Youth Leaders for Literacy

2006 Grant Winners and Project Summaries

Sydney Steely strives to instill a love of reading in children who live in her rural, economically disadvantaged community. The 15-year-old calls Murfreesboro, Arkansas home. Steely's project targets children ages 5–8. It combines efforts with local businesses, city leaders and media. The teen plans to use the grant money to buy 100 books. Children will gather weekly at the local library. They will initially be issued a complimentary book, and then awarded additional free books as they finish reading. Parents will have to fill out forms to acknowledge that their child either read the book on his or her own or that the parent read to the child. During each session, students will describe the books they read, hopefully sparking the interest of others to read the same book. Steely will hold the children's enthusiasm throughout the project by featuring guest readers, puppet shows, student skits, art projects, parties and prizes that recognize students who read the most books within a seven-week period. Prior to winning the grant, the applicant made arrangements with local businesses and the media to advertise the project. Sydney Steely is an active 4-H Club member. Her inspiration comes from the strong-willed, main character of the book, Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell. Sydney wants to capture that character's drive and use it in every aspect of her life. She is so dedicated to this literacy program that she is willing to pay for parts with her own allowance if needed.

Members of the Smoke Signals Newspaper Staff have adopted an "each one, teach one" philosophy. In September, they created a project called Kid's World. It is based out of their school, Choctawhatchee High in Walton Beach, Florida. They adopted a second-grade class from their feeder school and developed ongoing relationships with the youngsters to promote literacy and provide a positive influence. The 21 applicants want to take that a step further using the Youth Leaders for Literacy Grant. They will visit students weekly, read with them and have the students write book reviews. This process will be photographed and videotaped. At the end of the project, the high school "buddy" will present the grade school "buddy" with a newspaper featuring an article, all the book reviews, photos from the visits, and activities for each book the student read. The entire school will be able to view the videotape. Members of Smoke Signals say they have a unique opportunity to stress the importance of literacy. They say the younger students will think it is "cool" to read and write because the teenagers do.

A self-described "voracious" reader, Jennifer Tao wants to get books to people in disadvantaged and disaster stricken areas. The teen leader is part of the Be the Star You Are program in Moraga, California. The nonprofit organization's goal is to raise self-esteem and improve literacy for women, families and youth. Jennifer chairs their Star Teen Book Review and is the teen coordinator for Operation Hurricane Relief. So far, Be the Star You Are has shipped over $27,000 in books and other resources to the Gulf Coast. Jennifer wants to continue this effort using the Youth Leaders for Literacy Grant. She plans on doing everything from contacting beneficiaries to selecting and packing the books. Ms. Tao will also utilize books already in the organization's possession, but that are inappropriate for distribution. She will price and list them online to raise money for shipping. The young entrepreneur will use the same tactic if grant funds fall short of their efforts. Jennifer tells us, "The joy of delivering knowledge and entertainment is infectious!"

Reaching out, reading and respect. Nine elementary school students hope to realize the three R's using the Youth Leaders for Literacy Grant. They range in age from 7 to 11 and are part of the Emotionally Handicapped class at Moon Lake Elementary School in New Port Richey, Florida. The children want to reach out to youngsters in the pre-kindergarten autistic class, who learn differently just like they do. The older children will use pictures, songs, sign language and a repetitive hearing technique to teach the pre-K students. Over several weeks, they will pair up—spending time together, reading together, and learning how the other communicates. They will share their favorite books and create characters from the book using art supplies. The older students will create an alphabet book using pictures and make books about color for their younger buddies. Together, they will create two large books based on their ability levels. One will go to each class to remind them of the project, their new-found friends, and the mutual respect gained. The oldest child in the group, 11-year old Patrick Bailey, detailed how the project will benefit the community overall: "My project will help kids understand about different disabilities and show how kids with disabilities can really do good things too. It will stop kids from making fun of people with disabilities."

How many students does it take to cook up a great idea, mix in a pinch of fun, and organize a literacy project with some sizzle? Thirty-seven when it comes from the H.E.A.R.T In this case, H.E.A.R.T. stands for Helping Every Achiever Read to Success, a literacy program developed and directed by a student, put on by the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America chapter at Newsome High School in Lithia, Florida . Their goal is to apply an innovative and creative approach to reading. A key ingredient? Integrating culinary arts with literacy. The project targets at-risk, low-income children in grades three and under. Each week, the teens will visit schools, boys and girls clubs and a homeless shelter to read, initiate discussions, make snacks and complete culinary activities related to the books. At the end, the kids will get to be C.O.O.K.S. (Children On a Mission to Output Literacy Skills for Kitchen Success). They will put together scrumptious treats as long as they promise to read recipes and participate in group activities. Participants will walk away with a chef's hat, apron and other prizes. The project makes your mouth water and entices children to become lifelong readers—never quenching their thirst for knowledge.

The United Volunteer Service Club of Monmouth, Illinois is launching eight weeks of events that stress the importance of reading to youngsters. There are 23 high school students in the project they call Seuss on the Loose—United Through Reading. It's a fitting theme since NEA's Read Across America celebrates the birth of famed children's books author, Dr. Seuss. The group wants to make learning fun by reading great books and hosting events and contests. They mapped out daily projects and challenges with an emphasis on a particular subject each week. The topics they will tackle include reading with family, jobs that use reading, and how to get an early start through reading. Members of the club will incorporate activities that involve parents—making literacy a family affair that continues beyond two months.

From black and white printed pages, to the big screen, to real life, a California Girl Scout Troop feels the Chronicles of Narnia books teach core values. The Joshua Tree Council in Bakersfield wants to create a curriculum-based program and book club for foster care children. In their application, the scouts made a profound statement. “In the Chronicles of Narnia books, the main characters are disempowered in their real lives and learn to become empowered and unite. We feel that this book is a wonderful book to help many children in foster care systems who feel disempowered by the war in their own worlds to find inner strength and freedom in reading.” The project involves seven members ranging in age from 13 to 17. To administer the program, they will partner with Aspira, an organization that provides foster homes, adoption services, mental health services, and that helps at-risk families stay together. The Girl Scouts reached out to Disney for help in creating specific programs for the book club. They will use the $500 from the Youth Leaders for Literacy Grant to buy books so that each child can have one to go along with the curriculum.

They dream of safe streets, opportunity and a quiet place where young people and their imaginations can blossom. Stadium School Youth Dreamers, Inc. of Baltimore, Maryland, will use the Youth Leaders for Literacy Grant to create a Saturday Book Buddy Club. Participants will read novels, have discussions, develop creative group projects based on the books and even meet an author. The program will pair a young person with an adult. They will read and do activities together. Members of Youth Dreamers say many adults have negative impressions of youth in the community. This project provides an opportunity to break down walls and bridge the gap between the youth and adults. Youth Dreamers boasts its own mission statement, bylaws and board. They recently researched and identified a house for their youth center. They purchased the property, had it rezoned and are working with an architect to design the house.

They came to the United States to fulfill the American dream. They work 12-hour shifts daily to provide for their families, leaving little time to read to or with their children. Now the children are making strides to help their parents and themselves. Twenty-five young people who immigrated to Frederick, Maryland, from Burma, Asia, are creating a Family Literacy Project (FLiP).  The group, made up of kids from both grade school and high school, will have several major activities to encourage literacy and improve knowledge of the English language. Everyone will learn how to get a library card, and they are required to help at least one other family member get a library card. Students will visit the library with their parents at least once month, which is quite a task when you consider working parents’ schedules. More than 60 percent of the parents work for the same company. FLiP will have a contest and set daily reading goals. They will overcome transportation challenges by paying volunteers a $3 stipend to drive children to and from activities. FLiP members are excited to be a part of this youth-driven literacy program. “This project will help us to learn to be future leaders of our community. This project will make our parents proud.”  Burma is located in South Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal between Bangladesh and Thailand. It is one of the poorest countries in the world.

Twenty-one teens have virtually adopted a nearby Head Start program by donating toys, clothes and food. Now they want to help mold young minds and instill a lifelong love of reading. Members of Future Educators of America (FEA) attend Atholton High School (AHS) in Columbia, Maryland. Every Wednesday, 3- and 4- year-olds from the Head Start Center come to the high school for enrichment activities. There is one thing the older students believe is missing—a children’s library. They plan to use the Youth Leaders for Literacy Grant to buy books unaccessible to underprivileged young people. AHS students will do everything from ordering and organizing books to managing the library and helping children checking out books. The teens will host read alouds and organize a visit by an author. FEA will ask the entire student body at Atholton High to donate their favorite children’s book in honor of their mother or favorite teacher. The teen organizers aren’t just relying on the grant. They also plan to funnel an additional $150 into the library and ask the school to donate book shelves. This is their way of giving back to their community and leading by example.

Five members of the Project LEAD Community Service Organization want to take children where they may have only dreamed of going—around the world. The kids don’t have to pay a cent. They only have to pack their thinking caps, creativity and eagerness to learn. LEAD members in Troy, Michigan, are spearheading a project called Imagination Airlines: Read to Travel the Globe. They will make weekly visits to the Grace Centers of Hope rescue shelter in Pontiac, Michigan, to work with underprivileged children in the Kids Clubhouse program and Teddy Bear Express Day Care Center. The teens will convert the center into an “Imagination Airport.” Children will get “tickets” to guide them on a scavenger hunt from booth to booth. Each booth will include crafts, food, objects and activities from a specific country. After visiting a booth, the child will receive a “guidebook” and “passport.” The guidebook contains facts about different countries. The passport will be used to record the number of minutes the children read that day. LEAD members will combine the creative effort with snacks, prizes and book drives at their school. They hope the project will utilize the power of reading to set flight to children’s imaginations while introducing them to diverse cultures around the world.

Reese Haller wears several hats: avid reader, writer, published author and motivational speaker.  Did we mention he’s only nine years old? The fourth grader is from Bay City, Michigan. He wrote a chapter book last summer called, “Fred the Mouse – The Adventures Begin.”  He also has a DVD called “The Traits of Writing through the Eyes of a Young Author.”  Haller has been going to schools to talk about the importance of reading and writing and how they helped him publish his own book. The young author wants to expand his outreach, but transportation can be tough for a nine year old! That’s where the Youth Leaders for Literacy Grant comes in. Haller will use the money to get to speaking engagements at 71 area schools.  There, he will read to elementary school students in grades two through four. Reese will also leave behind an autographed copy of his book, in hopes of inspiring others.

Reading, writing and a cup of joe. Sixty-eight members of the Young Scholars Community Initiative in Utica, New York, are combining those elements to reach out to low-income teens who live in the Cornhill neighborhood of Utica. Members of Young Scholars attend Proctor High School. They want to create a teen-run coffee shop that will function as a community arts center and performance venue as well. They have already raised $2,500. The Youth Leaders for Literacy Grant will take them a step closer to their goal. Organizers plan to bring students and faculty from Hamilton College into the community weekly to host literacy-based workshops and performances. The kick-off event will feature performances by poets, rappers, hip hop artists and authors. In the following weeks, organizers will offer workshops on writing and performing spoken-word poetry, rhymes and raps. They will also have an open mike night, song lyric writing workshop and a final performance for prizes. The teens feel this program provides a unique avenue to discuss literacy in a “cool” way.

Barbara Fenig plans to combine literacy and recovery efforts. After visiting New Orleans, the 17-year-old from New York City fell in love with the southern city. She wants to create a reading related service project that will get books to libraries devastated by Hurricane Katrina or overwhelmed with storm evacuees. Fenig wants to organize weekly town hall meetings through the Calhoun School, where she is a junior. During these forums, one student will read aloud a short story from a collection called, “My New Orleans: Ballads to the Big Easy by Her Sons, Daughters and Lovers.” They will collect books each week and distribute them later. Fenig hopes the effort will promote literacy and remind her community to continue to support the recovery in the South.

Get R.E.A.D.Y., get set, go! A 17-year old senior is leading a literacy projected called R.E.A.D.Y. (Reading Is an Excellent Activity for Dads and Youth). It combines reading and family interaction. Pariesa Eggleston attends New Castle High School in New Castle, Pennsylvania. She envisions partnering with Lawrence County Social Services’ Project D.A.D. program. It’s designed to enhance bonding and relationships between fathers/caregivers and children up to age 12. Eggleston plans to organize trips to the library, read alouds, creative activities related to stories, meals and contests. The organizer will take pictures of families and give them a memory book to remind them their time together.

Kayla Tucker is using her project to promote literacy and to teach elementary and high school students about the Asian culture. She is 14 years old and a 10th grader at Coventry High School in Coventry, Rhode Island. Her eight-week plan includes a sit-down with an author. The older kids will have an opportunity to draw manga books and dress like manga characters. Manga is the Japanese word for comic book. Others will participate in a workshop with a renowned Japanese storyteller to hear folk tales, learn how to tell stories and learn how to inspire others. Students will read Kamishibai cards at local day care centers to children. Kamishibai cards are part of a tradition on long, Asian picture storytelling. The front has a picture and the back has original Japanese text with the English translation. High school students will also read, discuss and interpret works by Chinese philosopher Confucius.

The Girl Power Community Service Group will take to stages across their area to read aloud and act out original stories, nursery rhymes, fairy tales and Dr. Seuss books. Their audience will be preschool, kindergarten and first-grade children at numerous day care and after school programs. Through art, they hope to motivate children to get interested in reading and become avid readers. Each member of the Memphis, Tennessee, group will help compose music and dances for the existing books. They will also write and illustrate an original story that will be bound, decorated and distributed to the children. They also plan to send these books to the Memory Project, which helps get books to children in Uganda, Africa.

Members of the Johnson County Middle School Beta Club will launch a program called “Authors and Radio Readers.”  The group is from Butler, Tennessee. They will write and illustrate a book aimed at elementary schoolchildren. The book will be professionally published. The students will distribute the books to five area schools for students to read in the classroom. The Beta Club convinced a local radio station to allow members to read their books on-air once a week between Read Across America Day (March 2) and Youth Service America’s National Youth Service Days (April 21-23). The students will also read to youngsters in classrooms and donate their book to each of the elementary and middle school public libraries.

When you have nothing but the clothes on your back, sometimes a book can provide comfort. Sixteen-year-old students, Kirsten Horger and Chandler Tyler, volunteer with an organization called HomeAgain. It helps homeless men, women and children in the Richmond, Virginia, area. The Espigh family shelter offers temporary shelter for women and children. Too often, the teens have seen the confusion and fear on the faces of children entering the facility. They want to create books to get the kids comfortable and familiar with their surroundings and opportunities at the shelter. One book will simply offer pictures for children too young to read. The others will have pictures of the facility and people, along with words. The teens will get help from their peers through the Leadership Center atJames River High School. They will read to children the first week, then progress the project by taking pictures, interviewing, writing and taking the pages for professional printing. The teens will sponsor a parent-child read-along and a party to celebrate the finished product. Horger and Tyler’s goal is to welcome and support the children and their parents. “These children arrive from a variety of unsettling circumstances. We want each family to feel like they can learn to love their temporary home while they plan and work toward finding their own housing.”

Eugenia Solomon will use her Youth Leaders for Literacy Grant to help at-risk students who struggle with basic reading. The 21-year-old college sophomore lives in Washington, D.C. Her project will feature five weekly creative writing workshops at DC WritersCorps. Students between 13 and 17 will participate in local readings, poetry competitions and cultural activities in addition to creating their own anthologies. The teens will receive rigorous creative writing training and will be expected to write, edit, publish and read their writings. Solomon wants teens to walk away from the program with a better sense of self, vocabulary and a better outlook on writing and literature.