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