Celebrate International Literacy Day by Bringing the Power of Reading to San Diego Students and Families!

Blog Post Written by Ben Hollingshead, Words Alive Volunteer

Since the first International Literacy Day celebrations on September 8th, 1967, the global literacy rate has doubled to 86% in 2023. Despite this remarkable progress, 763 million young people and adults globally still lacked basic literacy skills in 2020, a number only exacerbated by the COVID crisis. Closer to home, 46% of 3rd graders in the San Diego Unified School District currently do not meet the standard for language arts. Now more than ever, it is vital that our San Diego community comes together to ensure all children have access to the benefits of being a reader. You have the power to make this happen, and there is no better time to start than on International Literacy Day 2023. 

From September 7th through the 8th, 2023, Words Alive will be celebrating International Literacy by participating in San Diego Gives, a year-round program that shines the light on local pressing needs. There are two opportunities for you to get involved: in an online Day of Giving on September 7th, 2023, and an in-person Day of Service on September 8th, 2023. 

We would love for you to join us on Friday, September 8th, at 9:30 a.m. at our office. In partnership withUnited Way of San Diego, we will be assembling learning kits. These kits typically include new books, school supplies, and a craft or activity thematically tied to the books that deepen student connection to reading. Words Alive volunteers will use these learning kits in the Read Aloud Program, Family Literacy Program, and Adolescent Book Group. You do not need any specific skills for this activity, just enthusiasm! Please sign up at this link!

You can also support our mission by donating to Words Alive through San Diego Gives. On Thursday, September 7th, San Diego Gives will host a 24-hour online event to support local nonprofits. You can donate via credit card, PayPal, Venmo, or your donor-advised fund. Your generosity would give underserved students and their families access to books and, even more importantly, access to skills that will allow them to use reading as a tool to expand their world. You can give to Words Alive at this link!

Words Alive always seeks enthusiastic volunteers to support literacy efforts throughout the year. Once you attend one of our volunteer orientations, you can participate in various exciting efforts, from Adolescent Book Group Volunteer Facilitator to Book Sorting and Delivery.  If you are looking to commit to the mission of literacy beyond September 8th, please look at the full list of our volunteer opportunities here.

Thank you for joining Words Alive in our mission to connect children, teens, and families to the power of reading on this upcoming International Literacy Day. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Donor Engagement Manager, Tracy Dahlkamp, at [email protected].

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references

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/literacy-rate-by-country

https://www.unesco.org/en/days/literacy#:~:text=Since%201967%2C%20International%20Literacy%20Day,more%20literate%20and%20sustainable%20society

https://www.literacysandiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/State-of-Literacy-in-San-Diego-County.pdf

Meet our new Program Operations Coordinator, Alex Guerrero!

We are so happy to announce a new member of the Words Alive team: our Program Operations Coordinator Alex Guerrero! Scroll below to meet Alex (they/them) and learn more about their journey to Words Alive and their time with us so far! 

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With two associate’s degrees, livestock management and agricultural technology, Alex comes from a background of farming education. They found their first nonprofit staff experience as well as a place for themself at Words Alive after working through a number of jobs that did not seem to be the right fit. 

As the Program Operations Coordinator, Alex works under Melinda, our Program Director, and also closely with the program managers, who oversee our three core programs: Family Literacy, Read Aloud, and Adolescent Book Group. Alex directs the majority of their attention at Words Alive towards the tangible aspects of the organization and is in charge of all of our materials! They do crucial work in inventory so that our programs are always supplied with what is needed to serve our mission of cultivating lifelong success through reading.

Triple checking materials with diligence, Alex ensures that all the kids benefiting from our programs get their supplies on time and that everything is as quality controlled as possible. 

One of the many fun facts about Alex is that they like to view their tasks at Words Alive as a combination of the main job (materials) constantly running in the background and the various side quests they encounter throughout the day! Alex’s long term goal is to be able to grow everything on their own land, in a way that allows them to be as good and caring to the planet we live on as possible

Now, a few words from Alex!

How did you encounter Words Alive? Why did you want to join the team?

Before Words Alive, my working life was very inconsistent. I probably had 10 or so jobs prior, and they only lasted about three or four months each. In those jobs, I felt that  people weren't willing to train me like they said that they were going to, didn't like when I would ask questions for context, or saw me less as a person and more as a machine to get work done. I have ADHD and autism, and those two together can be challenging for those who have no idea what’s happening. A big reason I went through many jobs before Words Alive is because management wasn’t willing to work with me. 

Last year in September, a friend of mine who previously worked in my position brought me onto staff temporarily, and the more that I was here, the more I realized that I like the people. I feel that our Program Director Melinda approaches managing by seeing people as people before employees, and that the Words Alive team actively advocates for me to accommodate my needs to be able to do what I need to do. The supportive atmosphere of Words Alive is the reason I’m here, and February this year I was brought on as the permanent Operations Coordinator. 

How has your experience at Words Alive been?

Words Alive is truly a nonprofit that is run for nonprofit work, and there is a very supportive environment. You can never ask a stupid question, we’re always encouraging each other, and we try to help each other become better humans. Everybody is willing to help each other and point each other in the right direction to understand our work as a whole, which is the biggest part for me about why I like Words Alive. 

I feel like everybody has the right personality for wanting growth, and that we have a very aware group of people who want to do the best that they can. Personally, I also enjoy the freedom of being able to figure my work out on my own without having to worry too much about what somebody else is telling me to do. 

What inspires you personally? What are you passionate about? 

Words Alive fulfills my passion for people because I'm literally helping the next generation to do better than mine. Outside of Words Alive, I am passionate about the planet. I went to school for farming, and I want to grow all of the food for myself and my closest people.

“I am passionate about the planet and people. I want to do as much good as I possibly can.”

— Alex

I want to be as good to the planet as possible. I want to be as good to the animals that I will eat as possible, fix the soil. Whether that's people or the planet or anything, I'm passionate about caring. 

What is your favorite book? 

One of my favorite books is The Giver. I loved that series so much. The different books are not connected, but they all share a similar story. They’re all about how it's better to have more perspectives. Although you might feel like you're different, that might be a good thing, and you might be the Chosen One who's supposed to bring everybody else into the light. I really enjoyed that because I feel like I'm different, and I feel like I am the kind of person who does a lot educating people about all the different aspects that are Alex. I really connected to the idea that there’s more here, we just have to help people understand it. 

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We are so excited to have Alex 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!

Belonging Here: Connecting Our Selves, Our Stories, and Our World

By Melinda Cooper, Program Director

“I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself. ”

— Maya Angelou

You enter a room. It is empty. The walls are bare and there is no furniture. It is only you, wearing your clothes, with your feet on the cold, blank floor. You close your eyes and search for something – anything – to give you comfort. What, or who, do you think of?

Wherever your mind went, that is where you feel you belong. It is a special place, where you are safe to be yourself and to, simply, exist. To play, to thrive, to make mistakes, to learn from them, and to move through the world in your own unique way of being. This is what it means to belong.

Belonging is a fundamental human need; the longing for connection is universal.

The Family Literacy program at Encanto Elementary!

Recent studies have proven that a student’s sense of belonging has a positive effect on academic outcomes, achievement behaviors, and well-being, drawing strong correlations between the COVID-19 pandemic, students’ sense of belonging, and mental health. In fact, after controlling for pre-COVID depression and anxiety, researchers found that “students who reported a higher sense of belonging in the fall of 2019 had lower rates of depression and anxiety midst-COVID pandemic.” [1]

Others who have studied the effects of connectedness and belonging on low-income, urban, socially vulnerable adolescents have found that youth who feel more connected to their schools reported lower levels of depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and social anxiety as well as higher levels of self-esteem and a more adaptive use of their free time. [2]

At Words Alive, we know that it’s not enough to tell students to try to belong. We must help them learn how to cultivate belonging. One of the ways that we do this is by using anchor texts, selected to ground our yearly reading lists in a common theme, highlighting books and characters that speak to the lived experiences of the 5,000 kids and families with whom we work and co-create each year.

In our Family Literacy and Read Aloud programs, which collectively serve preschool through 3rd graders across the region, we will be reading titles such as:

• Mixed: A Colorful Story by Arree Chung

• All My Friends Are Planets by Troy Nelson

• The Very Impatient Caterpillar by Ross Burach

A book giveaway at Felicita Elementary

Our Adolescent Book Group participants will explore the Belonging Here theme through graphic novels, such as:

• The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

• Isla to Island by Natasha Donovan

• March: Book One by John Lewis & Andrew Aydin

Teens working on their crafts at Jackie Robinson YMCA

As students read fresh and relevant texts about characters who find connection and belonging within themselves and communities, they develop the ability to reflect on their own lives, while developing connections to each other and their worlds. Talking about the texts and reading aloud to one another builds their confidence and emotional awareness (while also developing their vocabulary and critical thinking).

When children and teens experience belonging, they are better able to cultivate trusting relationships, manage their emotions, and learn new skills while benefiting their cognitive and physical health. To facilitate this critical sense of belonging, young people need to be provided with opportunities for belonging and connection. This year, we plan to do just that.

To get involved, please visit https://www.wordsalive.org/becomeavolunteer.

References

Gopalan, M., Linden-Carmichael, A. Lanza, S. (2022). College Students’ Sense of Belonging and Mental Health Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, Journal of Adolescent Health, 70(2), 228-233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.10.010

Foster CE, Horwitz A, Thomas A, Opperman K, Gipson P, Burnside A, Stone DM, King CA. Connectedness to family, school, peers, and community in socially vulnerable adolescents. Children and Youth Services Review. 2017;81:321–331.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.10.010

Meet Helen, Our New Learning Design for Social Impact Intern!

Hello Words Alive Community! I’m Helen Rigby, the new Learning Design for Social Impact Intern. I’m thrilled and honored to be given this incredible opportunity to work with an organization I have loved and admired for almost two years.

I became a Words Alive trained reader for the Read Aloud program in November 2021 at a Boys & Girls Club In North County San Diego. I was then the reader at the club for the kindergarten and first grade group for over a year. In January, I became the facilitator for the Adolescent Book Group for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders at a North County Middle School.

I loved being a reader to the little ones and then also being able to create a safe space for deeper discussion for the middle schoolers, so when I saw this internship opportunity I was beyond excited!

In hopes to connect with you all better, let me further introduce myself:

I’ve been lucky enough to call San Diego home for almost thirty years.

In December, I graduated with my B.A. in Human Development and a minor in Literature Studies from California State University San Marcos.

I also hold a Creative Writing Certificate with an emphasis in poetry from UCLA’s Extension Center.

In my undergraduate studies I created a reading program for dyslexic elementary students called Reading Warriors. That program was based in theoretical research and implementation strategies that focused on meeting the students where they’re at by using specific books written for dyslexic children in order to improve their reading compression skills like fluency, decoding, recognition, and speed.

Most recently, I wrote the curriculum for (and am currently implementing) a forty-three-book summer reading program called, Bookworms, for kindergarten and first graders at my local Boys and Girls Club. This program utilizes educational and engaging books to support members’ vocabulary development and improve their listening comprehension skills. Each story is followed by a fun activity to inspire creativity and to encourage making new friends.

I greatly enjoy writing curriculum to make reading both fun for children and also accessible to students with reading disabilities. I struggled a lot with reading when I was younger and never wanted to read because it was stressful for me. Once I learned that reading could be fun, it really depended on having access to the right books, I couldn’t stop reading! I fell in love with the quirky and endearing nature of Amelia Bedelia and the hidden island of Mistmantle where animals talked.

I love reading now and I want to help open the door to how fun and wonderful reading is to any child who struggles like I did. The Words Alive mission and programs align so perfectly with what I’m passionate about along with my own relationship to reading. Having interesting, relevant, and engaging books makes reading fun! Words Alive helps children of all ages grow their libraries and grow their love of reading so they can become life-long explorers of the page.

When I was the K & 1st reader and then later as the ABG facilitator, I saw first-hand how shy and distant students grew into excited, focused, and confident readers and participants all thanks to the books, reading guides, and crafts that Words Alive creates and offers. The students’ reading confidence then overflowed into other areas of their lives like their friendships, sports, other academics, leading discussions, and overall self-esteem.

My passion for reading and curriculum writing has inspired me to pursue an online M.A. in Literacy Education and Learning Design from Arizona State University.

Outside of reading and creating curriculum, I enjoy the next best thing, creative writing! I write poetry and fiction and currently have a book published in both of those genres. I was a yoga instructor for five years and enjoy restorative yoga. I also play harps and crystal bowls. I love scrapbooking, crafting, going to different botanic gardens, and snuggling with my ten-year-old parrot, Tobie.

I’m very happy and grateful to be here, and I greatly look forward to meeting and working with you all!

Book Recommendations: For poetry I would have to say The Wild Iris by Louise Glück, for non-fiction I loved Venus & Aphrodite by Bettany Hughes, for fiction I enjoyed Small Town, Big Magic by Hazel Beck.

Meet Our New Storytelling Intern, Steven!

Introducing another new addition to the Words Alive team: our summer Storytelling Intern, Steven Zhao!

Steven is on the right!

Steven’s drive to engage with Words Alive’s undertaking of empowerment through literacy and tell the stories of its individuals, communities, and programs is driven by a love for reading and other forms of human expression as well as a fervent appreciation of literature as a crucial medium through which people contemplate their lived experiences.

His work as a storytelling intern is informed by his personal journey with reading and his learning experiences at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), at which he pursues a major in communication studies and a minor in philosophy. 

Steven’s bicultural identity and exposure to books in both English and Chinese growing up served as major sources of nurture and wonder, whether that is in learning to understand viewpoints and worlds different from his own, contemplating expressed messages and values, or in being challenged to reflect on himself. In combination with his studies, he believes reading to be not just the consumption of the written word, but a well of potential for enjoyment and meaning and an integral aspect of the human capacity for communication. 

In terms of his minor, Steven is most interested in the areas of moral and political philosophy. He places high value on and believes in the benefits of curiosity, a lifelong capability for learning, and approaching unfamiliar ideas with critical thinking and charity. He resonates with how reading and Words Alive’s programs empower communities through cultivating these traits. 

Steven’s experience with reading has also inspired him to explore creative expression. He wrote for the Arts and Entertainment section of the Daily Bruin, enjoys creative writing, and is currently taking an intensive screenwriting program at UCLA’s Summer Film Institute as he works with Words Alive virtually from LA.

In his free time, Steven loves to take in fantasy books, Dungeons and Dragons podcasts, and mystery shows. He also enjoys working holistically on his health by working out and keeping a journal. Occasionally he likes to turn his brain off and play Pokémon or League of Legends. He is also a tenor for UCLA’s Awechords A Capella. 

How did you discover Words Alive? What drew you to interning here?

I discovered Words Alive through their posting on Handshake! I was drawn to the storytelling internship as it aligned with my personal passions and professional interests. Reading is and has been such a significant source of enjoyment for me, and I love to immerse myself in the awesome worlds and stories authors create. 

Now that I’m older, I’ve also realized that I have extracted so much meaning from the various stories I’ve read over the years that contribute to the way I look at the world. Words Alive interested me as an organization that works to improve literacy, and resonates deeply with me in its understanding of reading as a crucial skill set and critical to social and cognitive development. 

What book or story has had a big impact on you? Do you have a favorite quote?

““Sometimes a hypocrite is nothing more than a [person] in the process of changing” ”

— Dalinar Kholin, The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

That would probably be The Stormlight Archive, an ongoing fantasy book series by my favorite author Brandon Sanderson. Set to be two five-book halves with a time skip in the middle, The Stormlight Archive is truly a story of epic proportions and great detail that is deserving of multiple rereads. It has an incredible thoughtfulness and complexity behind its interwoven storylines and there is an astounding attention to detail and consideration in its world building. 

This series is host to a plot of great scale, yet both this greater plot and the individual, interlocking stories of its diverse cast of characters are well written and exude urgency. Its most recent release, Rhythm of War, ended with quite literally one of the craziest twists that I’ve ever read and subverted expectations going forward in a very unsettling manner. 

The Stormlight Archive also uses its expansive world, cast, and story to ask a multitude of poignant questions throughout its different books – What is the value of a human life? When does one take responsibility? When is the law right? What lengths are justifiable in the face of a great threat? What is worth fighting for? – and more while exploring those questions from varying perspectives. Importantly, I feel that the story is, at its core, about broken people trying to get back up on their feet and figure out what they think is the right thing to do. It’s a story of resilience. 

What is your favorite recent read?

My favorite recent read is actually a fanfiction named Doors to the Unknown by Silver Pyromancer on the SpaceBattles forum. It’s a crossover between the Dungeons and Dragons universe and the self-published web serial Worm by John C. “Wildbow” McCrae, and it follows the related stories of a functionally immortal psionicist who travels across worlds and an unlikely band of stranded superheroes and villains who have to team up to survive in an unknown world. I’m a gigantic fan of stories with vast and intricate worldbuilding, and I’m incredibly impressed by the way Doors to the Unknown worked the complexities of D&D and Worm together in a way that made sense while having also compelling character arcs.

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We are so excited to have Steven 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!

Meet Kim, Our June Page Turner of the Month

This month, Page Turners would like to spotlight our volunteer of the month, Kim Evans. Kim is new to the Page Turners, starting her volunteer journey this past April, she has already read and reviewed 6 titles with us, totaling 44 hours of service! Here is what Kim had to say about her journey with Page Turners.

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

My name is Kim Evans and I currently live in the Oklahoma City area.  I just celebrated my 27thwedding anniversary…it goes by so fast.  We have two children,  two grandchildren and two dogs. Our youngest is home from his first year in college and we are enjoying having him home.  I’ve just celebrated by 24 years with Farmers Insurance.  

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

Farmers Insurance has a Spring into Service initiative each Spring. A teammate was telling me about this awesome opportunity with Page Turners. She enjoyed listening to Ground Zero and felt she was able to provide a good review that would help teachers make good selections for their students. I hadn’t ventured into listening to audio books, but thought I’d give it a try as she explained the purpose and I thought this could be a way I could encourage young readers. I was encouraged to read as young child and it developed into a favorite pastime as an adult.

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

 I love spending time with my family and friends.  It goes without saying that I love to read!  I also enjoy being outside working in the yard and enjoying the wildlife…we have a family of turkeys that roam through our yard daily. 

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

I read Sitting Pretty and it gave more depth to my thinking when it came to challenges for people using wheel chairs. I knew the obvious, of course, but there are so many day-to-day things that I take for granted.  It also enlightened me to some of the socio-economic factors that I wasn’t aware of because the author was courageous enough to share her reality in great detail. I also learned a lot about history by reading They Call Us Enemy…there is a surprise at the end that I did not see coming. Sharing this history with young readers is important because it is so much easier to see things clearly when you are not impacted by the emotion of the event. Hopefully with the understanding of history, we can avoid these types of atrocities from occurring again. It was also inspiring as the main character was able to achieve great success by persevering, working hard and having courage to pursue his dreams.

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

 Ground Zero: A Novel of 9/11, by Alan Gratz. I enjoyed that it was written from a young person’s perspective and that it was told from the perspective of an American boy and an Afghan girl. 9/11 was the main storyline, but there was also a lot about relationships and humanity.  

MEDIA RELEASE: WORDS ALIVE OPENS PERMANENT HOME IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO TO CREATE HUB FOR YOUTH LITERACY INITIATIVES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Contact:  Katie Nieri, 661-817-3638

WORDS ALIVE OPENS PERMANENT HOME IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO TO CREATE HUB FOR YOUTH LITERACY INITIATIVES

SAN DIEGO – June 7, 2023 – Words Alive announces the gift of a 5,000 square-foot building in the East Village in downtown San Diego, courtesy of Karen and Jeff Silberman, to permanently house its efforts to improve regional literacy.

The organization’s new permanent home places the nonprofit organization closer to some of the region’s highest areas of need. Roughly 70% of its partner schools are now within six miles of the Words Alive headquarters, which drastically reduces the driving time for volunteers who delivered quality reading programming and 30,000 books and learning kits last year.

“The impact of the Silberman’s donation to World’s Alive can’t be understated—it’s allowing us to enter a new chapter of literacy advocacy and impact in San Diego,” said Rachael Orose, executive director of Words Alive. “This permanent home establishes a youth literacy hub in downtown and allows us to more effectively harness the power of our people – volunteers, staff and families– to inspire a new generation of learners.”

Nearly half of third graders in the San Diego Unified School District are not reading at grade level, according to reports from the U.S. Department of Education and San Diego Council on Literacy. Significant literacy disparities, largely driven by socioeconomic factors, are leaving too many kids behind.

“Reading is the first step toward empowerment and opportunity, and we believe Words Alive is uniquely situated to positively impact the lives of children in San Diego County,” said Karen and Jeff Silberman, who donated the property on Park Boulevard to Words Alive. “We look forward to seeing how this permanent home can help the organization advance its programs designed to ignite a love of reading among local families.”

Words Alive creates community by empowering over 800 volunteers to actively promote literacy in their communities through the Family Literacy Program, Read Aloud Program, Adolescent Book Group and other initiatives that reach over 5,000 children, teens and families each year. Register to volunteer or donate at wordsalive.org.

ABOUT WORDS ALIVE                 

Founded in 1999, Words Alive is a 501(c)3 organization that 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.

Photos for media use available: Ribbon Cutting Media Photo Library — Words Alive.

Photo credit: Photos courtesy of RZ-Photography.com | @rzphotosofficial

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Meet Jay, our May Page Turner of the Month

This month, we are honored to lift up Jay Gangadin as our Page Turner of the Month. Jay has been a Page Turner since 2021, in which he read and reviewed 27 titles, committing 78 hours of volunteer time to being a Page Turner with us! In an interview with Jay, he shared his inspiring thoughts on why he connects with Page Turners and the work we do. 

Here’s what Jay had to say about how he got started with Page Turners, and why he stayed involved. 

“I am an emerging freshman at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, aspiring to become a motorsports engineer. As a Puerto Rican-Indian, I embrace my culture and my traditions. I want to engage in diversity-focused groups and promote inclusivity within STEM. 

While searching for home-based volunteering programs during the pandemic, I came across Page Turners, which combines my favorite pastime of reading with a purposeful mission. Their mission fits my passion and sparks my interest. Through this program, I am aiding underserved children to elevate their literacy skills and claim space in classrooms.

The Page Turners program allowed me to uncover many relevant books I wished I had access to when I was younger. This reading journey has helped me find a connection I was missing, inspiring an embrace of the diversity within me. This rooted connection is the feeling I want to instill in other kids. Your individuality is your undeniable truth and the key to authenticity. I wish I had realized earlier the value of my cultural differences. This program enables a more inclusive book portfolio, which means kids can feel seen, represented, and heard. Starting this collective diversity initiative needed for inclusivity will offer an open and safe space where children grow and thrive.

Upon reading Dear Martin, I became aware of how deep social injustice and racial disparity run within our society. Through Martin Luther King's teachings detailed in the book and introspective reflections, I found resolve in elevating knowledge by dutifully engaging in purposeful initiatives for my mission. I realized I had to take a proactive role and make a difference for other children like me to feel protected and accepted. My resolve is to bring representation to the forefront, inspiring a positive impact and self-worth”.

2023 Curriculum Writer of the Year: Kaley O'Hare

Profile Written by: Ben Hollingshead, Volunteer

Words Alive 2023 Curriculum Writer of the Year, Kaley O’Hare, is an incredible volunteer with an eye for detail and a boundless enthusiasm to take on multiple projects.

Kaley is from Southern California and graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara last summer. She now lives in Northern California and works as an Urgent Care Medical Scribe as she prepares to apply to medical school for the upcoming admissions cycle.

While Kaley loves a good story, she believes books do much more than just tell a tale. “Books can develop our creativity and imagination, critical thinking, change our viewpoints, connect people worldwide, and much more.” Words Alive caught her eye when she was searching for ways to volunteer, and she was hooked when she got the chance to read and create a curriculum. She spent 130 volunteer hours this past year as a Curriculum Writer, Editor, and Designer dedicated to producing high-quality curriculum guides for teens in the Adolescent Book Group. As a writer, she focuses on identifying the essential messages in each book and developing questions that build the student’s critical thinking skills as they explore the book’s key messages. A true pinch-hitter, Kaley is an incredible writer and assists with curriculum editing and design. In her free time, she writes short stories and even dabbles in animating. Kaley enjoys how her work on the curriculum team has expanded the diversity of books she reads and finds significant meaning in the thought that her work on these curriculum guides may contribute to shaping the story of the student’s lives, both in and out of the classroom.

Volunteering with Words Alive has also helped Kaley grow as a reader – her critical thinking and analytical skills while writing curriculum guides have become second nature when reading anything, helping her more deeply connect with the text. “I’m immensely proud to be a volunteer with Words Alive, where I have developed just as much of a love for learning from creating guides as the students who will use them. It’s incredible being part of a team that works toward ensuring that students and families can thrive through the power of literacy!” She hopes to stay on board with Words Alive in her current role and possibly additional roles. Kaley, thank you for all your hard work, and congratulations on winning the Curriculum Writer of the Year!

Book recommendation: She is currently (re)reading Firekeeper’s Daughter. She also highly recommends Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World and When You Trap a Tiger for middle-school readers and Firekeeper’s Daughter and The Henna Wars for high-schoolers!

2023 Rookie of the Year: Mary Tibiatowski

Profile Written by: Ben Hollingshead, Volunteer

The Words Alive 2023 Rookie of the Year honoree Mary Tibiatowski joined Words Alive this fall and has already significantly impacted the organization!

Mary was born and raised in Kansas City and attended Kansas State College. In talking about what sparked her love of reading, Mary feels lucky to have a family and excellent elementary school teachers who actively encouraged her love of books. When she was 20, she traveled to San Diego with a friend and never returned to Kansas. Kansas’ loss was our gain! Mary initially worked part-time in an accounting firm while raising her two kids, Cynda and Cleis. Her daughter was diagnosed with a rare hereditary condition when she was ten, and as a result, Mary needed flexibility in her working hours, so she became an outside independent controller for mid-sized construction companies. Mary is an avid camper and has done volunteer research work on the Belize coral reef. She also describes her travels to Africa as being the most impactful experience of her life. 

Mary is now semi-retired and hopes to be completely retired by the end of this year. She had known for years that she wanted to help promote literacy in our local community, so she contacted California Volunteers, and they pointed her toward Words Alive. Her first role at Words Alive was reading to first graders at Hamilton Elementary. She loves reading to the first graders in her classes and is delighted to hear when the students have shared their Words Alive books with their families. Mary picked up three classrooms as a volunteer reader in the Read Aloud Program! “‘There is no Frigate like a Book to take us Lands away.’ This quote from Emily Dickinson has always been a favorite of mine and speaks to the essence of reading adventures.” In addition to the Read Aloud, Mary has helped create craft kits, worked on administrative data input, and is a Page Turner. Mary is excited to start two new volunteer opportunities at Words Alive: a new program called Words Matter, a training program for reading volunteers, and she will also start volunteering with the Family Literacy program. Mary, thank you for all your hard work, and congratulations on winning Rookie of the Year!

Book recommendations: Mary usually has 3 books going simultaneously: one for her book club, an audiobook in the car, and a Words Alive Page Turners book. She is now reading Ducks - Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton for Book Club, Muzzled by David Rosenfelt as an audiobook, and Love Like Sky by Leslie Youngblood for Page Turners.