Archive for February, 2009
As one of RIF’s largest and longest-running programs, BookSpring gets recognized this month for its continued overall excellence. Carol wrote about its recent reorganization last fall. The RIF program under BookSpring helps provide 45,500 students in the Austin area with books. This month, BookSpring just completed its fourth annual “read-a-thon” in which students collect pledges for pages read through the program and donate the money to BookSpring. The event creates a great combination of reading motivation support for the program! Read-a-thon organizer Donna Emery deserves special recognition in putting together this huge effort to bring more books to more children in Austin.
Henry T. Dunbar
RIF Director of Communications
February 27th, 2009
(From left to right.) FESTIBA press conference held at Dustin Michael Sekula Public Library. Stephen Leach speaking at the FESTIBA press conference. Traditional Mexican dancers performing at the press conference.
Hello, I am Stephen Leach, director of government relations and community outreach for RIF. I have been involved with RIF’s South Texas initiative since its inception and was honored to represent RIF at a press conference announcing the University of Texas-Pan Americans’ Festival of International Books and Art or FESTIBA, scheduled for March 22-28. According to Dahlia Guerra, dean of the college of arts and humanities at UTPA, FESTIBA “will celebrate the arts and humanities, encourage literacy, and broaden cultural awareness through books, poetry, drama, lectures, musical concerts, art exhibits, presentations in design, dance, theater, films, and much more”. Last year, numerous RIF programs in the region conducted distributions during FESTIBA week. We also participated in Community Day, the culminating activity on the main lawn at UTPA, which featured a main stage with musical and dance performances, food and craft booths, and various pavilions highlighting the work of artists, musicians, and actors.
The press conference was held at the Dustin Michael Sekula Public Library in Edinburg, Texas. After an overview of FESTIBA by Dahlia, Edinburg Mayor Joe Ochoa welcomed everyone to the city. John Edwards, vice president of UTPA, gave some opening remarks followed by a video message by Congressman Rubén Hinojosa, (TX-15) who has been instrumental in supporting RIF in this region and FESTIBA. Next Steven Schneider, professor at UTPA, talked about the Big Read grant they were awarded and the feature book for FESTIBA, Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me, Ultima. I talked about RIF’s role for FESTIBA including more RIF schools conducting book distributions and guest readers from the South Texas Literacy Coalition. I also invited everyone to visit the RIF tent on Community Day. I was followed by Laura Hinojosa, President of the South Texas Literacy Coalition and Peter Dabrowski, associate professor at UTPA. The crowd of about 50, including news media, was treated to a performance by one of the phenomenal UTPA Mariachi groups and dancers. It was quite a sample of what to expect during the week of FESTIBA!
Stephen
February 25th, 2009
(From left to right.) Pat Westerfield and Matthew Wolf at Whittier Elementary School. Pat Westerfield, Shane Yost, and Matthew Wolf (in hat).
Hi, I am Matthew Wolf, a web designer new to the RIF team. As a RIF employee, I had heard a lot about RIF’s DC Initiative, but had not been to a book distribution, or even been around elementary-school-aged children since I myself was one. I didn’t really know quite what to expect when I volunteered to help with the February 11 distribution.
In short, I had a blast! I was assigned to Whittier Elementary in northeast D.C. Upon arrival, two other RIF employees and I were greeted by the school’s RIF coordinator, Kathryn, who gave us a warm welcome and thanked us for being there. Together we set up the distribution and motivational activity tables, when the intercom chimed in with the morning announcements, including that today was RIF Day!
Soon, the children began coming into the distribution room. After they picked out their books, we directed them to participate in the activities and asked if they would like us to read their new books with them! Being there among those kids brought back a lot of memories about what it was like to be in elementary school. The difference, of course, was that I had an adult perspective and realized how important it is for children to be excited about reading. I was fascinated by what they were interested in. On a couple of occasions I simply felt like a kid again–a student talking to my classmates at the activities table.
Between the parents, teachers, and RIF staff, the message to the children was clear: they need to read to succeed. Most rewarding for me was just seeing how happy and grateful the kids were when they chose their book. Because of the great experience I had, I’m really looking forward to future distributions!
Matt
February 24th, 2009
(From left to right.) Margaret Doughty of Literacy Powerline; Carol Rasco; Laura Hinojosa, President of The South Texas Literacy Coalition; Lester Meriwether, President of Literacy Texas
On February 19, The South Texas Literacy Coalition (STLC) met at the Mid-Valley campus of South Texas College in Weslaco for a quarterly meeting. The Coalition’s officers, who were elected in December 2008, were pleased to preside over their first meeting. RIF is proud to have been a facilitator in the formation of this Coalition and looks forward to continued work with the members.
At this February meeting updates were heard regarding (1) the planning for train-the-trainer sessions to be conducted by RIF over the coming months throughout the region; (2) the schedule for FESTIBA week and the literacy booth, which is underwritten by Macy’s, to be implemented by RIF and other coalition partners on Community Day; and (3) the creation of a website for the Coalition.
Lester Meriwether, who is president of Literacy Texas, presented to the Coalition and invited them to join his organization, which is the state literacy coalition offering training, networking, and advocacy support. Lester was accompanied by Margaret Doughty of Literacy Powerline, a national organization that seeks to create 100 percent literacy through 100 percent community engagement. Both visitors were highly complimentary of the progress this new South Texas Coalition is making and the solid activities being carried out through the region. Next up…FESTIBA in late March!
Happy Reading!
Carol
February 23rd, 2009
In addition to a big smile across my face each time I see the children on this cover, I am always fascinated by the art. I understand from the note inside the book that the illustrations by Wendy Anderson Halperin were created with a box of 120 Crayola crayons, 22 Crayola Twistables, and a box of 30 Swiss Neocolor I crayons by Caran d’ache on top of copies of pencil drawings…Isn’t it great?!
Submit your cover story here!
Happy Reading!
Carol
February 23rd, 2009
As I mentioned last week, RIF’s Programs of the Month award highlights some of the best programs and coordinators across the country. Our second February program recognizes the extraordinary work of Maryann Farnham, a RIF volunteer in Peru, Ind. She and RIF go way back, at least 32 years, when Maryann participated in Peru Public Library’s very first RIF book distribution. At the time, Maryann had no idea that she would go on to become Peru Public Library’s Assistant Director and RIF Account Coordinator! Maryann’s RIF program was able to engage more than 1,100 parents this year which truly has an impact on children’s literacy in this community. Maryann deserves recognition for a fantastic program with excellence in promoting children’s literacy with enthusiasm, creativity, and with a focus on community and parental involvement.
Henry T. Dunbar
RIF Director of Communications
February 20th, 2009
Join RIF at this year’s National Center for Family Literacy conference at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, March 1-2, in Orlando, Fla. This conference presents endless opportunities for anyone in the field of literacy to connect with fellow professionals, experts, and leaders dedicated to multigenerational learning. This year’s conference has been planned with a critical focus: how to help families thrive with rapidly changing demands and the current economy. More than ever, families need effective tools and resources.
RIF’ers are excited about hearing the keynote presentations by actor Henry Winkler, best-selling author Greg Mortenson (Three Cups of Tea), and famed illustrator Peter Reynolds (The North Star). RIF staff attending the conference would be delighted to connect with you while there. Let Rebecca, Nikki, and Nia know you are attending by dropping us a note; perhaps you all can arrange to visit while in sunny Florida!
Happy Reading!
Carol
February 19th, 2009
Hi, it’s Jonathan Hedgpeth again. In my last post I wrote about the Bookmobile. Today I’d like to share with you another important piece of RIF’s culture and history. Every so often I have the opportunity to speak with a RIF Coordinator whose fortitude and determination are the stuff of legend. Norma Graham is one such Coordinator. Her dedication to her community and the children she serves is truly a wonder to behold. Not only did she survive Hurricane Katrina’s wrath, but she ensured the survival of her RIF program as well.
Norma Graham, a retired teacher of 34 years, is a Coordinator for RIF’s Gulf Coast Community Action Program in Gulf Port, Miss. She speaks in a rhythmic cadence, punctuated by deliberate pauses, and reanimated by the swampy vowels of the bayou laden low country. She told me of how, in late August of 2005, the gulf coast was struck very hard by the strong east arm of Hurricane Katrina. A forced evacuation had been in effect and most families fled north to the Jackson, and Memphis metro areas. Those families would eventually return to find their communities razed. The devastation, as we know, was overwhelming. Forty gulf coast libraries were destroyed including the main public library of Gulf Port. Additionally, every school on the coast was substantially damaged by what she refers to now simply as, ‘The Storm.’
Shortly after returning, Norma began to recognize some familiar little faces, amidst the temporary settlements of FEMA trailers. In the weeks following the storm as families slowly began to trickle back to the gulf coast, they increasingly sought the familiar in the wake of such radical transformations. RIF kids, upon recognizing Norma would barrage her with a chorus of inquiries about when they would receive their RIF books. She told of how their enthusiasm for reading was stronger than ever! Many of these families resolved to move away from the devastated areas and had only returned to salvage what they could.
After having received an emergency contract extension from RIF, Norma held her first post Katrina RIF distribution on the beleaguered gulf coast in February of 2006. With joyous intonations she recalled the children’s delight at the distribution, “They were so happy to see the books, and very anxious to choose their own book.” Many of those youngsters would soon be gone from the home they had once known in Gulf Port. Of the few possessions that they took with them, were the books that they received at the first post-Katrina book distribution on the gulf coast. This month we celebrate the vigilance of Norma Graham and we remember the children of the storm–wherever they may be.
Jonathan
February 19th, 2009
Recently my friends at First Book gave me a copy of That Book Woman. As I read this fiction book based on The Pack Horse Library Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), I was reminded of the recent entry on Rasco From RIF by Jonathan Hedgpeth sharing with us RIF bookmobiles old and new. This book for kids ages 4-8 by Heather Henson and illustrated by award-winner David Small shares how the WPA hired women to take books by horseback to distant parts of the Appalachian Mountains. Share this form of “traveling books” with your own children whether at home or in the classroom. Can you share other stories of unusual distribution methods for books—past or present?
Happy Reading!
Carol
February 18th, 2009
On Valentine’s Day the world of children’s literature learned about a new set of “winners”! The 2008 Cybils were announced! The Cybils are a series of book awards given by children’s and young adult book bloggers. Now in their third year, the group is comprised of 90+ bloggers who write about children’s and teen’s books every day. The Cybils have only two criteria: literary merit and kid appeal; and they open their nominations to the public. Check out this year’s winners as well as the process for Cybils and be prepared to nominate your favorites in October 2009!
Happy Reading!
Carol
February 17th, 2009
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