journaling allowed me to create opportunities for myself in an environment where innovation and alternative thinking was frowned upon. Though I have not been through many of the circumstances Words Alive students endure daily, I can honestly speak to the major impact reading and writing has had and still has on my life.

What are you currently reading?

I am a lover of all things science- fiction and fantasy, but I am currently delving into books that promote healing in mind, body, and spirit. The main book I am reading is Feeding the Soul (Because It’s My Business) by Tabitha Brown. I will also begin reading The Heart of a Woman by Maya Angelou.

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We are so excited to have Jenn 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!

Why Mentorship Matters: Thoughts From a WAWS Mentor

This personal essay was written by one of our volunteers, Ameena Vasim! Ameena is a mentor in our Words Alive Westreich Scholarship (WAWS) program, in which we pair graduates from our Adolescent Book Group with mentors and resources as they pursue their higher education goals. Mentoring has played a significant role in Ameena's personal life, so it's a topic that she's passionate about. She shares with us what a mentor is and why mentoring matters.

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Mentors: we have all heard about them. But few of us, including me, have stopped to think about their significance in our lives.

Let’s start from the beginning: the origin of the word “Mentor.” According to Wikipedia, Mentor was a friend of Odysseus. When Odysseus left for the Trojan War, he placed Mentor in charge of his son Telemachus. When Athena visited Telemachus, she took the disguise of Mentor. As Mentor, the goddess encouraged Telemachus to stand up against the suitors and go abroad to find out what happened to his father. Because of Mentor's relationship with Telemachus, and the disguised Athena's encouragement, the name Mentor has been adopted in Latin and other languages, including English, as a term meaning someone who imparts wisdom to and shares knowledge with a less-experienced colleague.

One of my favorite quotes is from Galileo Galilei: “You cannot teach a man anything. You can only help him discover it within himself.” Mentors are people who help us discover what's within us.

The success and accomplishments of my life are largely attributed to my mentors, people who imparted wisdom, shared their knowledge and showed me the ropes. Who are these mentors and where do we find them? Mentors are teachers who help guide us, build our confidence and develop the character required to propel our lives forward in a positive direction. Regular people around us, like our parents, grandparents, a teacher, an elder sibling, a movie actor or even a cartoon character, can all act as mentors in our lives.

The mentor/mentee relationship is nuanced and special. The mentee is the driver in the relationship: they decide the destination and the route to reach it. A mentor, on the other hand, is bringing their expertise to guide the mentee. They are bringing their wisdom to light someone's path. If you don’t know what you want from them, they won’t be able to help you. Every meeting with the mentor needs to have a clear agenda and when you leave the meeting, you should have a list of action items. It is possible that some of these action items would require a considerable amount of time and work and it is also possible that you might hit a wall with them. The objective here is to brainstorm these challenges, work out the kinks and show progress.

Another common misconception is that mentors are primarily for help with education and career. However, our personal lives are not separate from our professional lives; they are integrated and need to be well balanced for us to grow. Be it for personal or professional reasons, the intention to have a better life and to accomplish our goals is one of the drivers to find mentors. There is no shame in asking for help; you will be surprised at people’s willingness to offer it.

So how do you know when you need a mentor? Personally, when I am faced with questions like "What now? Where do I go from here? How do I deal with this?", I know that I need a mentor. But before I look for a mentor, I start by formulating the problem statement clearly in my mind. When we are stuck, our anxiety, uncertainty and the fear of the unknown creates a noise, a fog that can hide the underlying problem. It is important to filter out this noise. I sit with the issue for a few days, and meditate to define it. Once I understand my problem, I do a little research to get more information on the subject. Then I look around in my network to see who I can reach out to.

Drawing an example from my personal life, a few years ago I got a bad rating at work. This impacted my career ambitions. I was not only angry or disappointed, but also confused. From my perspective I did everything right: in my mind I was a hard-working employee who was meeting all the deadlines and doing what was supposed to be done. These negative feelings stayed with me for a while, changing my attitude towards work to a noticeable extent. I discussed this situation with my spiritual mentor and I realized that I was allowing this anger, disappointment and confusion to blur the actual problem. I got too wrapped up in the symptoms and lost the focus on the actual cause. I meditated and defined my problem statement clearly. I arranged for a meeting with my senior manager.

When I walked into her office, I was calm and I had a clear agenda. I said, “I take full responsibility for the ratings that I got this year. There are definitely gaps that are blocking me from moving forward. Unless I know these gaps, I won’t be able to rectify them. I need help and guidance; perhaps a mentor who can provide a different perspective?” There were no complaints, no mention of any disappointments, just a well-articulated problem with an intention of seeking next steps. She referred me to a mentor. I not only got the best rating the corresponding year but in a couple years I got promoted.

I don’t think there is any accomplished person on this planet who did not have a mentor. The technology at our fingertips has made it very easy to learn on your own. If anything, we are drowning in information. However, we can all benefit from surrounding ourselves with people, who might not teach us information, but rather help us discover the talents, passions, and strengths within ourselves.

So, next time you are struggling with a problem, reflect on whether or not a mentor might be able to help you. Take that first step of defining your problem statement, embrace the possibility of mentorship, and then see which doors you might be able to open with mentors to guide your way.

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As a WAWS mentor and the author of this post, Ameena beautifully illustrates the importance of mentorship. All of these reasons she’s explained (and more!) and the same reasons we are so adamant about providing our scholars with mentorship—we recognize that not everyone has equal access to caring people who can serve as mentors, and we want to ensure that our scholars have that opportunity. Mentors help our scholars discover their strengths and passions, share new perspectives on their challenges, guide them through tough decisions, and perhaps most importantly, encourage professional and personal growth. Learn more about our scholars and how you can support them here.

2020-2021 Words Alive Westreich Scholars!

This post was written with help from Nia Lewis, a Words Alive volunteer! Do you love writing and have an interest in helping Words Alive create this type of content? We'd love to have you on the team! Email to learn more.

Here at Words Alive, we're incredibly excited to celebrate our Westreich Scholars for the 2020-2021 school year! The Weistreich Scholarship aims to support graduates of our Adolescent Book Group program through the struggles they may face as they pursue their higher education goals. Our scholars for this academic year are Destiny, Andrea, Ulises, Marcia, Esther, and Antonise! We all deserve to pursue our passions through education, and our scholars exemplify how a little support can go a long way.

Andrea, one of our second year Scholars, recently transferred to George Fox University in Oregon to study sociology. She persevered through a difficult home situation during her freshman year and is now thriving at her new school! Andrea first became involved with Words Alive through the Adolescent Book Group at her high school in freshman year, and she became very close with her Words Alive mentor, Sonya, through the Westreich Scholarship program. She continues to stay in touch with the Words Alive team, and she is one of the true embodiments of the goal of this scholarship — to support students so they can flourish in all of their educational plans. You can learn more about her story here.

Even after they graduate from our programs, we know that our scholars continue to make a difference. One of our alumni, Lexi, studied Social Work at San Diego State University and is now a case manager at SAY (Social Advocates for Youth) San Diego! Recently, we were thrilled to work with her to get hundreds of books into the hands of the kids that her organization serves.

All of our scholars continue to prove that within each of us lies a fighter and a conqueror. Each one has had their own unique struggles to overcome, but has learned and grown so much through their determination to successfully transition to higher learning. They are incredible individuals, full of perseverance, passion, and determination. With help from the Words Alive Westreich Scholarship through financial, professional, and mentor support, we are so excited to see what they do in their next chapter.

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Andrea is a returning scholar and a student at George Fox University. She is studying Sociology.

“With the way I grew up, I feel like I could give back in a way with this degree.”

Antonise is a returning scholar and a student at San Diego City College. She is studying Information Security.

“It may be scary, I may stumble along the way but I can’t always waste my life worrying about the what ifs. Helping that student, I acknowledged that fear was my weakness and once knowing that I can grow from this flaw to become a stronger, better me.”

Destiny is a returning scholar and a student at Cal State Bakersfield. She is studying Criminal Justice.

Marcia is a returning scholar and a student at San Diego City College. She is studying Ultrasound Technology.

Esther is a returning scholar and a student at Palomar College. She is studying Sociology.

Ulises is a returning scholar and a student at Point Loma Nazarene University. He is studying Graphic Design with an Illustration Concentration.

“I learned how to handle myself better and how to reach out to friends and mentors. I learned to speak up and ask for help when I need it and not to be ashamed of it.”

The Words Alive Reader: December 18th, 2020

Welcome to The Words Alive Reader, a regular 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!

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

- Zoe, Eli and Titiksha, Words Alive Storytelling Team

Words Alive Alumni Give Back

A screenshot from a call with some of our Westreich Scholarship alumni! Lexi (top left) has connected us to the organization where she now works.

We are always thrilled about any opportunity to get books to students, but we're especially excited about our new partnership with SAY (Social Advocates for Youth) San Diego because we are working with one of our Westreich Scholarship alumni! Lexi graduated from San Diego State University last year and is now working as a case manager for this wonderful organization. We loved supporting Lexi through her college journey and we're honored to be able to partner with her now! Thanks to this connection, more than 500 kids will be receiving a new book this holiday season. 

Help us develop even more partnerships by purchasing supplies from our Amazon wishlist! Many of these items will go towards innovative programming at Monarch School, Lexi’s alma mater. 

Become a Champion for Youth

A graphic with text that reads “Become a Champion for Words Alive This Winter!” above the “Champions for Youth” logo.

Words Alive is constantly seeking new ways to inspire a love of reading and promote educational equity. Help us reach this goal by signing up to become a part of Words Alive's Champions For Youth campaign!

Champions for Youth is an exciting peer-to-peer fundraising campaign that runs from December through January. When you create a fundraising page, you can inspire your friends and family to invest in the joy of reading. Every $10 you help raise will enable us to provide a bedtime story to a child.

The best part? The funds you raise will be amplified by gifts from Farners Insurance and the Century Club of San Diego. Sign up for an information session here!

Thank You, EY Page Turners!

An infographic titled “EY and Page Turners By the Numbers.” The infographic includes the statistics: 275 book reviews; 28, 334 pages read for Page Turners; 51 titles reviewed including What Color is My World? by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Come On In by Adi Alsaid, and Nino Wrestles the World by Yuyi Morales; 546 hours spent reading; 211 Page Turners; and “Want to learn more? Visit us at www.wordsalive.org/page-turners”

We’re excited to say that our partnership with EY has brought 211 new virtual volunteers into our Page Turners program from all across the country! Together, they’ve read more than 28,000 pages and written 275 book reviews to help us identify the best books for our curriculum.

And they've had a great time doing it! "We appreciate the opportunity to live our values by volunteering with you...Thank you for making it so easy for our people to give back during this unprecedented year," the EY Ripples team says. Thank you, EY, for helping us make a difference! 

If you’d like to join them as a Page Turner, visit our website to learn more.

Virtual Family Literacy Program with Oceanside Public Library

A young child draws with colored pencils in a notebook.

Recently, we partnered with the Oceanside Public Library to create a successful fully-remote version of our Family Literacy Program. Eleven families joined us for the virtual course, which pursued a bilingual approach to literacy.

Through books, crafts, and songs in both English and Spanish, families and their preschool children built key early literacy skills—and just as importantly, a love for reading! One of the participating families says their three-year-old is still talking about the program and even reads to his stuffed animals now. We love it!

If you'd like to help us inspire more families to read together, check out our volunteer opportunities here!

1,780 Brand New Books for Kids

A picture of our Executive Director, Rachael, with lots of boxes of donated books!

San Diego showed off the spirit of giving this week, as we received 1,780 books for kids and teens. We want to say a huge thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and the San Diego Council on Literacy for their generous donations, and hope you’ll consider joining them. Help us get even more books into kids' hands this holiday season by donating to our Champions for Youth campaign!

Stock Donations

A young child holds up a sign that says “I’m a Summer Super Reader!”

Donating stock to Words Alive is a meaningful investment in our life-changing literacy work! It's a simple process with many benefits:

1. You receive a charitable income-tax deduction for the full fair-market value of the stock at the time of the gift.*

2. You incur no capital gains tax on the increased value of the stock.*

Words Alive has an account at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Your gift must be postmarked by December 31 to qualify for a deduction in that tax year. A stockbroker or trust officer also can arrange for a year-end gift of stock from your account.
To learn more or to make a donation, click here!   

*subject to IRS deduction limits​​​​​​​

Donate here to support Words Alive!

Introducing Plot Twist: Stories From the Words Alive Community

Welcome to our new blog series, Plot Twist! Here, we'll be sharing the stories of people in the Words Alive community — stories of change, growth, and maybe a few surprising twists! We hope that through these stories, you'll get to know our community a little better and see the power of literacy come to life.

Meet Andrea Vazquez! She is one of our second-year Westreich Scholars and recently transferred to George Fox University in Oregon, where she studies sociology. We wanted to talk to Andrea about her educational journey so far and learn what it’s been like to start at a new school during the pandemic!

Andrea in her new dorm at George Fox University!

Andrea is 19 and first got involved with Words Alive through the Adolescent Book Group at Monarch School in her freshman year. Before she graduated, she applied for and received the Westreich Scholarship!

For her, the most rewarding part of being a Westreich Scholar was her mentor, Sonya. “We got along very well, and even though our lives were a little different, there was one common thing that we had, and it was that our parents just expected a lot more of us than we can give. It was really nice to be able to vent to someone who could completely understand me.” Sonya’s experience working in a school was valuable as Andrea explored options for her future: “We would go out to eat, and try to figure out what my major could be, what I could do with school, if I needed help with any of my essays.”

Andrea and her mentor Sonya in 2019.

Andrea began her college journey at a local school as a biology major, but over time, found that it wasn’t the path she wanted to pursue. “I realized that it’s not that I hate biology, but I was just doing it because my family wanted me to do it.” When she took a sociology class about the problems of society, she discovered a new passion. “It was just amazing. With the way I grew up, I feel like I could give back in a way with this degree.” 

“I was working and taking care of my family and going to school full time so that really took a toll on me.”

Back in her senior year of high school, Andrea was accepted to George Fox University but ended up turning the offer down. “I said no, because I needed to help my mom out. I felt bad leaving,” she says. But focusing on her schoolwork was difficult that first year. “I was working and taking care of my family and going to school full time so that really took a toll on me and I didn’t do so well in a lot of my classes.” When she received a letter from George Fox saying that she was still welcome on campus, she decided to take the opportunity to transfer. As she planned her move to Oregon, she told herself, “I guess we’ll see if it’s just me not being good in school, or if it’s my environment.” 

“It was my environment,” she concludes firmly, five weeks into the new school year. With more time and space to dedicate to her education, she is happy to report that her grades have improved. She pointed to a recent test as an example: “I just took a math test, and I’m not the best at math, and it really showed last year. But I actually got a B+ and I was really proud of myself! It made me realize that this year will be a lot easier than before.”

Still, it’s no small feat to change schools and move to a different state in the midst of a global pandemic. Many aspects of the quintessential college experience are missing, replaced by COVID restrictions. “I can’t leave my room to go shower without a mask on!” Andrea says, laughing. “I just expected to get sent home. I was really scared at first, because I thought it was just going to be taken away again, and my freshman year got taken away already.”

But she has no regrets about moving. “Obviously it gets stressful, but I can take all day and just focus on myself instead of focusing on other people and only having half an hour to myself to do homework, which is really, really awesome.” She loves the kind professors and the small class sizes at George Fox and is excited about the opportunity to reconnect with her faith at a Christian school.

A screenshot of Andrea from our Zoom call.

Andrea appreciates being able to keep in touch with Words Alive throughout this transition. “When I first moved in, [Jess, our Teen Services Program Director] was like, ‘How is it?’ and I was like, ‘You remembered!’ It’s been really nice to hear from people, and actually know that they’re listening to what I’m doing.”

Reflecting on what she’s learned about herself through this journey, Andrea spoke about the importance of self-care and prioritizing her education. “Putting myself first matters sometimes. In situations like this, this is my education that’s going to determine the rest of my life, so it’s important. It’s okay to be selfish.”

“Putting myself first matters sometimes. In situations like this, this is my education that’s going to determine the rest of my life, so it’s important. It’s okay to be selfish.”

In the future, she says, “I really want to help people and be able to give back to my community. Our world is really crappy right now, so I want to be able to help be the change for that.” One of her biggest goals is to be able to give back to Monarch School because of the difference caring, understanding teachers and adults made in her life as a student there.

Andrea, we’re so proud of you for taking this step towards reaching your goals. Congratulations on your transfer, and we can’t wait to see how you change the world in the future!

The Words Alive Reader: August 26, 2020

Welcome to The Words Alive Reader, a regular 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!

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

- Eli and Titiksha, Words Alive Volunteers

Help Us Give Learning Kits to Children & Families!

A woman holds up a backpack in front of a young child.

“Miss Ana is giving me books to learn.”  An 8-year-old participating in Words Alive programs through our partnership with  City Heights CDC and United Way of San Diego scribbled that short, powerful message in their journal. 

Distance learning is providing challenges for teachers, parents, and students in different ways. Before the pandemic, 94% of public school teachers spent their own money on classroom supplies and now, some children are at home attempting to learn with few to no books or supplies around them.

Words Alive is here to help students, parents, and teachers all at the same time! Our Learning Kits are stocked with the tools students need to succeed: pens and pencils, stationary, scissors, and, of course, brand-new books. It takes just $125 to fund one Learning Kit for a child. If you’d like to help level the playing field for a child, donate here!

More Than 200 Page Turners?!

275 book reviews, 1141 hours volunteered, 28 new books added to curriculum, 229 Page Turners, and 177 reviews in progress!

We launched Page Turners last fall so that our Words Alive community could help us find new, diverse books to read with our students. Since then, over 200 volunteers have joined Page Turners, allowing us to add 28 new books to our programming!

Are you interested in joining a community of passionate readers who are helping us read and review titles? Click here to sign up to read a book!

We Could Use Your Help!

Dozens of cardboard boxes with the Words Alive logo.

To meet the changing needs of children, teens, and families because of the pandemic, we are looking for some specific (donated) expertise and thought you might be able to help:

1. Individuals interested in mentoring first-generation college students for the upcoming school year. In addition to general interests, to help meet needs of specific Scholars we're also seeking professionals with work experience in graphic design, the criminal justice system, or based in Portland, OR. 

2. Pro-bono services from legal and public relations firms

3. App developers or website designers

4. Large, vacant storage unit (or garage) on the ground floor where we can accept, sort, and redistribute book donations safely on an ongoing basis 

If you, or someone you know, is able to volunteer or donate in any of these ways let us know!

Join our Mission Marketplace!

A hand holding a heart filled with books above the words “Support small businesses!”

We know that, now more than ever, it's essential to support the small business owners in our community. If you own a business, restaurant, or even an Etsy store you can team up with Words Alive for our Mission Marketplace! We will promote your business throughout the month of October (or another timeframe that works for you!) in exchange for a portion of proceeds being donated to Words Alive in support of our mission. Win-win!

If you'd like to learn more about the Mission Marketplace, email us here!

Donate Here to Support Words Alive!

Books Connect Us: April 10, 2020

Through Words Alive’s response to COVID-19, “Book Connect Us,” we are sharing best practices from our 20+ year history to help children, teens, and families use the love of reading to navigate this turbulent time. Here are a few highlights from the past few days. 

Reaching Coast to Coast

With the launch of Books Connect Us, Words Alive has seen an outpouring of individuals wanting to help!

We are excited to welcome our newest volunteers from California, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, and Virginia!  More than 50 new "virtual volunteers" have reached out to ask how they can help create content, read and review titles, coordinate virtual book drives, promote Books Connect Us, and more.

We rely on our community's expertise, passion, and commitment to help deliver exceptional programs and resources to families - and for your support we are truly grateful.

We’re hosting weekly virtual volunteer orientations. Click here to learn more.

Help Support our Westreich Scholars

Last week, Words Alive hosted a virtual check-in with our young adult Scholars and Mentors to see how they are coping and what we can do to help.

Given the implications of the pandemic on schools, jobs, housing, and health, the Scholars in our Westreich Scholarship and Mentorship Program are leaning into their resilience to adapt to a "new normal." Many are struggling to access food, shelter, internet, and child care – making a shift to distance learning in their post-secondary program extremely challenging.

We are honored that our volunteer mentors are side-by-side with this year's cohort to help them creatively problem solve and prioritize their pursuit of education during this turbulent time.

You can support our 14 Scholars by investing in our mentorship program, signing up to become a mentor, and/or donations of grocery, meal delivery, or gas gift cards. Click here to find out how.

Story Station en Español & Upcoming (Virtual) Events!

¡Hola! ¿Quieres escuchar una historia? Join us on the Words Alive Facebook page for a special edition of Story Station every Friday at 2 p.m. PT as we feature a different a story in Spanish!

Are you interested in reading stories or creating resources in Spanish or another language?  Click here to get started!

Join us for Story Station every weekday afternoon (2 pm PT on Facebook Live):

4/13: Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae

4/14: Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham

4/15: We Do Not Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

4/16: I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont

4/17: Gracia, Sr. Panda by Steve Antony

(Recordings are available on our Facebook page after the reading.)

Trending on #QuaranTEENS

Top stories and activities trending this week on #QuaranTEENS:

1.  Write a Letter To Your Future Self

2. All the Feels - Writing Tip from author Elly Swartz

3. TikTok Challenge: Why are books the best stay-at-home activity?

Words Alive Scholar Abroad: Kathmandu, Nepal!

Domminiece (right) is sitting with a fellow student. They are both smiling at the camera and have red dots on their foreheads.

Over the winter break, two of our Words Alive Westreich Scholars had the amazing opportunity to take their studies abroad for a few weeks! Domminiece Willis is one of our star scholars and is about to graduate from San Diego State University with a degree in Child Development. We are so thrilled that Domminiece had this opportunity!

Hear more about the trip from Domminiece herself!

Where did you study abroad?

Kathmandu, Nepal.

What similarities and difference did you notice between your study abroad location and San Diego?

A few similarities that I noticed about Kathmandu that reminded me of San Diego was how busy nightlife is. Exploring through the streets to go shopping and seeing all the shops, bright lights, loud music, and the sea of people reminded me of the Gaslamp during the weekends. Another similarity was artwork. There is artwork throughout the streets of Kathmandu and you can find the same with San Diego whether it be graffiti, murals, or colorful walls. There were many differences between Kathmandu and San Diego - one big difference is there are mini rivers throughout the city. Animals like chickens, goats, and cows (which are considered sacred here) can be see being walked by their owners, or sitting or walking freely throughout the streets.

A selfie of Domminiece walking next to a cow. Domminiece has a huge smile on her face.

What did you learn while you were there?

I have learned so much about religion, the Nepalese language, how to cook traditional Nepalese dishes, how to do wood carving, and how to find enlightenment and properly mediate by a monk.

What was your favorite part of the experience?

My favorite part of my Nepal experience was going to two different secondary schools and teaching the children about how to take care of their mental and emotional health. Another highlight was getting three large trash bags of clothing together with the other students on the trip and sending it to Maiti Nepal, an organization dedicated to reducing and protecting Nepali girls and women from crimes like domestic violence, trafficking for flesh trade, child prostitution, child labor and various forms of exploitation and torture.

What was the most challenging part?

The most challenging part of the experience was visiting Maiti Nepal. Once we arrived we went into a board room and watched a 5-min video about the organization, there were a few testimonies in the video that brought me to tears and once the video ended a representative of the organization came in and spoke briefly about Maiti Nepal and that was it… or so I thought. We made our way back downstairs and the founder of the organization, Anuradha Koirala, was there to speak with us as well. A real-life HERO. I was not prepared for what came next. Ms.Koirala lead us outside where we were met face-to-face with real victims and survivors of human trafficking. It broke me completely down and I was told that I could not cry in front of them because this was their “safe haven” and me crying would show that this was not a safe place. Leaving I felt so drained and I felt so helpless. I wanted to help them all and I could not do anything at the moment.

Where do you want to travel next?

I would like to visit Thailand next. I have a deep love for elephants and I hear that Thailand has the best Elephant sanctuary! So that’s next on the list.

Words Alive Scholar Abroad: Naples!

An image of Lexi standing in front of ruins.

Over the winter break, two of our Words Alive Westreich Scholars had the amazing opportunity to take their studies abroad for a few weeks! Lexi Martinez is one of our star scholars and is about to graduate from San Diego State University with a degree in Social Work. We are so thrilled that Lexi had this opportunity!

Hear more about the trip from Lexi herself!

Where did you study abroad?

 I studied abroad in Naples, Italy

What similarities and difference did you notice between your study abroad location and San Diego?

I noticed many similarities between San Diego and Naples like the close-knit community between the people; they were always willing to help out. I can't even count how many times I got lost and there was always someone willing to help me. I found great support and friends in the area I was staying in. I felt like I was home as soon as my plane landed in Italy and I will never forget their kindness and generosity. For differences, everything was so fast-paced that it was a bit shocking compared to my southern California way of living but you quickly get used to it. Another difference that I loved was that we relied on walking and public transportation. Some days we would walk up to 14 miles per day. Getting used to taking trains and metros everywhere was such fun and I wish we had a similar transportation system.   

What did you learn while you were there?

I learned so much in Italy such as essential Italian phrases and how to connect with people of a different culture and how to be respectful in a country that is not my own. 

What was your favorite part of the experience?

 My favorite part was trying authentic Italian cuisines such as their pizza, pasta, and gelato!  I also loved getting lost in the cities and finding their hidden gems such as boutiques and museums. I feel like I returned with a new appreciation of travel and fashion.

What was the most challenging part?

 The most challenging part was trying to communicate with people who did not speak English but Google Translate was always there for me!

Where do you want to travel next?

I definitely want to return to Italy and continue to explore more of Italy but I also want to go to Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, and the UK!

An image of Lexi standing in front of the Trevi fountain.

Volunteer of the Month: Sarah Archibald

An image of Sarah with her WAWS Mentee, Brittany, when she graduated from UC Santa Cruz.

Words Alive spotlights the amazing accomplishments and service of volunteers each month with our Volunteer of the Month award. This is an important way for us to thank you, and to honor just a few of the many great moments in time you have given to the organization.

Our November Volunteer of the Month is Sarah Archibald. Sarah is the Lead Volunteer in two Adolescent Book Group middle school classes this year. As we expand the program to 6th and 7th graders for the first time, Sarah has been flexible and creative in trying new strategies to engage this new age group. Sarah has also stepped up as a leader, filling in for her teammates in times of need. She has been volunteering since 2011 and has supported the Adolescent Book Group, Words Alive Westreich Scholarship, Curriculum, and the Author’s Luncheon during her time with us.

Now let’s hear from Sarah!

Q: So, tell us a little about yourself. 

A: I am a research scientist (brains!) and lifelong book lover.  I love to travel, read, and hang out with my book loving friends.  I have a big dog, two cats and a couple of vegetable gardens.

Q: How long have you been volunteering for Words Alive?

A: I have been volunteering for Words Alive for 9 or 10 years.  I have reviewed books, done ABG in several locations, been on the scholarship committee and mentored a couple of scholars. Domminiece Willis and Brittany Jackson speak for themselves as successful scholars and my reason for volunteering.

Q: What brought you to Words Alive? How did you first get involved with Words Alive?

A: I was attending a volunteer event and heard I could review books and more.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your volunteer roles? What is the most rewarding aspect of your roles?

A: I love talking to young people about books and hearing what they think. 

Q: What is the most rewarding aspect of your roles?  

A: Mentoring is amazing.

Q: What is your favorite memory of volunteering with Words Alive?

A: Two things: Attending my mentee Brittany’s graduation from UC Santa Cruz and once when I was at a store and heard “Hey book lady!”  from a student in my Adolescent Book Group. I happily claim the “book lady” moniker.

Q: And by the way, what are you reading lately?

A: I am reading Ann Patchett’s new book “The Dutch House” and then will start “Girl, Woman, Other” by Bernardine Evaristo.