Cheers for our July Page Turner of the Month: Melayna Beaudin!

Words Alive was ecstatic to partner with EY Canada this past June to welcome a whole new demographic of readers into our community! WIth EY Canada we have welcomed 32 new Page Turners, who have read a total of 81 hours and 4,788 pages. Thank you so much EY Canada for reading with us this past month. We hope you all continue reading with us in the future!

In honor of our EY readers, we would like to honor one of the most hardworking volunteers from EY as our Page Turner of the month. A big shout out to Melayna Beaudin, our July Page Turner of the Month! Thank you so much for all the effort you put into reading with us. Read on to learn a little about Melayna, including her super cool Book Instagram!

Hi there! My name is Melayna, and I’m from Vancouver, BC. I was a Page Turner for Words Alive during their partnership with my organization, EY. I read two books, Firekeeper’s Daughter and If This Gets Out. They were both incredible, and I could see them being really engaging books for high school students! I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to work with Words Alive, this organization is doing amazing things for students and I will definitely read some more of their books in the future. Thank you!

Q: Can you give a brief introduction of who you are and what you do?

My name is Melayna, and I am an accounting intern in Vancouver. I just finished my third year of university, with one more year to go starting in September. I’m planning to pursue my CPA after graduation. 

Q: What are some of your hobbies/interests?

My favourite hobby is reading! I actually started a book Instagram account last year to share my love for books (@melaynareads) and other than actually reading, chatting with book lovers through that platform has become a favourite past time. I am also fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the world, and rain or shine, I love spending time outside.

Q: Has reading with Page Turners impacted your perspective on society or your community?

One of the books I read, Firekeeper’s Daughter, was about an Indigenous community. I grew up in a really small town, which was partially located on an Indigenous reserve. I’ve also been studying Indigenous business in school. Even with all my past experiences and learning, this book really broadened my perspective and taught me new things. It goes to show that you’re never done learning. 

Q: What is your favorite book so far?

My favourite book was definitely The Firekeeper’s Daughter. It was hard to read at times, it covered a lot of difficult topics, but I feel that it is important to learn about these things because there are people to this day who are still experiencing them. Reading is an incredible way to educate yourself and broaden your perspectives, and this book did that for me. I loved it. 

Q: Do you have any books you’re looking forward to reading in the future?

A friend of mine highly recommended the book The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.. It is a historical fiction about two enslaved men who fall in love, and she told me that it is a truly magnificent novel; I can’t wait to read it!

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!

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!

Thank You, Molina Healthcare!

Volunteers from Molina Healthcare display Learning Kits in front of a set of bookcases.

At Words Alive, we believe that every member of our community can make a difference in combating the literacy crisis. That’s why we partner with corporations and community partners to donate time, talent, and treasure to support our programming. On Wednesday, June 22nd, we welcomed our friends from Molina Healthcare to the Words Alive office to build over 700 Starter Kits! These kits will go home with participants in our Family Literacy, Read Aloud, and Adolescent Book Group programs.

What’s a Starter Kit? 

A Starter Kit is a pencil pouch filled with school supplies to help our students participate in our programs and in their regular school activities. They include pencils, pencil sharpeners, crayons, markers, scissors, composition books, and more. Starter Kits come included in our Learning Kits—bundles of books, activities, and reading resources to help families build healthy reading habits at home.

Molina Healthcare, Inc. is a medical insurance provider that values investing in local organizations that work to improve access to critical resources that improve the health of the communities they serve. We are grateful to Molina Healthcare for their ongoing support of Words Alive, their investment in our programs, and their commitment to connecting children, teens, and families to the power of reading.

Want to help prepare supplies for Starter Kits and Learning Kits? Check out our recurring Crafting Parties here.

Are you interested in learning how your corporate or community group can participate in a service project with Words Alive? Contact our Community Engagement Manager, Robyn Grand, here.

Meet Our June Page Turner of the Month: Yu-Faye Yang!

Page Turners is one of our core volunteer programs, as the books our volunteers review are the same books we teach in our classrooms! This is why it is vital for us to have an amazing team of volunteers to read and review each of the potential books on our reading list. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the help of each of our volunteers. Thank you so much for reading with us — it really makes a difference in our program.

It’s that time of the month again to put our hands together for the Page Turner of the Month: Yu-Faye Yang! Thank you so much Yu-Faye for all the time you’ve put into reading with us. We appreciate how dedicated you’ve been to our program, and hope you continue reading with us in the future.

Yu-Faye is reading with us from San Francisco, California. She is 13 years old and lives with her parents and two younger siblings. She loves going to school, making new friends, and learning new things. Additionally, outside of volunteering she enjoys playing basketball, piano, and more reading! Her favorite book so far is Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins, as it is packed with action and portrays the war in Burma. Thank you again, Yu-Faye, for all you have done for us! We hope you continue reading with us in the future!

Thank You for Supporting Words Alive's 2022 Author's Luncheon & Fundraiser!

On Monday, May 16, Words Alive celebrated our spectacular 2022 Author’s Luncheon & Fundraiser. After two years, we are so grateful for the opportunity to connect and to thank our sponsors, volunteers, and donors who help us change lives and communities through the power of reading during this special celebration. Words Alive was able to raise over $80,000 thanks to the generous support of those who joined us in-person and virtually! With this amazing support, we will be able not only to inspire more children, teens, and families across San Diego and Orange Counties to become life-long readers and learners, but to also address the recent critical gaps in literacy and language proficiency exacerbated during the pandemic among the youth in San Diego. 

We were riveted by Chris Bohjalian’s discussion about The Lioness, which was published on May 10 and an instant New York Times Best Seller!

We’d like to give special shout-outs to our program emcee, Katy Temple (pictured left), and our book talk moderator, Dr. Seth Lerer (pictured right), for their invaluable contributions to this year’s Luncheon. We are so appreciative of Katy for energetically hosting and leading our program and for Dr. Lerer’s enthusiastic engagement on The Lioness during conversations in-person with Chris Bohjalian and with our virtual book group participants.

This event would not have been possible without the generous donations of our Luncheon sponsors: Carleton Management, Santa Monica Press, The Patricia & Christopher Weil Family Foundation, Warwick’s, and honorary hosts: Toby Eisenberg, Betina Greenberg, Kay Gurtin, Leslye and Scott Lyons, Andrea MacDonald, Vera Pitrofsky, Karen Silberman, and Mary Weatherup.

Lastly, we would like to specially thank you — whether you are a donor, table sponsor, synchronous and asynchronous attendee, a new or long-time supporter of Words Alive, your donations and dedicated volunteer work make our mission and impact possible for our community. Your support has allowed us to reach more than 4,200 children, teens, and families in the 2021-2022 school year through our family literacy workshops, weekly elementary classroom read-aloud sessions, and teen book groups. Whether you have been serving with us or are just now discovering our work and mission, we sincerely thank and celebrate you for helping us to make a difference.

To keep up with our work, be sure to follow Words Alive on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We look forward to seeing you at our Author’s Luncheon & Fundraiser Celebration next year!

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.

Cheers to our May Page Turner of the Month: Stephanie Rubin!

Words Alive is fortunate to have an amazing team of volunteers who dedicate so much time and effort into helping children learn from the power of reading. We wouldn’t be where we are today if it weren’t for our superb volunteers who help us spread diversity, unity, and acceptance for all. One of our goals is to have a community of like-minded individuals who can all bond over a shared passion for reading, and a desire to fill the gap in literacy in the country. Every month we enjoy introducing one of the members in our team of volunteers to grow our strength as a community.

This month we would love to honor another one of our incredible volunteers who put in the extra effort this month. A BIG thank you to Stephanie Rubin for all you’ve completed so far. We hope you continue reading with us in the future! Learn a little bit about Stephanie below:

Q: Can you give a brief introduction of yourself?

A: I am a retired elementary aged teacher, married, with two adult sons. I live in Rancho Bernardo. 

Q: How did you come across Words Alive?

A: I came across Words Alive when the organization was cited in Times of San Diego online news when Words Alive was awarded a large donation!  After a tad bit of research, I came across an orientation, and as they say... the rest is history.

Q: What are your hobbies/interests outside of volunteering?

A: Outside of volunteering, I love to read, volunteer at the Rancho Bernardo library, enjoy cooking, biking, and walking my dog.  I also enjoy adult ed and art.

Q: Has reading with Page Turners impacted your perspective on society or your community?

A: Words Alive can impact our community by building our future through developing readers.  Once a person has unlocked the written word, worlds open up... forms, applications, research. Reading broadens one's perspectives by being able to place oneself in history, as well as creating imagination.  Reading links generations past, to the present, and is a gift to our future.

Q: What is your favorite book(s) so far?

A: I really love the book The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman because it deals with relevant issues for all - justice, kindness, community, family and fairness.  It does so with wit, wisdom, and a sense of whimsy.

Thank you again, Stephanie, for reading with us!

Bestselling Author Chris Bohjalian Returns for 17th Annual Author's Luncheon & Fundraiser

An image of author Chris Bohjalian.

#1 New York Times bestselling author and prolific creative Chris Bohjalian is back as the featured author for Words Alive’s Author’s Luncheon & Fundraiser! This highly anticipated event will take place on Monday, May 16 at the Farmer and the Seahorse in San Diego. To purchase tickets, visit: www.wordsalive.org/authors2022.

A novelist, playwright, and screenwriter, Chris boasts several renowned works such as Hour of the Witch released earlier this year and The Flight Attendant, which is now an 8-hour HBO Max television series starring Kaley Cuoco.

As one of the authors featured at our 2009 Author’s Luncheon & Fundraiser for his book Skeletons at the Feast, Chris returns with his upcoming historical thriller, The Lioness at the Author’s Luncheon! 

The Lioness, by Chris Bohjalian

An image of Chris Bohjalian’s new historical suspense thriller, The Lioness, coming out May 10, 2022.

Penguin Random House describes The Lioness as a riveting historical thriller, equal parts psychological drama and suspence page turner in which a glamorous African safari for a Hollywood starlet and her entourage turns deadly.

“In THE LIONESS, Bohjalian turns his adrenaline-pumping pen to the Serengeti in 1964, where A-list actress Katie Barstow has taken her new husband and glittering entourage of co-stars, managers, and publicists for a safari adventure. Lulled by visions of candlelit dinners and capturing wildlife on film, Katie’s dream honeymoon suddenly turns into a nightmare when a team of Russian mercenaries descends upon the party. As the botched kidnapping sees the plains run red with blood and violent uncertainty spirals into the night, Katie and her entourage must confront which they fear more: nature or man.  

DEATH ON THE NILE meets OUT OF AFRICA, with the glamour of ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD and the pace and stakes of a John Le Carré novel, THE LIONESS weaves the rich atmosphere of 1960s Los Angeles cinema with the Serengeti in the newly formed Tanzania as violence and rebellion rage next door in the eastern Congo. Readers spend time inside the perspective of each member of the party, including Katie’s best friend and fellow starlet Carmen Tedesco; Terrance Dutton, the celebrated Black actor who stars alongside Katie in the highly controversial film, Tender Madness; Katie’s psychiatrist brother, who still bears the scars of their traumatic childhoods; her publicist, an Okinawa veteran with some demons of his own; her Beverly Hills gallerist husband, who may just have ties to the CIA; their safari guide, a Hemingwayesque game hunter of a bygone age of Colonialism; and more.” – Penguin Random House 

Recommended by in a New York Times article as one of “18 New Works of Fiction to Read this Spring,” The Lioness was praised by Publishers Weekly: “Bohjalian does a superb job of judiciously rolling out information of how past transgressions may have led to the heart-stopping episodes of chaos and carnage as the shocking, twist-filled plot builds up to the revelation of ‘the real reasons for the safari nightmare.’”

Who is Chris Bohjalian?

Image credit: https://chrisbohjalian.com/the-flight-attendant/

Chris Bohjalian graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from Amherst College, where he was also awarded an Honorary Degree alongside Champlain College and Castleton University.

He has authored 24 books, which have been translated into 35 languages and adapted into three movies and an Emmy-nominated TV series on HBO Max. Chris has also written for a variety of magazines and newspapers, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, Reader’s Digest and The Boston Globe Sunday Magazine and was a weekly columnist for the Burlington Free Press in Vermont from 1992 to 2005. In addition to earning a plethora of awards for his works, he received the Walter Cerf Medal for Oustanding Achievement in the Arts and the ANCA Freedom Award for his work educating Americans about the Armenian Genocide. As he continues to write, Chris is currently a Fellow of the Vermont Academy of Arts and Sciences.

He lives in Vermont with his wife, photographer Victoria Blewer. Their daughter, Grace Experience, works as a young actor and audiobook narrator in New York City.

Chris Bohjalian on the set of The Flight Attendant with star of the TV series and executive producer, Kaley Cuoco. Image credit: https://chrisbohjalian.com/the-flight-attendant/

What is the Author’s Luncheon & Fundraiser?

The Author’s Luncheon & Fundraiser is our fundraising event that features renowned authors such as Mary Kubica, Salman Rushdie, and Isabelle Allende. It allows attendees the opportunity to learn more about the author’s life and work and the work of Words Alive. Join us for a celebration of the power of reading, while meeting some of your favorite authors!

How Can I Participate in this Event?

Virtual and in-person tickets available. More information on the 2022 Author’s Luncheon & Fundraiser can be found on our website: http://www.wordsalive.org/authors2022

Sources:

https://chrisbohjalian.com/bio/

https://chrisbohjalian.com/the-flight-attendant/

Plot Twist: 2022 Volunteer of the Year Kristina Cox

Welcome to our 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. This article is part of a special edition of this series as it spotlights our incredible volunteers who have been nominated for Words Alive’s 13th Annual Volunteer Appreciation Celebration!

Image of Kristina Cox.

Kristina Cox’s service with Words Alive radiates with her incredible generosity and humble dedication to support her community through reading. As our Volunteer of the Year, Kristina has served in multiple roles since joining our team. From being a Champions for Youth fundraiser, Curriculum Editor, project crafter, and now the active Lead Volunteer of Social Media Squad and a WAWS Taskforce member, Kristina has made her extensive volunteering impact primarily through virtual means.

Learning about Words Alive’s remote volunteer opportunities in 2020 through her work’s community outreach team, Kristina was drawn to Words Alive’s mission and values and felt as if it “was an organization that [she had] always wanted to be a part of but never knew existed.” 

“I am passionate about equal access to education, and believe that literacy and the enjoyment of reading opens so many doors to not only opportunities but also ways to help make life more enjoyable. I feel so fortunate to be part of an organization that’s working towards making that possible.”
— Kristina Cox

Following her interest in virtual service roles, Kristina joined the Social Media Squad and the WAWS Taskforce and has been operating in those groups since. For the former, she collaborates with fellow staff and social media volunteers to fill Words Alive’s Social Media content calendar daily with helpful information, resources, and graphics to further grow and connect Words Alive’s online community. For the latter, Kristina supports other Taskforce members and WAWS Scholars by supplying ideas, articles, website content, and co-engineering activities and resources to better mentorship engagement with scholars.

When asked about how participating in these programs has made her feel, Kristina explained that she felt lucky and grateful—“Words Alive fosters such a beautiful, welcoming environment where it feels like anything is possible. I wish I could dedicate more time to it!”

In addition to the warm relationships she has cultivated through teamwork and volunteering, Kristina’s belief in Words Alive’s values and mission motivates her to keep going and make a difference in her community. She shared, “My entire experience as a whole with Words Alive has impacted me greatly. I had a rough upbringing form a very young age until my late teens and books are the number one thing that got me through it. I can’t imagine where I’d be if I didn’t love reading/have the ability to read growing up. I have always wanted to help make that possible for kids/teens in whatever way I could, and I will always be a cheerleader for this organization!”


Words Alive’s community will forever be touched by Kristina’s magnanimous contributions and heart. Kristina, thank you for helping us to empower San Diego children, teens and families with the power of reading and allowing us to be a part of the positive impact you’re making in the world!

Book recommendation: The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio

This post was created by Gabby Villadolid, Words Alive’s Storytelling Intern! 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.

Plot Twist: 2022 Curriculum Designer of the Year Janelle Terry-Lorenzo

Welcome to our 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. This article is part of a special edition of this series as it spotlights our incredible volunteers who have been nominated for Words Alive’s 13th Annual Volunteer Appreciation Celebration!

An image of Janelle Terry-Lorenzo.

Janelle Terry-Lorenzo warmly shares her literary talents and her deep appreciation for books with those around her and at Words Alive. As our Curriculum Designer of the Year, Janelle has served as a Curriculum Designer and Editor since 2021 and just began volunteering as an Adolescent Book Group (ABG) facilitator at the Monarch School this past January 2022.

She initially discovered Words Alive before the pandemic as she perused VolunteerMatch for service opportunities related to her passions. Though she had previously been unable to attend an orientation session due to her schedule, Words Alive’s shift to accommodate virtual/at-home volunteer work during COVID-19 allowed Janelle to easily get started in early 2021.

“I feel like literature has a very powerful role in developing empathy…and also helping us to feel like we belong when we see ourselves in stories. I like the idea of being a part of that for young people.”
— Janelle Terry-Lorenzo

Janelle’s love for literature exudes in all aspects of her volunteering. She explained being drawn to “the story of Words Alive” as “the focus [was] not just on improving literacy,” but also on “fostering a love of reading and the way that we can use books as both mirrors and windows.”

With a bachelor’s degree in English and a background as an editor for the pharmaceutical industry, Janelle found Words Alive’s Curriculum Crew roles appealing as it enabled her to lose herself for a couple hours in her hobby of editing while contributing a greater appreciation for reading via shaping our curriculums. Her experiences tutoring and teaching Language Arts part-time also came in handy when she joined the Adolescent Book Group program. She expressed having fun working with middle schoolers, sharing, “I love the stuff they come up with, the insights, it’s such an interesting age group.”

While engaging students in intense conversations was at times challenging, Janelle revealed that being an ABG facilitator carried a “positive intensity” that was really rewarding. She described the impact of witnessing the curriculums she was used to primarily working on come to life for the first time in the classroom and encountering students, teachers, and others’ excited reactions upon learning of her connection with Words Alive. Janelle expressed feeling not only proud to be part of a program recognized for its great impact, but also gaining more confidence in her volunteer work as she progressed.

Janelle Terry-Lorenzo’s children walking ahead inside a hallway at the Library of Congress.

Moreover, Janelle’s passion and motivation in her volunteer roles extends from living out and instilling her strong, connective values of reading and learning together in her family relationships. Homeschooling her two children who are now in middle school and high school, Janelle has long designed academic curriculums for her own kids and cultivated a love for reading and discussing literature with them. Her daughter remarked that “libraries [were] a common thread through her childhood” as Janelle and her family often drove and took trips throughout the US, bringing their own books/audiobooks and visiting libraries along the way. In her own words, “it’s definitely a part of our family culture!”

“[The Words Alive staff] is committed to helping me becoming better at editing and designing...[It’s] helpful to know that that’s the focus, it’s not assembly lined, it’s not impersonal, it’s not just submitting something and have that just be the end. The people I work with at Words Alive, there’s a commitment to the big picture. ”
— Janelle Terry-Lorenzo

On top of the support of Words Alive’s staff and fellow Curriculum Crew members, drawing connections and interacting with her kids about her volunteer work is what keeps Janelle motivated. She shared that she has talked with them about Hey Kiddo, the first book Janelle read with her ABG students this year and just finished designing the curriculum for El Deafo, which she had read with her son last year. She laughed, explaining, “Books always help keep me going!”

Janelle, thank you for bringing your values and contributions to Words Alive and for generously inspiring a greater culture and love of reading among communities in San Diego and everywhere you go!

Book recommendations: Subdivision by J. Robert Lennon, The Sentence by Louise Erdrich, and she is currently rereading Watership Down by Richard Adams with her son!

This post was created by Gabby Villadolid, Words Alive’s Storytelling Intern! 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.

Plot Twist: 2022 Youth Volunteer of the Year Thanvi Narapareddygari

Welcome to our 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. This article is part of a special edition of this series as it spotlights our incredible volunteers who have been nominated for Words Alive’s 13th Annual Volunteer Appreciation Celebration!

An image of Thanvi Narapareddygari.

Our stellar Youth Volunteer of the Year, Thanvi Narapareddygari serves out of her passion and belief in the power of reading. Joining us from Tampa, Florida, she currently contributes to Words Alive in her key roles as a Pathfinder and Volunteer Engagement Analyst.

When she learned of Words Alive and its mission through VolunteerMatch, Thanvi knew that she had to sign up. As opposed to volunteering for a short time and then stopping in one-off projects like she was used to, she expressed her joy of being able to regularly hear volunteers’ stories and connect with the people we serve through her virtual roles in her day-to-day life.

As a Volunteer Engagement Analyst, Thanvi reaches out to different volunteer teams and assists in keeping track of engagement information such as volunteers’ service hours and the work they’re doing for Words Alive, which critically factors into grant reporting and more. Becoming one of our first Pathfinders later on, Thanvi crucially supports newer volunteers at the beginning stages of their Words Alive journeys as she meets with newcomers who are unsure of where they’d fit, gets to know their motivations and goals, and directs them to specific programs and roles that would best suit their volunteer interests.

Thanvi’s enthusiasm in her Words Alive roles flows from experiencing the impact of reading in her own life. Describing herself as “always [having her] head stuck in a book” since she was young, Thanvi found books to be constants for her as she traveled from place to place in her childhood. Thus, reading helped her to express herself and feel comfortable regardless of where she was.

“I feel inspired to continue reading in my own life and to appreciate how much literacy gives us in our day-to-day...sort of getting a reminder like, oh, there’s kids that are extremely excited to read that book, to turn that page—to see them and think about them sometimes keeps me going as well.”
— Thanvi Narapareddygari

Thanvi was reminded of her passion for books when she was invited for the first time to attend a virtual Family Literacy Program (FLP) session during her earlier volunteer days. As a new Engagement Analyst tracking FLP volunteer hours, she shared that she had not been able to witness any volunteer activities up until that point. However, observing the children in the session excitedly engage with the book they were studying together (which was also without words!) brought her back “to when [she] was little and what got [her] so excited about books in the first place and why [she] started volunteering” for Words Alive.

“I feel like I will never stop being a reader, I’ll be a lifelong reader because of this organization.”
— Thanvi Narapareddygari

This experience left her inspired not only to continue reading and volunteering, but also to appreciate the value and foundational role literacy plays in her future moving forward. As she prepares to into the medical field as a pre-med student, she shared that nurturing her love and excitement for reading at an earlier age motivated her during hard moments in her journey and allowed her to realize the importance of passing that gift onto others. She says, “The fact that these children are getting this opportunity through Words Alive to sort of experience the power of literacy, the power of reading at a young age and to be involved in that myself is truly amazing.”



Thanvi, thank you for your magnanimity and dedication to share the gift and power of reading with children, teens, and families! We are so appreciative of you!

Book recommendation: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This post was created by Gabby Villadolid, Words Alive’s Storytelling Intern! 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.