Welcoming All Volunteers!

Words Alive welcomes current volunteers to join us for our 2025 Volunteer Academy, the weekend of September 5th - 7th.

There are limited spots available for participants. If you’re interested in attending any part of the weekend, please reserve your spot below.

Find more details on the site below. As details are released, this website will be updated.

Introducing the Volunteer Academy

Join Words Alive volunteers for a weekend of shared learning, skill building, and community strengthening as we come together to launch the 2025-2026 school year.

The three-day weekend begins with a social hour Friday evening, virtual workshops Saturday, and an in-person gathering at our office Sunday morning.

 

Words Alive volunteers gather to learn and celebrate together!

Who Should Attend?

Our 2025 Volunteer Academy is open to all current Words Alive volunteers — classroom readers, curriculum writers, service event attendees, workshop facilitators, Board/committee members, Page Turners, and more!

You could be starting your first volunteer assignment this fall or be celebrating your 25th year working toward our goal of transforming San Diego into a community of readers.

If you’re able to join for one day, or all three, we’re thrilled to welcome you to our Volunteer Academy.

The Volunteer Academy is meant to bring our community together as we each bring our talents, skills,a and passions together to connect children, teens, and families to the power of reading.

 

Schedule Overview

Words Alive volunteers are welcome to register for any, or all, of the weekend’s activities:

 

Friday, August 5: Social Gathering (4 - 6 p.m. Pacific)

Join local San Diego volunteers for a casual gathering. Cash bar.

Location: Original 40 Brewing Company, 3117 University Avenue, San Diego (North Park)

“““I believe in the power of words to change lives, and Words Alive embodies that mission by fostering a love for reading and learning. I volunteer because I want to help create opportunities for young minds to discover the joy of books, build confidence in their literacy skills, and unlock their potential.Words have shaped my journey, and I want to help others experience that magic - one story at a time!””
— Anika M., Words Alive Volunteer

Saturday, August 6: Virtual Workshops (9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Pacific)

Participants are invited to participate in large group and small group learning sessions via Zoom. We’ll be exploring the 2025 theme “Grow Where You Are Planted: The Stories that Root Us.” Numerous breakout sessions throughout the day will enable participants to customize their learning path.

Location: Virtual via Zoom

Sunday, August 7: In-Person Sessions (9 a.m. - 12:00 noon Pacific)

 

Following a continental breakfast, participants will continue the exploration of this year’s theme with a panel discussion of San Diego leaders in the field. Small group sessions will follow, deepening our understanding of our work to inspire a life-long love of learning for San Diego’s youth.

Location: Words Alive Office, 770 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA

Cost

Attendance is free.

Attendees are invited to make an optional donation, of any amount, to support Words Alive’s mission of connecting children, teens, and families to the power of reading.

 

More Details

Schedule

Follow the link below for a detailed schedule of events. Check back often - this schedule will be updated as speakers and presenters are confirmed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find a list of frequently asked questions on the link below. This will be updated with information as participants pose additional questions.

Sponsorship

To explore sponsorship opportunities for this, or other events, please contact Tracy Dahlkamp at [email protected] or 858-274-9673.

 

Schedule of Events

Friday, September 5, 2025

5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Casual Gathering / Happy Hour

Join your fellow volunteers in and around San Diego for a social hour. Heavy appetizers will be provided. Cash bar. Parking lots and street parking available.

Location: Original 40 Brewing Company, 3117 University Avenue, San Diego CA

Saturday, September 6

Join Words Alive volunteers from all corners of our programming for a day of workshops, discussions, and community building.

All sessions will be virtual on Zoom. Participants will receive Zoom links and instructions prior to the Academy. All workshops and panels will be recorded, archived, and provided on a secure webpage for volunteers to revisit.

8:30 a.m. Coffee Chats (optional)

Bring your own coffee and join a breakout room for a casual conversation: 

  • Shaping our Narrative: Curriculum Crew, Social Media Squad

  • Reading Role Models: Family Literacy Program, Read Aloud Program, Adolescent Book Group, program facilitators and trainers

  • Make It Happen: Volunteer Engagement Team, Service Event/Wild Books volunteers

9:00 a.m.  Welcome & Housekeeping

9:05 a.m. Greetings from Words Alive Leadership

  • Leslye Lyons, Founder

  • Meredith Baratz, Chair of the Board of Directors

  • Rachael Orose, Executive Director

9:30 a.m. Introduction to 2025-2026 Theme: “Grow Where You Are Planted: Stories That Root Us”

  • Melinda Casey, Director of Learning & Engagement

9:45 a.m. Panel Discussion 1: “Grow Where You Are Planted: Stories That Root Us”

  • Faryl Kander, Family Program Manager (facilitator)

11:00 a.m. Break

11:15 a.m. Workshop Sessions (Round 1)

Join a breakout room for an engaging workshop. Click here for workshop descriptions. Offered during this time block will be announced soon.

12:00 p.m. Virtual Lunch Rooms

Take a screen break or join fellow volunteers in virtual lunch rooms for casual conversations.

12:30 p.m. Workshop Sessions (Round 2)  

Breakout sessions continue. Click here for workshop descriptions. Offered during this time block will be announced soon.

1:15 p.m. Workshop Sessions (Round 3)  

Final round of breakout sessions. Click here for workshop descriptions. Offered during this time block will be announced soon.

2:00 p.m. Concluding Remarks & Evaluation

  • Rachael Orose, Executive Director

2:30 p.m. Live Zoom Discussions End

Sunday, September 7

Join Words Alive volunteers in San Diego for an in-person morning of workshops and community building at the as we continue to explore the 2025-2026 theme: “Grow Where You Are Planted: The Stories that Root Us.”

Activities will be at the Words Alive offices in Downtown San Diego. Parking lots and nearby street parking are available. You do not need to participate in Saturday’s workshops to join the conversations on Sunday.

9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast

Join us for coffee, bagels, and community!

9:30 a.m. Greetings from Words Alive Leadership

  • Meredith Baratz, Chair of the Board of Directors

  • Rachael Orose, Executive Director

9:45 a.m. Panel Discussion 2: “Grow Where You Are Planted: Stories That Root Us”

Over the course of the 25-26 school year, we’ll be exploring powerful links between literacy, the natural world, and our individual and shared identities. This panel will explore why it is critical for the San Diego community that we develop and promote STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) content to engage readers of all ages.

Panelists:

  • Julia Loman, Senior Director of Programming Planning & Development, Early Head Start/Head Start at Neighborhood House Association, Words Alive Board Member

  • Melinda Casey, Director of Learning & Engagement (facilitator)

10:45 a.m. Break and 1:1 Discussions with Panelists

11:00 a.m. Play-Based / Hands-On Learning Demonstrations

To deepen the connection to, and love of, reading for children, teens, and families we serve - we both read engaging texts and provide opportunities for students to interact with the text. In this session, participants will have the opportunity to engage in demonstrations of play-based or interactive learning activities, tied to thematic anchor texts, planned for the 2025-2026 school year.

11:45 p.m. Concluding Remarks & Evaluation

  • Rachael Orose, Executive Director

12:00 p.m. Academy Concludes

Volunteer Academy 2025: Grow Where You Are Planted, the Stories that Root Us.

Join us September 5th - 7th for the 2025 Volunteer Academy, taking place both online via Zoom and in-person at the Words Alive office, located at 770 Park Blvd San Diego, CA 92101.

Registration opens August 5th. Questions can be directed to [email protected].

 

Workshop Descriptions

 
 

Classroom Management Best Practices

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Presenters:

  • Vichittra Chaleune, Associate Program Director, Words Alive

  • Corie Wightlin, M.Ed, CALC, Words Alive Volunteer

 

Navigating Teacher-Volunteer Relationships

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Presenters:

  • Jeffra Becknell, Retired Teacher, Monarch School and long-time teacher-partner

  • Karen Malin, Retired Teacher & School Administrator and long-time Read Aloud volunteer

  • Vichittra Chaleune, Associate Program Director, Words Alive

 

PUBLIC SPEAKING & WORKSHOP FACILITATION SKILLS

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Presenters:

  • Bijan Nowroozian, Youth Librarian and long-time Adolescent Book Group volunteer

  • Melinda Casey, Director of Learning & Engagement, Words Alive

TELLING THE WORDS ALIVE STORY

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Presenters:

  • Kristina Cox, Lead Volunteer, Social Media Squad, Words Alive and 2022 Words Alive Volunteer of the Year

  • Tracy Dahlkamp, Associate Development Director

  • Kristi Stoza, Institutional Giving Manager

 

How A BOok becomes a Words Alive Title

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Presenters:

  • Cheryl Converse-Rath, Curriculum Writing Volunteer

  • Brian Fidler, Adolescent Book Group Volunteer & Words Alive Board Member

  • Robyn Grand, Community Engagement Manager, Words Alive

  • Xipei Zhuang, Program Coordinator, Words Alive

 

The COMMUnity We SErve

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Presenters:

  • Faryl Kander, Ph.D., Family Program Manager, Words Alive