Katherine Finley - Words Alive Volunteer of the Month - August 2017

Katherine Finley, second from left, pictured with Words Alive staff at the 2017 Words Alive Westreich Scholarship Awards Ceremony.

Please join us in congratulating Katherine Finley – Words Alive Volunteer of the Month for August 2017!

Katherine Finley came to Words Alive in the summer of 2014 – an avid reader and lover of books, looking for a fun way to spend her summer and get some experience. Since then, we have had the sincere pleasure of working with Katherine as an intern each summer!  She devotes countless hours in between school months to work on a variety of things for our programs and operations.

Teen Services programs are set up for a strong start thanks to Katherine’s dedication this summer. From invitations to decorations, she was instrumental in the planning of the award ceremony to honor and celebrate our Words Alive Westreich Scholarship recipients. She also compiled resources and back-to-school gifts for the students. For the Adolescent Book Group, she has served on the curriculum committee, working on our project to expand curriculum guides for volunteer facilitators.

Throughout the school year, Katherine has also coordinated and worked at numerous outreach events – always staying engaged with our mission and community.  Katherine even built a relationship with the La Jolla Farmer’s Market and positioned Words Alive at the market front, offering reading material to families and information about our programs to interested patrons.

Starting in September, Katherine heads up north to attend Stanford University for her freshman year of college. We are excited to follow her growth and the wonderful things she will take on in this next chapter.

We thank you, Katherine, for your commitment to the community and the generosity you've shown over the past few years.  Words Alive has been lucky to work with you, and we wish you the best at Stanford!

Check out the Volunteer of the Month Interview with Katherine below:

Tell us a little about the yourself.

Although my favorite activity is curling up with a book, my cat, and cup of hot chocolate, I have always enjoyed being part of sports teams and have played on my school’s field hockey team for the past three years. I also love to travel and I’m always planning my next adventure.

How did you get involved with Words Alive?  

I’ve always been an avid reader and when I was a freshman, I was lucky to discover Words Alive. I instantly fell in love with their multi-pronged approach to tackling literacy by reaching students of all ages and backgrounds.

What is the most rewarding part of your volunteer role(s)?  

It is extremely gratifying knowing that I’m working with a cause that helps others discover and foster a love of reading. The impact Words Alive has is especially visible when seeing the Words Alive Westreich Scholarship Award Ceremony and hearing the heartfelt stories of students improving their literacy skills and their futures

What are you reading lately?  

The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert

Kay Gurtin - Words Alive Volunteer of the Month - July 2017

Please join us in congratulating Kay Gurtin – Words Alive Volunteer of the Month for July 2017!

Kay Gurtin is a Words Alive pioneer and veteran volunteer.  She has been with our flagship program, the Adolescent Book Group, since 2005 and has served on the board of directors since 2011.

Going above and beyond, Kay has extended successful programming at her ABG site, where she and her fellow volunteers are leading book discussions throughout the summer months. She also recently facilitated a resume building workshop for students in our other Teen Services program, the Words Alive Westreich Scholarship. Kay and her colleague from Gurtin Municipal Bond Management led an engaging career-readiness session, arming the scholarship students with expert advice as they start to enter the workforce.

On the board, Kay has provided guidance on executive programming decisions, the annual Author’s Luncheon and Fundraiser and marketing efforts.  Kay has been an important part of supporting the Words Alive Author's Luncheon and Fundraiser as our presenting sponsor. She has also taken the time to help secure silent auction items that allow us to raise even more money in support of our programs.

We thank you, Kay, for your commitment to the community and the generosity with which you serve.  Words Alive is lucky to have your leadership!

Check out the Volunteer of the Month interview with Kay below:

Tell us a little about yourself. (Brief introduction)

I have been an active Words Alive volunteer on the ABG front for the last 12 years.  My first volunteer stint was with Lindsay Summit and their amazing teacher, Dawn. I looked forward to my monthly sessions as I loved being with the students, but even more so, loved learning from their perspectives each month. I then segued to the Choice school with 20-year veteran teacher and rock-star, Ben White. As the site-manager at Choice for 6+ years, we had one of the most loyal and consistent volunteer teams in the organization – a lasting bond between students and words alive stalwarts. With Choice closing, I followed Ben White to YDC school, which is a probationary school in Mira Mesa. The learning never stops and it is a challenging experience each month – the students keep us on our toes!  I have also been an active member on the Words Alive Board for the last six years and a mentor to the ABG program. My day job is Head of Recruitment at Gurtin Municipal Bond Management – a proud supporter of literacy and Words Alive.

What are you reading lately?

Just finished Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. It simultaneously tracks two half sisters' lives from Ghana to America over three centuries. Beautifully written and a compelling read. I saw the author speak recently and it sealed my already favorable review of the novel. She shared that books were like unconditional love and “free” at her local library as a child, and influenced her life and career. Plus, I am re–reading The Freedom Writers Diary for my July facilitation at YDC. It has motivated me to re-read the novels the students read and were inspired by in the book – Zlata’s and Anne Frank’s Diary. Fascinating that they can relate the war on drugs and gangs on our streets to the survival of teens in the Holocaust and Bosnia, but most importantly, like the Words Alive mission, the book conveys the success of engagement and making a student feel worthy and acknowledged through reading is the tried and true ticket to success.

Bring a Friend - the Foundation of Growth

Words Alive Volunteers Chris Britton, Mona Moon, and Ed Hieshetter at the 2017 Volunteer Appreciation Event.

Since inception in 1999, Words Alive has relied on the leadership, creativity, and dedication of volunteers to deliver and grow our programming.  Our volunteer team makes us unique and effective - enabling us to reach over 5,500 students and families each month with contributed hours that more than double the impact of our staff alone. As our organization grows to meet increasing needs in the community, so does our volunteer team.  The means to that growth?  Personal invitation.

Our volunteers are some of the most capable and accomplished teachers, librarians, school administrators, lawyers, corporate professionals, and students in the community.  Their networks are also flush with talented and compassionate people, just waiting for an introduction to the right organization so that they can find a meaningful and impactful connection to giving. Tobi Johnson, President of VolunteerPro and seasoned volunteer manager, writes in her 2017 Volunteer Management Progress Report that 85% of people do not volunteer until asked.  We encourage our volunteers to ask. Volunteers are the leading champions of an organization.  They are able to talk to your mission and provide heartfelt stories of their experiences with your served populations. New supporters they bring in to your organization will be just as powerful.

Asking, or referring, friends and network contacts to volunteer within our organization has proven to be the most effective means of volunteer growth for Words Alive. Last year we piloted a volunteer recruitment campaign that incentivized referrals to our program, highlighting the power of personal invitation. We successfully onboarded over 20 referred volunteers within three short months, and referrals continue to come in.  In totality, our team of over 550 volunteers has a sourcing rate of 52% by referral.

We have just kicked off the second year of the "Bring a Friend" referral-based recruitment campaign.  The campaign runs May through September, and incentivizes volunteer referrals and awareness around the power of personal invitation to stimulate the growth we need to staff our upcoming fall semester with qualified and dedicated volunteers. Any Words Alive volunteer who brings a friend to a session, to an event, or to an orientation is entered into a drawing to receive a prize at the culmination of the campaign.  All volunteers will receive thanks and recognition for participating. 

With just a little over a month left in the school year, now is the time to bring your friends along to your own session or to one of their interest!  Contact Christina Meeker, Volunteer Program Manager, to set up a visit!  We also have new volunteer orientations scheduled monthly which provide an overview of the organization and the ways one can get involved.

Join the campaign now through September, and bring your friend to meet our organization!

Ed Hieshetter - Words Alive Volunteer of the Month - May 2017

Please join us in congratulating Ed Hieshetter – Words Alive Volunteer of the Month for May 2017!

Ed Hieshetter is a founding member of our volunteer team at the East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility.  He has been with our volunteer family about a year a half, and most of that time has been spent building a consistent and meaningful program with detained students at East Mesa through our Adolescent Book Group program.

Ed has led book discussions, writing workshops and career readiness programming, proving that he is a flexible and valuable facilitator. Not only is he dedicated to serving students in the classroom, but Ed goes above and beyond to improve the program behind the scenes. Ed is always thinking of ways to improve and build our program and often lends his support in this vein. He has also been involved in tailoring book selections and curriculum to fit East Mesa’s unique needs.

Thanks for all you do, Ed! The ABG at East Mesa surely wouldn’t be the same without you.

Check Out the Volunteer of the Month Interview with Ed Below!

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a retired investment advisor/financial planner and spent my entire adult life (56 years) in a solo private practice in that profession.  My credo from age 12 to today has been we all have a moral responsibility to give back to the community through volunteer work assisting those in need within our communities. If we ALL served just 2 hours a month in volunteer service within our communities we could solve many of our society’s problems. I have four sons, two granddaughters and seven great grandchildren! In addition, I have taken under my wing several other young adults as a grandfather figure by offering moral, emotional, and financial support for their educations and their overall lives in general. For the past five plus years I have also served (and continue to serve as a volunteer) on the board of directors of the Charter School McGill School for Success.  We serve an under-served section of our community. Lastly, for years I have been a public speaker representing many causes and organizations, been interviewed several times on television, had speaking (and non-speaking) parts in a few commercials, had 15 to 20 letters to the editor published in the LA Times.

How long have you been volunteering for Words Alive? And, how did you first get involved?

I have been involved in the Words Alive program now approaching two years. During that entire time, I have been involved in a pilot program serving the young men incarcerated in the East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility. In our entire society, I believe they are at greatest risk of falling deeper into the criminal justice system thus passing into a lifetime within the adult criminal justice system. My goal is to turn their lives around by letting them know that there are some folks out here in society that sincerely care about what happens to them. 

I came to Words Alive via my friend and fellow board member, Charlene Sapien, who has been involved with the Words Alive program for many years. Though I can read (and do) to the students at McGill School for Success any time I want, I wanted a bigger challenge. She suggested I look into the Words Alive program. And indeed, here I am (along with my fellow teammates Chris and Sam) working with 15 young men all of whom are very important to me.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your current volunteer role, and your work with the organization?

There was a time in my life as a teenager that I came close to being in a juvenile detention center myself. In my students, I see a younger me. These young men need someone to believe in them and when they realize I really do care about what happens to them, they develop a different attitude towards me, towards themselves, and to the community at large. If I only reach one of them it’s worth the effort. And that's my payoff. In class, you can see at times when the light comes on within them and magic happens! You know you've reached them and it shows! As I've said to some of my Words Alive colleagues, I come out of many sessions a foot taller than when I walked into the session!

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

Lately, mainly the books assigned by Words Alive for my "students".  But, I belong to many organizations and receive their publications in addition to the LA Times, the Readers Digest and other publications. My own preference is reading nonfiction as I tend to read for knowledge (and entertainment) and can tell a good book when I'm still reading it at 2:00 AM; even though tired I can't stop reading it!

My last comment is all of us need to be recruiters for Words Alive. Enlist others in sharing the joy and pleasure of serving the community by promoting a lifelong love of reading.

 – Ed Hieshetter

Words Alive Appreciates Our Volunteers

In long-standing tradition, Words Alive celebrates and honors the power and leadership behind our mission – our volunteers.  Each year, our ability to serve the San Diego Community grows with increasing support from willing and devoted community members who step up to give their time and talent to work in our programs, develop curriculum, provide oversight and leadership, and engage with our students and families. 

April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, a month we look forward to as it’s full of recognition, sharing stories, connecting with our volunteers, and our annual Volunteer Appreciation Event.  This year’s event was held last week on April 27th at the San Diego Central Library, our beautiful host venue and partner in literacy.  The event was attended by 70 of our volunteers – some as new as a few weeks and some as veteran as eight years’ service.  All came together to learn about the achievements of the volunteer program and of this year’s award winners, those who received honorable mention. 

In the past year, for our purposes a year is April 2016-April 2017, our volunteer core grew to over 550 dedicated people. This team of people collectively gave 14,220 hours of time to serve the community through our organization -  most importantly, enabling 5,725 students and families to benefit from our supplemental language arts programming.  Though our work and reach is impressive, it’s the way this work is done that is most inspiring.

Volunteers join our team from all career paths and backgrounds, some having taught for 40 years and others having never worked with children a day in their life.  They find common ground in our mission, in the beautiful relationships build with students and with each other, and in the reward of seeing progress and realizing a tangible way to contribute to the systemic issue of illiteracy.   

Throughout the month of April, and specifically during the National Volunteer Appreciation Week, we highlighted specific volunteer contributions and achievements.  At the annual event, we recognized ten volunteers for above and beyond service and advocacy.  Read more about these amazing community leaders on our Facebook page, and view the award winners pictured below. 

Thank you again to our strong and spirited volunteer team for carrying our organization forward and providing such meaningful education and inspiration to our students and families this year and every year!

All event photos are available for viewing here!

Phil Patton - Words Alive Volunteer of the Month - April 2017

Join us in congratulating Phil Patton – Words Alive Volunteer of the Month for April 2017!

Phil Patton, a relatively new volunteer to the Words Alive Family, began his experience as a reader just last fall.  He started right away leading his own 90-minute small group read-aloud each week, and has been impressive in that role.  Phil has also taken the initiative to substitute for other classrooms wherever there is a need – a tremendous help to our team!

Recently, Phil has volunteered to take on three more classes at a different and far-removed site to support the program when openings became available.  He has really stepped up in an outstanding way to ensure our students receive the Read Aloud Program consistently and with meaningful delivery.

Phil has a wonderful and peaceful demeanor, and has been great to work with in every way.  We are lucky to have him lead in so many of our classrooms, and are proud to call him a volunteer of the Words Alive Family!

Check out the Volunteer of the Month Interview with Phil below!

Tell us a little about yourself, Phil!

I am a retired social worker after 31 years with San Diego Regional Center. I retired June 2016, and started with Words Alive Sept 2016. I was told about Words Alive through a friend!

What is the most rewarding aspect of your current volunteer role, and your work with the organization?

I am an avid reader and love the enthusiasm and curiosity of the children when i read and discuss the stories with them.

Liz Goldstein – Words Alive Volunteer of the Month - March 2017

Please join us in congratulating Liz Goldstein – Words Alive Volunteer of the Month for March 2017!

Liz, a long-term volunteer of the organization, has been supporting the office and administration of the programs since 2011!  She comes in to the office each Monday weekly, ready to get her hands dirty working on a host of projects.  In her recent time here, Liz has helped to reorganize our book donation library with her librarian skill set.  She has helped us shelve and alphabetize thousands of books in preparation for incoming donations!  Liz has also prepared crucial material for our spring Family Literacy Program: alphabet diaries, chicken masks, animal photo cutouts.  These projects are the core of the parent-student time spent together in the workshops!

On days when we have needed a little extra, Liz has recruited her own support team of friends and family!  And, she has even taken work home to continue throughout the week in her free time.  We are so grateful for her generosity.

Liz, you are such a joy to work with – the best way to start our week in the office!  You are a wonderful communicator, have a great work ethic and sense of humor, and we just love having you here.  Thanks for your continued and reliable hard work!

Check out the Volunteer of the Month Interview with Liz below!

Tell us a little about yourself. (Brief introduction)

I'm a native Michigander, but have lived in San Diego almost twenty years now.  I started my career as a fourth-grade teacher, left to raise two children, got my master's in Library and Information Science, and finally realized my childhood dream of becoming a school librarian.  I've worked with preschool through high school aged children which has helped me very much at Words Alive.

How long have you been volunteering for Words Alive? And, how did you first get involved?

I've helped in the office at Words Alive for the past six years (I'm not really sure how long I've been here).  My friends, Sharon Gruby and Marcia Fram, were already volunteering and encouraged me to come along. 

What is the most rewarding aspect of your current volunteer role, and your work with the organization?

I love being surrounded by amazing people who do so much to encourage literacy and the love of reading for so many children.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to help provide books for children and for families.

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

Recent books I've read, and loved include Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue, Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard, Small Admissions by Amy Poeppel, and Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi.

AmeriCorps Members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove – Words Alive Volunteer Team of the Month - February 2017

Please join us in congratulating the AmeriCorps Members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove – Words Alive Volunteer Team of the Month for February 2017!

Our AmeriCorps team members help deliver the Words Alive Family Literacy Program (FLP) to families in need in the Garden Grove community of Orange County.  Words Alive FLP expanded to serve Orange County for the 2016-2017 school year with a goal to reach 300 children 0-5 and their families.

Through We Can Read Orange County!, a grant provided by Children and Families Commission of Orange County, the Orange County United Way, and the Orange County Community Foundation, BGCGG and Words Alive are able to work together to fulfill our missions.

“The Words Alive Family Literacy Program has helped BGCGG be more intentional in the interventions that we offer our families with children ages 0-5. We have identified the most vulnerable communities in Orange County with gaps in resources resulting in low literacy levels. Now we have a curriculum that will show real gains in pre-literacy skills for our youngest Club Members. So far, our AmeriCorps Members have dedicated over 2,000 hours in service through our Readiness on the Road Program. With their service this year we will be able to reach over 300 children.”

-        Christina Sepulveda, Vice President of Programs and Services, Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove
 

Check out the Volunteer of the Month Interview with our team below!

What is the most rewarding part of your work at BGCGG?

The most rewarding part about my work at BGCGG is knowing that families are creating memories when attending the program. Seeing parents spend quality time with their children is what motivates me to keep doing what I am doing because I know it impacts their lives in a positive way. 

-        Yvette Fuerte, BGCGG AmeriCorps Member

The most rewarding part of working for BGCGG is giving back to the families in the community where I grew up in Garden Grove, and actually making a difference in their lives.  It's an amazing feeling.

-        Joanna Calderon, BGCGG AmeriCorps Member

The most rewarding part is being able to experience growth in the families and children. I love that we get to sing our hearts out, and are able to provide families with quality care. Every activity has a purpose and most times it's so much fun, that no one even realizes they are learning.

-        Andrea Esparza, BGCGG AmeriCorps Member

What is your favorite part of the Words Alive Family Literacy Program?

My favorite part of the Words Alive Family Literacy Program is that children and parents are learning the value of literacy and early learning through fun activities. Also, seeing the children’s love for books grow from week one through week seven. 

-        Yvette Fuerte, BGCGG AmeriCorps Member

One of my favorite parts is doing the icebreaker with the parents. There is something beautiful and extraordinary in watching a mom stick her tongue out and slither like a snake, or seeing a dad jump around as he imitates a kangaroo.

-        Andrea Esparza, BGCGG AmeriCorps Member

In week 7, when all the families get together and we are able to see the growth in all the kiddos, as well as the cohesiveness of the group. I love to see them networking at the end, and hear them tell each other what other classes might be similar to the one we offer. It's a great feeling!

-        Leslei Emard, BGCGG AmeriCorps Member

Katie Collins - Words Alive Volunteer of the Month - January 2017

Please join us in congratulating Katie Collins – Words Alive Volunteer of the Month for January 2017!

Katie began volunteering with Words Alive in October of this year. She is a full-time student at the University of San Diego, studying English, history, and education.  She joined us for the fall semester as an intern to help develop our Adolescent Book Group Program curriculum – a great learning opportunity for her, and a great help for the program!  She has been a wonderful addition, diligent in helping develop the program’s online content and web page, and creative with the advancement of our curriculum guides which we use program-wide to facilitate book group discussions in the classroom.  This January she will be traveling outside of the country to study abroad and has dedicated some time to continue her support of the program.

Katie, you have been such a professional and impressive volunteer intern, and we are so appreciative of the hard work you have done and continue to do for the Adolescent Book Group Program and for our organization.  Thank you!

Check Out the Volunteer of the Month Interview with Katie Below!

Katie, tell us a little about yourself! 
I am a junior at the University of San Diego, born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. I am double majoring in English and History with a minor in Education, and my dream is to teach in an underserved, urban area in the United States. My favorite things to do include reading, yoga, rock climbing, and trying out new coffee shops. I will be spending the next five months in Buenos Aires, Argentina in a study abroad program, living with a host family, and taking all of my classes in Spanish, which will be extremely challenging for me but equally rewarding. 

How long have you been volunteering with Words Alive, and how did you get involved? 
4 months - I googled foundations or organizations in San Diego where I could combine my love of reading with the goal of promoting literacy with a classroom element. Words Alive was the first result, and I looked into our website and contacted Christina immediately!

What is the most rewarding aspect of your volunteer service with Words Alive?
So far my favorite contribution has been the opportunity to read and analyze The Glass Castle for the Teen Services program where I intern with Theresa. This memoir was so powerful and one of my favorite books I read in 2016. I loved being able to create a curriculum guide from scratch, knowing that my work would directly influence and guide classroom discussions among the in-class volunteers and students of the program. It excites me that the schools we work with are departing from the purely Eurocentric literary canon in favor of more contemporary and diverse material, which is all the more poignant and crucial to promote, now more than ever.

And, by the way, what are you reading lately?
I am currently reading Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, which was published about six months ago, and I recommend it to anyone and everyone! It follows two sisters in the late eighteenth century from a village in Ghana. One marries a slave-trader, and one is sold into slavery. I am almost finished with it, and I have no doubt that it is one of the best books that I have ever read. It is so important to promote own voice narratives and diverse literature. I cannot promote this novel enough.

Winter Yearick - Words Alive Volunteer of the Month - December 2016

Please join us in congratulating Winter Yearick– Words Alive Volunteer of the Month for December 2016!

Winter joined the Words Alive family earlier this year, and has jumped right in!  She began her involvement participating with the organization’s Event Committee, and was an invaluable source of support at the event in October. Winter exhibited such positivity and professionalism while monitoring the event’s silent auction.  She stayed past her shift to ensure the event wrapped up smoothly, and calmly handled all aspects of the closeout that were passed her way.

On top of volunteering for the luncheon, Winter shared her love of reading by supporting the Adolescent Book Group Program. Over the summer, while school wasn't in session, she volunteered to review books to add to our curriculum list. Reviewing books for our curriculum list allows for more options for our teachers.  This is how we learn of great books to share with our students and thus, enhance our program.

Winter, thank you for your time and dedication to Words Alive. Every little detail, and second of your time is appreciated.  We're grateful to have you on the Words Alive volunteer team!

Check Out the Volunteer of the Month Interview with Winter Below!

Winter, tell us a little about yourself! 
I’m a business professional originally from the East Coast, but love being in San Diego now. Most of my time is divided between work and my family, but I try to find time to enjoy all that the area has to offer. I also love to cook and read in my spare time.

How long have you been volunteering with Words Alive, and how did you get involved? 
I started volunteering in July of this year, so I’m still a newbie to the group!  I wanted an organization that I could relate to and felt passionate about their cause. I’ve always been a big reader and want others to share in my love of books, so when I saw Words Alive pop up in an email from someone I was intrigued. The more I read about the organization and the more I learned about the challenges the San Diego community faces, the more strongly I felt to get involved. I reached out to the group, and here I am now!

What is the most rewarding aspect of your volunteer service with Words Alive?
I really enjoyed seeing the fundraiser come together. To see so many people come together who feel passionately about literacy and opportunities for our youth is inspiring, and reminds me that we all have the ability to make a positive impact on someone else’s life. Surrounding myself with other people who want to make a difference has been the most rewarding part for me.

And, by the way, what are you reading lately?
I’m currently working my way through the Tess Gerritsen ‘Rizzoli and Isles’ series. I’m on a murder mystery kick at the moment, but I’m also reading ‘Helen of Troy’ by Margaret George on the side- it helps to balance out the scary!