25 Years of Words Alive: A Conversation with Meredith Baratz

by vikki bowes-mok, words alive volunteer

To celebrate Words Alive’s 25th anniversary, we are speaking with a few of the remarkable people who have helped write our story over the last quarter century. 

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Meredith Baratz is the current chair of Words Alive’s Board of Directors. She also volunteers with Page Turners to read and review books being considered for Words Alive’s programs, as well as on the Curriculum Crew to create literacy materials for volunteers and families. She often volunteers in the office to prepare learning kits and help with other tasks.

Now, a few words from Meredith!

What drew you to Words Alive?

The mission of the organization — connecting children, teens and families to the power of reading — spoke to me. I have loved diving into a good book since I was a child and continue to be excited about helping create that connection for others.

What part(s) of your work with Words Alive are you most proud of today?

Thanks to the leadership of people who have served on Words Alive’s Board, on its leadership team and on staff, the organization is poised today to expand its impact in some exciting ways. I’m delighted to be helping today’s leadership team frame a strategic plan that will help us advance and accelerate opportunities for the community we serve. It would be impossible to not be proud of the creative, energetic and passionate staff that guides the work of this organization every day.

Is there anything you wish more people knew about Words Alive’s history or current work?

Yes! This year, Words Alive celebrates its 25th anniversary — after starting around the dining room table of Founder Leslye Lyons — serving approximately 5,000 children and families in San Diego every year, delivering a measurable impact on children’s reading attitudes and behavior. Thanks to the generosity of former Board Chair Karen Silberman and her husband, Jeff, the organization has a physical presence in San Diego’s East Village, and we are working hard to create a gathering place for people who care about literacy.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Words Alive absolutely could not do what it does without the power of the dedicated volunteers — roughly 1,000 in total — who drive our operations, and the 80 or so partner organizations who deliver programming. Volunteers help us do everything from select books for our curriculum, develop curriculum guides, create and deliver books and learning kits to classrooms, manage inventory, read aloud in classrooms, guide book group discussions with teens, and so much more.

What are you reading right now?

I just finished Properties of Thirst by Marianne Wiggins. It’s a really good read, particularly for Californians.

25 Years of Words Alive: A Conversation with Laurie Doyle

by vikki bowes-mok, words alive volunteer

To celebrate Words Alive’s 25th anniversary, we are speaking with a few of the remarkable people who have helped write our story over the last quarter century. 

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Laurie Doyle is a Words Alive super volunteer! She has mentored teens through the former Words Alive Westreich Scholarship, volunteered with the Adolescent Book Group at Lindsay School (a school for pregnant and parenting teens) and she served on the Words Alive Board of Directors from 2002 - 2009, including as the first Board Chair after founder Leslye Lyons. She was instrumental in launching our annual Author Event (now in its 20th year!) and building the infrastructure for its continued success. Words Alive is so grateful for her years of dedicated leadership and service.

Now, a few words from Laurie!

What drew you to Words Alive?

When Leslye Lyons told me about her idea for Words Alive, I was sold from the beginning. I loved the idea of helping at-risk teens and young children in low-income families learn the joy of reading and being read to. I also loved that Words Alive donated books for young children and teens to keep in their homes.

Could you please tell me a bit about your volunteer experience with the Adolescent Book Group (ABG) at Lindsay School?

ABG was my first experience volunteering with Words Alive. I actually helped Leslye and Cindy Polger find Lindsay School and we just knew it was the perfect place for us from the first minute we saw it and met Dawn, the teacher. 

Laurie at the 2011 Authors Luncheon

What part(s) of your work with Words Alive are you most proud of today?

Hard to say … I think the most meaningful experience would be ABG and mentoring but being on the Board was a definitely wonderful and challenging experience.

Is there anything you wish more people knew about Words Alive’s history or current work?

Getting the incredible office space is amazing and shows that Words Alive is here to stay because of all of its amazing work.

What book made a significant impact on your life?

Hmmm, I’m not sure about impact but one that stayed with me forever would be The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne. It’s my all time favorite book.

Meet Genielysse!

Hello! My name is Genielysse Reyes, and I am thrilled to join the Words Alive team as the new Volunteer Coordinator.

I enter this role with years of experience in working with different organizations that advocate tutoring, mentorship, transformative philanthropy, and creative storytelling. My interest in these fields sparked during my undergrad career at UC Riverside. I decided to study psychology and creative writing, and as I studied, I volunteered…a lot. Street cleanups, shelter homes, campus events, afterschool programs, theater concession stands, you name it. I fell in love with volunteering, because it opened so many opportunities for me to connect with my community and create fun memories with my peers.

This emphasis on community and connection followed me as I earned an MFA in writing for children from Simmons University in Boston. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a writer, for books were some of my childhood best friends. They made my imagination a safe space, and they offered my young self endless ways to grow as a human. Perhaps that’s why it felt natural for me to write stories for young people; these are formative years that call for comfort, validation, and wonder. And through writing, I felt yet again that I was connecting with so many people who shared my narrative or wanted to learn outside of their own. The writing community became one of my favorite spaces.

When I found out about Words Alive, my heart soared. It was an organization that combined my loves: volunteering, community, and books. Here, I can support the amazing community of volunteers that bring the joy of reading into classrooms and homes. I understand the difference they’re all making, and I hope to witness more and more of their spark. I am so excited to start and be part of Words Alive’s story.   

“One book I’m currently reading is “The Last Cuentista” by Donna Barba Higuera. I love that this book emphasizes how storytelling, especially stories rooted in our cultures, is necessary for a sound and beautiful world. It really hits home for me and my work. ”

— Genielysse Reyes

The World We Want: Empathy, Awe, and Human Connection

“When we come to it
We must confess that we are the possible
We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world
That is when, and only when
We come to it.”

— Maya Angelou

Each year, Words Alive selects a theme that guides our programming and influences the anchor texts explored in the classroom. We are excited to announce the 2024-25 program theme, The World We Want: Empathy, Awe, and Human Connection.

There is something quietly radical about recognizing our connection to each other and the world around us. It starts small — with a book, a conversation — and it grows into something transformative, even revolutionary.

This year, we’re inviting young readers to embark on a journey that transcends the page, weaving through conversation, writing, and play. Together, we’ll explore the power of awe — because awe isn’t merely an emotion. It is a force that enhances well-being, deepens empathy, and draws us closer to one another.

This journey will reach 5,000 kids, teens, and families across our programs. They’ll dive into volunteer-led sessions filled with discussions, creative writing, books they can keep, and art as dynamic as they are. Our carefully chosen anchor texts are designed to ignite that spark of wonder - in the world, in relationships, and within themselves - creating a ripple effect of connection and curiosity.

In our Family Literacy and Read Aloud programs, which serve preschoolers through third graders, we’ll be sharing books like:

• I Need a Hug by Aaron Blabey

• I Am Perfectly Designed by Karamo Brown

• The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson

Meanwhile, in our Adolescent Book Group program, students will engage with stories that reflect the beautiful, messy reality of intersectional identities, diverse family structures, and the social issues that shape our lives. Titles include:

• Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Damian Duffy

• Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

• ·Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan

To help these stories resonate even more, we’re equipping readers with learning kits - thoughtfully crafted hands-on activities to bring narratives to life and help young readers connect the text with their own lives and the world outside.

As readers turn the pages of these fresh, relevant texts, they will practice empathy, experience awe, and strengthen their human connections. They will expand their vocabularies, sharpen their critical thinking, and — most importantly — begin to see the world in new and unexpected ways.

Wonder isn’t just a feeling; it’s the beginning of a journey. It’s the first step in creating the world we want, and it all starts with one awe-inspiring story at a time.

If you would like to take part in Words Alive’s journey toward empathy, awe, and human connection, you can volunteer with us by clicking here or emailing [email protected]. Words Alive has fostered a vast, vibrant community of over one thousand volunteers, who work with young people, families, and educators to kindle a life-long love of reading. Our volunteers are the epitome of this year’s theme. They nurture the growth of imagination and the future of our world. Together, through action and stories, we can all pass along the awe and wonder from one reader to the next.

Meet Sara, Our August Page Turner Of The Month!

August 2024 Page Turner of the Month!

This August, we are happy to recognize Sara Salah as Page Turner of the month! Sara has been a Page Turner since May 2023 and has since read 10 books, totaling 101 hours!

Can you give a brief introduction of who you are? (As much as you’re willing to share).

I am a rising college senior (she/her) from Buffalo,New York that attends the University at Albany in Albany,NY. I plan to pursue a master's degree in mental health counseling. I am currently a housing manager on campus as well as the current Public Relations Chair for my university's Silent Book Club (a club formed by students where we can read and discuss). In my free time I enjoy reading a variety of books and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

How did you come across Page Turners/Words Alive?

I came across Page Turners when looking for a remote volunteer organization on my university's website. It was featured as an option for those who enjoyed reading and also wanted to give back to the community. 

What are your hobbies/interests outside of volunteering?

Some of my interests outside of volunteering include spending time with family and friends, as well as my fur babies (three cats, 1 rabbit). I enjoy trying new restaurants as well as curling up with a good book (or my kindle). When I'm not in class or studying, I can be found in the kitchen with friends cooking/baking and watching a Netflix show. 

What is your favorite book(s) so far?

My favorite book so far has to be They Called Me a Lioness: A Palestinian Girl's Fight for Freedom. This book was very eye opening and one thing I really appreciated was the honesty/vulnerability throughout the book. Ahed (main character) shares her worries, fears, and the harsh realities of living under occupation without holding back. The book also highlighted the importance of community and shares just how much resilience her family and the community must have. To me, the book was informative, but it was also a call to action. It serves as a reminder of the influence that even one person can have on human rights. 

If you would like to join Sara in their participation, you can sign up to be a Page Turner here. 

Page Turners Intern-mission

Hey, everyone!

Lanie here giving you a quick intern-mission (see what I did there) to give y’all an update about my experience here at Words Alive.

My time as the Page Turners intern is coming to a close. This internship has given me the opportunity to see up close the power of literature, and how it brings communities together. Our mission can only truly be done with the help of our volunteer’s time and engagement. Seeing all the people who volunteer and take their time to help make an impact to our schools was gratifying, to say the least. It only made me become more passionate about continuing to become a resource for my community.

Reading, especially, accessible reading is crucial for our social and critical development. Folks from all types of backgrounds and ages helped create a path of change in the education system while experiencing the power of reading. Our future generations have you to thank for our dedication to their education. Reading the reviews, and discovering new titles to add to our curriculum made me wish I had something similar when I was younger. It's such a fun, engaging way to connect, and simultaneously give back to our community.

I appreciate interning at Words Alive, and meeting a team that is welcoming and encouraging about my growth. Most importantly, I had a manager who empathetically guided me through the highs and lows that come with working in non-profits and education. I couldn’t have picked a better introduction into the hectic, yet thrilling, career of education and education equality. I am so proud to have worked here, and am excited to see where the future leads me next.

Monthly Heroes

By Vikki Bowes-Mok, Words Alive Volunteer

Since 2015, Karen Malin has donated to Words Alive — every month!

“By giving monthly, I am actually able to increase my support as compared to making one donation, which might have more of an impact on my budget,” said Karen Malin, a Words Alive Board member, who learned about the nonprofit from a bookmark she received at an author event at Warwick’s. “As a retired educator, I am convinced that providing opportunities for children and their families to enjoy reading, to create stronger bonds by sharing books together and to increase home libraries are all vital for creating equal life opportunities for children of all backgrounds.” 

Words Alive’s sustaining donor model is a convenient way for supporters to provide crucial and reliable support to provide exemplary programming that makes reading matter to the 5,000+ children, teens, and families Words Alive serves each year.

According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, “recurring-giving programs are growing in popularity. And for good reason: Donors who give monthly are more likely to stick with an organization. They also provide a reliable source of revenue and are likely to give more over their lifetime than donors who give once or twice a year.”

This has proven true for Words Alive, which nurtures its eight monthly donors and hopes to expand the regular giving with new supporters.

“Regular contributions from monthly donors enable us to have a greater, and sustainable, long-term impact in the San Diego community,” said Tracy Dahlkamp, Donor Engagement Manager for Words Alive. “We appreciate all our donors so much but are especially grateful to those who are able to contribute monthly.”

Words Alive understands the life-changing power of reading. Reading helps people succeed in school and the workplace but reading also changes lives in ways far beyond this. The purpose of Words Alive is to make reading matter – truly matter – for young people and families in every community in San Diego and beyond, so they have the power to write their own stories. 

“I really wanted to support Words Alive not only with my volunteer time and specific talents, but financially as well,” said Malin, a passionate advocate for education and reading. “People should remember that you don’t have to have a large bank account, a big trust fund or a huge income to be able to make an impact financially. The smaller monthly donations definitely do add up and help to keep the fires burning!”

To join our team of monthly heroes, simply click here and choose “recurring” - you will be able to adjust the amount, frequency, and duration of your gift. Thank you so much for your support of our mission to inspire young readers!

Meet Cecilia, Our June Page Turner of the Month

Page Turner of the Month

This June, we are happy to recognize Cecilia Zhao (She/Her/Hers) as Page Turner of the month! Cecilia has been a Page Turner since October, 24, 2022, and has since read 17 books, totaling 32 hours and 15 minutes.

Can you give a brief introduction of who you are? (As much as you’re willing to share)

I’m a life coach, a mom, a learning & development professional, an ex-auditor, and a hospice volunteer from Toranto. Every day I wake up with the passion and courage to inspire growth through a lens of curiosity, so that we can live wholeheartedly to flourish.

How did you come across Page Turners/Words Alive?

Page Turners was one of our featured volunteer opportunities back in 2022 for Connect Days as part of our EY Ripples Program!

What are your hobbies/interests outside of volunteering?

Reading (obviously), playing Chinese Zither, pole dancing, writing are what I do almost everyday. I have many other hobbies/interests such as crafting, rock climbing, puzzles, hiking, gaming…to name a few.

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

I’m always amazed how diverse and inclusive the society has become. When I was a kid, the values and norms you could find through reading were slightly more diverse than my environment, but still quite limited. Today, there is so much freedom, love, acceptance and empathy in our world reflected through the books. I love accessing that myself, and I love passing that onto more people (especially our younger generations) through reading with Page Turners.

What is your favorite book(s) so far?

That’s a hard question…my recency bias would definitely say Imogen, Obviously for a thoughtful and intimate, self discovery and romance story. I really enjoyed The Moon Within for what I didn’t experience when I was a teenager – the self acceptance journey and beautiful cultural celebration of a girl coming-of-age. It was written in poem style which was a new experience for me. I would also mention Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me as it officially introduced me into the world of graphic novels. Its messy yet real stories about toxic relationships shows perfectly what true growth looks like. 

If you would like to join Cecilia in her participation, you can sign up to be a Page Turner here. 

Creator of Award-Winning "Isla to Island" Visits Words Alive's Teens and Tweens

In April 2024, Words Alive was thrilled to bring Alexis Castellanos, author and illustrator of the award-winning graphic novel Isla to Island, to connect with young learners in San Diego. Thanks to a generous donation by Elaine Galinson, Words Alive coordinated in-person and virtual author visits where Alexis engaged 70 youth in lively discussion, each of whom received a new copy of Isla to Island to keep. 

Isla to Island is stunning wordless graphic novel set in the 1960s that chronicles young Marisol’s journey from Cuba to the United States while exploring what home means to her. This remarkable debut graphic novel quickly landed on several top booklists, including American Library Association’s Notable Children’s Books, School Library Journal’s Best Books of the Year, and the New York Public Library’s Best Books for Kids.

Why Author Visits Matter

Meeting authors behind the characters we love deepens the context of what we read and encourages learners to imagine themselves as thinkers, readers, and future creators of stories that shape our world. Those moments spark curiosity and can change the way young people view who and what belongs on the page, especially when the authors reflect readers’ identities and lived experiences.

Excitingly, Alexis is an incredibly relatable and relevant author for the youth we serve. As a young adult with a story about immigration, foster care, coming of age, and the refugee experience, Alexis quickly bonded with the youth in attendance. Conversations blossomed in both English and Spanish, including Alexis and the students laughing about the differences between Cuban Spanish and the Spanish spoken in Mexico and Central America.

Words Alive’s most effective author experiences bring writers, learners, and our community together to explore and respond to themes of the text. To increase access and engage multiple partners, we offered a virtual option as well as an in-person event:

• San Diego Public Library:  In early April, Words Alive coordinated a virtual visit from Alexis at the Mission Valley branch of the San Diego Public Library for a spring break camp of 4th – 7th grade students. Intentionally timed to overlap with the second day of Words Alive’s Art & Lit “Graphic Tales” project anchored in the exploration of graphic novels, the visit served as a thrilling introduction to graphic novels and the creative process behind the medium. The students were incredibly engaged and asked many questions; one young person even came prepared with an impressive list of questions that Alexis was more than happy to answer! In addition to the 15 learners in attendance, several Words Alive volunteers supporting our teen programming logged on to participate. Every child received a new copy of Isla to Island, including signed editions for all students who desired them.

• Monarch School: A longtime partner of Words Alive, Monarch School serves young people facing housing instability. In late April, Words Alive brought Alexis to San Diego to visit with three classrooms at Monarch School. Alexis engaged 55 students across 6th grade, 10th grade, and 12th grade classrooms in discussion about her novel and family, the process of creating and publishing graphic novels, as well as her career trajectory in the publishing industry. Students were especially excited to learn about the process behind creating the art and visual layout of the novel, particularly once they realized Alexis uses some of the same graphics software they do at school.  At the conclusion of the visit, Alexis signed a copy of Isla to Island for every student to add to their personal library.

Thank you to the San Diego Public Library and Monarch School for their collaboration in these incredibly successful events. Our deepest gratitude to Elaine Galinson, whose generous investment made these author visits possible.

We are truly grateful for the commitment of our partners to connecting young San Diegans with the power of reading through enabling joyful, engaging experiences between youth from historically disinvested communities and the creators of stories relevant to their lives.

Meet Tanya, our May Page Turner of the Month!

Page Turner of the Month 

This May, we are happy to recognize Tanya Mishra as Page Turner of the month! Tanya has been a Page Turner since April 8th, 2024, and has since read 4 books, totaling 20 hours and 1,024 pages. 

1. Can you give a brief introduction of who you are? (As much as you’re willing to share) 

   My name is Tanya Mishra (She/Her), and I am an Arizona resident. I have a sister, and I am a sophomore in high school.  

2. How did you come across Page Turners/Words Alive?  

   I came across this page turners when I was looking online for ways to volunteer to help my community. 

3. What are your hobbies/interests outside of volunteering? 

   I love to run, play tennis, and read in my free time. I enjoy volunteering at the local cancer hospital to support the patients there. I also like to spend time with my friends and families. 

4. Has reading with Page Turners impacted your perspective on society or your community? 

   Yes, reading with page turners has impacted my perspective because it made me realize how important and sometimes difficult quality education can be for some communities to get. 

5. What is your favorite book(s) so far? 

    My favorite book so far is "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak, because it details the saddening effects of the world war and Jewish persecution on young children. 

Shout out to Tanya for all the time she’s dedicated to Words Alive! We are so thankful for her participation and insight.  

If you would like to join Tanya in their participation, you can sign up to be a Page Turner here.