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 a cohort of volunteers! Do you love writing and have an interest in helping Words Alive create this type of content? Email Robyn, our Volunteer Coordinator.
#GreatSanDiegoBookGiveaway
An image of a young child wearing a face mask and holding up a sign that says “I’m a Summer Super Reader!”
If you're reading this newsletter, you probably know that books are essential in supporting a young child's growth. We also know that too many children from underserved communities in San Diego are at home without books of their own during this pandemic. Words Alive, the Molina Foundation, the San Diego Council on Literacy, and the San Diego Public Library all came together this past week for The Great San Diego Book Giveaway, a campaign that resulted in 325 families (all of whom participated this spring in the remote version of our programming) taking home brand-new books for the entire family to enjoy!
Learn more about the event here on our blog and donate to help children and families build their home libraries!
Readers in the Heights
An image of Readers in the Heights resources: a book, reading guide, and craft supplies.
For the 5th year in a row, we’ve partnered with United Way of San Diego for Readers in the Heights, a collaborative effort between multiple San Diego organizations to engage families in weekly literacy and self-expression activities to help prevent the summer slide. This year, the program is more important than ever due to COVID-19 and the learning losses expected from transitions to distance learning. This is exactly why we’ve partnered with the staff from the Karen Organization and City Heights CDC to deliver our tested programming to families.
Even more exciting! Programming is taking place in five languages including Karen and Burmese. Do you want to help us translate our resources into different languages? Take a look at our new virtual volunteer opportunities!
Upcoming (Virtual) Events:
Celebrating 100 Days of Words Alive Story Station! Watch on Facebook Live @WordsAliveSD every day at 2 pm PT/5 pm ET.
Special Novel Ideas Tour!
Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour of our Novel Ideas interactive online gallery on Tues, 8/18 from 3:00-3:30 p.m. Sign up here.
100th Day of Story Station!
TOMORROW marks the 100th day of Story Station! We have been hosting daily read alouds since the pandemic hit to spread joy, and engage our little learners with fun and inspiring stories. In July alone, Story Station reached 38,000+ people! Join us for our 100th Story Station at 2 p.m. PT tomorrow, August 12th, on Facebook Live.
Trending on #QuaranTEENS:
#QuaranTEENS: Prompts to cope with COVID & lessons from the news.
Top stories and activities trending this week on #QuaranTEENS, our online platform helping teens navigate and cope with the COVID-19 crisis and distance learning through reading and writing:
2. The Coronavirus in Six Words
3. Just Breathe