Words Alive recently welcomed Ivette Rubio (she/her/ella) as a part-time Program Coordinator.
Ivette Rubio grew up in Southern California where she studied Child Development at Whittier College.
As a college student, she was involved in different efforts towards achieving educational equity: after school program tutor, classroom teacher assistant, community organizer and advocate, and a college mentorship program coordinator. After graduating, she moved to Boston to earn her M.A. in Elementary Education from Boston College through the Donovan Urban Teaching Scholars Program. She had the joy of teaching math and science to curious middle school students for six years.
In 2020, she started her family and moved back to Southern California. Ivette has worked locally and nationally for non-profits expanding STEAM access for youth and empowering parents by navigating the education system. Ivette now resides in San Diego where she enjoys observing the animals at the zoo, taking dance classes, and trying new foods at local small businesses.
Now a few words from Ivette:
What brought you to Words Alive?
I first learned about Words Alive when I worked at United Way of San Diego County and was intrigued by the caring team members providing free books to students. In the fall of 2025, my schedule opened up and I jumped in as a volunteer. I facilitated the fall Let’s Read Program with families in Spanish. I enjoyed being a part of families’ journey in building a positive relationship with reading, so when the opportunity came to join the team, I applied.
What are you most excited about in this role?
I am excited to be a part of the Family Literacy Program team at Words Alive, now on the other side as a Program Coordinator. There is such a dedicated team here of staff and volunteers all working collectively to put together and provide engaging literacy experiences for children and families. I hope to bring my program management and classroom experience to support our organizational goals and mission.
Why do you care about literacy?
Literacy is a social justice issue and learning through play is one of the most effective ways for kids to grow. I am happy to be a part of the movement to address the literacy crisis, by getting more books in the hands of families and creating joyful reading experiences for families to enjoy together.
What books do you recommend?
As a mom, my current recommendations are family-friendly. I love Something, Someday by Amanda Gorman – a great children’s book about how we can take small steps now to make our communities a better place. We have also been enjoying the InvestiGators graphic novel series by John Patrick Green, reading along as the main characters solve fun and silly mysteries!
