Meet our September Page Turner of the Month!

Each month Words Alive recognizes participants in our Page Turners program in appreciation for the thoughtful feedback they share when reviewing titles we are considering for our classroom programming.

This month, we are proud to celebrate Carleen O’Reilly for her contributions to the Page Turners. Since joining the Page Turners in 2020, Carleen has reviewed 11 titles (reading over 900 pages), totaling 32.5 hours spent volunteering for this program. Thank you for your insightful feedback and endless passion for connecting children, teens, and families to the power of reading!

Now, without further ado, let’s learn more about Carleen!

Q: Let’s start with a brief introduction—tell us a bit about yourself and how you came across Words Alive and the Page Turners program!

A: Hi! I am so honored to be the August Page Turner of the Month! I first learned about Words Alive when a colleague of mine started as the Executive Director. Yes, I'm talking about the brilliant Rachael Orose.

Q: How did you get started with the Page Turners program?

A: Like so many with downtime during COVID safer-at-home directives, I started to look for remote opportunities and remembered seeing Page Turners on the Words Alive website.

Carleen poses with family.

Carleen poses with family in front of trees.

I never considered myself to be a "reader," so I started with elementary-aged books to share with my sons, like "The Undefeated" and "The Proudest Blue: A story of Hijab and Family". When my older son transitioned to middle school, I did too. One day, he walked into my room and saw "Some Assembly Required: The Not-So-Secret Life of a Transgender Teen" on my dresser. I noticed him read the title and I asked if he knew what the word 'transgender' meant. He said "Yes, there was a character in one of the graphic novels you got me with a transgender boy." Never did I think that reading these books would spark important conversations with my 11-year-old to learn more about how he sees and understands society.

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

This program has inspired me so much, and I have recommended it to several friends as a way to volunteer their time. By far, my favorite book has been "The Best At It." It was a fun read and I could see a bit of myself struggling to embrace my place in school and understand how my family's culture played a significant role in who I am.

Q: What are your hobbies outside of volunteering?

A: Outside of reading, you can find me chasing my boys around Memphis doing all the sports and playing outdoors. I look forward to many more titles to recommend to the Words Alive bookshelves!

Want to learn more about the Page Turners? Find your next great read here!

Welcome Board Members!

Please join us in welcoming Julie Dubik and Julia Loman to the Words Alive Board of Directors!

Julie Dubik is the Strategic Partnerships Advisor for The Conrad Prebys Foundation, which includes impact investing, public private partnerships and community work on behalf of San Diego’s largest private foundation.

Julie brings a diverse background in nonprofit work, government and business. She has served on Boards or facilitated strategic planning for a wide variety of local and regional nonprofits, including serving as former President and a co-founder of the San Diego Women’s Foundation, former Board Chair of The Monarch School, former governance chair of the San Diego and Imperial County Girl Scouts, former Audit Chair of the California Women’s Foundation, member of the Scripps Health Foundation board, and former Board Chair, PsychArmor.

She served as the Director of Policy and Chief of Staff to former Mayor Jerry Sanders. She is a founding and current Board member of Endeavor Bank, a local community bank supporting San Diego small and medium sized businesses. Julie is the former CEO of Pro Kids-First Tee, San Diego. Julie was a partner and member of the executive committee for the law firm of Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek. Before joining the firm, she worked for the federal government as the Assistant Director of the United States Marshals Service and as a trial attorney for the United States Justice Department. She is currently an adjunct Professor of Law at California Western School of Law.

Julie is a contributing author to two books: “The Workers” and “It’s Harder in Heels”, and the recipient of several community awards. She is married to Mitchell Dubick, a partner at Higgs, Fletcher & Mack and they have 3 children: Jessica, David, and Gabrielle.

 

Julia Loman, MS, has been committed to social change, anti-bias, and multi-cultural practices for over 25 years. She has been in the early care and education field for 27 years, working with families and children ages 0-12 in various settings and positions, from classroom teacher to program director. She currently works with Neighborhood House Association’s Head Start Program in San Diego, CA and an Early Care and Education Consultant. 

 Her passion for social justice and anti-racism was nurtured at a young age by her father, who taught Black Studies. She has woven this passion into everything she does personally and professionally. Her love of books was also nurtured by her family. She read Ayn Rand’s 750-page novel “The Fountainhead” her senior year of high school in 2 days, just for fun!  Her favorite audiobook is “The Water Dancer” by Ta-Nehisi Coates. In addition to holding a bachelor’s degree in Human Services with a Child Development Focus and master’s in Organizational Management and Leadership, Julia is the proud parent of a twenty-three-year-old and step-bonus mom to a six-year-old, her ultimate child development experiments!

 

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

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

Introducing our 2022-2023 Theme: Authentic Voices

Written by: Melinda Cooper, Words Alive Program Director

Student in summer programming connecting themes from a story and their authentic voice in a writing exercise.

When you hear the phrase “true, authentic voice,” what comes to mind? Maybe you thought of speaking the truth, keeping it real, or being the genuine article. Maybe you thought of being worthy of acceptance, or, simply, of being good.

Authenticity is universally valued across groups, cultures, and societies. People of all backgrounds understand the importance and power of being authentic. After all, authenticity build trust amongst individuals and communities, who themselves have the power to ensure that healthy systems are nurtured and sustained to support current and future generations.

Self-expression comes naturally to children, as all caregivers and teachers know, and at Words Alive, we believe in the ability of families and communities to co-create self-expression with their children and we are committed to nurturing the resiliency of children and teens through the transformative power of reading and storytelling using authentic voices.

When young learners hear and resonate with the stories of others, they learn more about themselves. Through exposure to consistent, responsible role models enthusiastic around reading, as well as access to high quality curriculum and materials, young learners in our programs are able to draw and explore connections with the texts, which supports their healthy self-expression, brain development, social-emotional skills, and future successes. 

Author, Marcie Colleen, with a family who just received their new copy of Penguinaut!

This year, 5,000 students from across our programs and the region will participate in a series of volunteer-led, dynamic sessions including discussions, creative writing, books to keep, and art! Our anchor texts will feature characters navigating challenges and friendships on their journey to discover and celebrate their authentic selves.

In our Family Literacy and Read Aloud programs, which collectively serve kids from preschool to third grade, you’ll find us reading such books as:

  •  The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors by Drew Daywait

  • Penguinat! by Marcie Colleen

  • Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival

 Youth participating in our Adolescent Book Group program will be reading texts throughout the school year that represent a range of intersectional identities, family structures, and socially relevant issues. Titles include:

  •  Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly

  • The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

  • Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles

In addition to carefully developed reading guides, discussion questions, and instructions for families in their home language(s), young scholars will also receive learning kits to keep and take home. Our learning kits are thoughtfully equipped with the tools young readers can use to help bring the stories alive and draw connections between the text, themselves, and the world.

As students read fresh and relevant texts about characters who face challenges with resilience, courage, and kindness, these young scholars will develop the ability to reflect on their own tribulations and sharpen their coping skills. Talking to each other about the texts and reading aloud to one another builds their confidence and emotional awareness while also developing their vocabulary and critical thinking.

Teens in our Adolescent Book Group program reading Hey Kiddo!

As they connect to the topics and themes of the texts through curriculum-backed crafts and creative writing activities, the young scholars in our programs are motivated to engage with their own authentic voices in a way that is fun, impactful, and sustainable for a lifetime.

Congrats to Our Family Literacy Program for Being Recognized at EDInnovate Showcase!

Last month, Words Alive received the Advancing Social Justice and Equity Award at the EDInnovate Showcase with The Jacobs Institute in Education at the University of San Diego. Our video entry presented the success of our Let’s Read Family Literacy Program model in equitably engaging families in the power of reading.

The EDInnovate Showcase is a virtual showcase, networking and awards event, designed for the educator community to share their work with other innovators, get feedback and receive recognition as an emerging EDInnovation leader. This year’s theme was “Inspiring Hope, Creating Joy and Igniting Potential!”

At Words Alive, we know that young readers grow on the laps of their parents and caregivers. Yet, research tells us that parents from underserved communities are far less likely to have access to parent education programs that support a working knowledge of literacy development and the skills that promote positive reading habits at home. 

Our Family Literacy Program aims to empower parents as agents of change and advocates for their families by hosting workshops that teach them about early literacy development topics specific to preschool age children. Grounded in the power of play, each workshop includes a tailored information sessions and skill-building exercises for parents, a group story time and guided activities for parents and children. Not only do parents learn how to best support their child through these workshops, but the whole family grows their reading library and develops good reading habits together.

“Words Alive being recognized for the Advancing Social Justice and Equity Award was particularly meaningful and important to me,” said Dr. Faryl Kander, Family Program Manager. “Every day in education news outlets, concerns regarding children being academically behind, specifically in reading, are mentioned. Arguments over teaching approaches dominate the response to this concern while the underlying problem of access and equity in education is not addressed. Putting books in readers’ hands and creating joyful reading experiences for families is amazing, yet knowing that we are advancing social justice by creating access and equity is everything!”

Click below to see our submission and to learn more about our Family Literacy Program:

If you’re interested in getting involved with Words Alive or our Family Literacy Program, check out our volunteer opportunities here: https://www.wordsalive.org/becomeavolunteer

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

Literacy Nonprofit Hopes Others Will Institute Similar Policies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.