Our Literacy Initiative
Through our Reading Never Stops literacy initiative, WIF focuses on early readers (Kindergarten and Grade 1) and early transitional readers (children who are transitioning from reading picture books and simple texts to becoming self-regulating, independent readers of more difficult texts – Grades 2-3) who are of African descent. We provide opportunities for these students to:
- Learn to love reading
- Find role models in books that “look like them” regarding race and gender
- Be exposed to topics that can inspire an interest in travel and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics).
When we set this initiative in motion, our primary geographical focus was the underserved neighborhood of Sunnyside in Houston, TX. Sunnyside has often been labeled the most dangerous neighborhood in Houston, and in a 2018 report, NeighborhoodScout.com named it the 6th most dangerous neighborhood in the U.S. Between 2006 and 2016, the community lost 200 businesses. The poverty rate there is approximately 35%—much higher than the Houston average of 22%.
How It All Began
We successfully launched Reading Never Stops in Houston, Texas in June 2017.
In addition to donating 27 books to the Put It In A Book Foundation for a back-to-school giveaway and partnering in a Storytime event at the Children’s Museum of Houston, we joined forces with the Houston Public Library (HPL) to hold read-a-thons at the Johnson Branch in Sunnyside in 2017 and 2019. Our goal for the read-a-thons was to stop “Summer Slide” – the learning deficit that occurs when children, particularly low-income children, don’t read or engage in other educational activities over summer vacation.
People & Pajamas 2017
The 2017 and 2019 read-a-thons at the Johnson Branch of the Houston Public Library served a total of 108 children and teens and 32 parents. Eighteen adults – community leaders, library staff, and others – read to participating children, who took over 300 books home to start home libraries. These events successfully increased awareness of the library as a safe and enjoyable place for youth and encouraged community participation and involvement in library activities. They also encouraged families that aren’t already reading together to begin a new tradition at home.
Children attending the read-a-thons were enrolled in HPL’s Summer Reading Program. Through this program, HPL’s current mission is to encourage children to read at least 20 minutes a day.
WIF’s arts and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education Strategic Focus Areas were incorporated into both read-a-thons, with kids personalizing bookmarks through coloring (arts) as well as creating and manipulating “slime” (STEAM education).
Funds from WIF’s Dow Chemical’s Dollars for Doers grant supported the STEAM education activities for the 2019 event.
Bloom Academy Charter School
Courtney Sales reading at 2019 People & Pajamas
To date, WIF has donated 1002 books to Bloom Academy to support the 94 children enrolled in the kindergarten through Grade 2 classes. We have also donated 150 books to Memphis Merit Academy – Bloom’s “sister school” in Memphis, TN. We take special care to select titles that portray representational race and gender role models and characters that combat stereotypes and show young readers the diversity of opportunities available to them in this world.
The books that WIF donated to these schools have been used to build classroom libraries. Future book contributions to this school will be used to build home libraries for students.
Virtual Story Time
On October 9, 2020, Dr. Monique Y. Wells, WIF’s Founder and CEO, joined Nazia Frank, Match Events Coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters Houston (BBBS), Brian Weisfeld, founder of The Startup Squad, and Rosemary Nwaosuagwu, an 8-year-old Houstonian who has published two books through her company called Books by Rossy, to record an “Ask the Entrepreneur” encounter on Zoom.
(The Startup Squad is an organization that empowers girls aged 7-17 years with an entrepreneurial mindset so they can realize their potential, whatever their passions may be.)
Weisfeld, Rosemary, and Dr. Wells answered questions submitted in advance by BBBS members and Rosemary read from her book entitled Lily’s Favorite Color.
Top L to R: Nazia Frank and Monique Y. Wells
Bottom L to R: Brian Weisfeld and Rosemary Nwaosuagwu
The launch of Virtual Story Time has been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
When we are able to launch, we will organize sessions where Rosemary and other children who author children’s books will read to the students at Bloom Academy, Memphis Merit Academy in Memphis, TN, and other schools. The schools that the child authors attend will be invited to participate as well.
Through a collaboration with The Startup Squad, we plan to include children who have written and published children’s books in our list of authors.
In addition to helping the students who listen to the stories, this program helps the authors who read their stories develop presentation skills such as clear articulation, mastering performance anxiety, and audience relations.
Literacy and STEAM Education
WIF has included STEAM education in its literacy events and vice versa since we were founded. As mentioned above, attendees at our 2017 and 2019 read-a-thons at the Houston Public Library enjoyed STEAM activities during the course of the day.
On June 20, 2017, the Children’s Museum of Houston hosted a session for parents to bring their kids to talk with WIF Founder & CEO, Dr. Monique Y. Wells, about veterinary medicine as a career. This was followed by a story time session where Dr. Wells read to little ones and their parents about the different things one can do as a veterinarian.
The museum operates a Parent Resource Center in collaboration with the Houston Public Library. It displayed 10 children’s books about veterinary medicine that it acquired from the library at the story time session and made toy stethoscopes available for participants.
Little girls and their moms attended this event. The kids enjoyed identifying animals in the book Dr. Wells read to them. One little girl shared her stethoscope with her mom, placing the “business end” of the instrument on a stuffed animal while her mom listened for the heartbeat.
Child using toy stethoscope
As our Youth Veterinarian Initiative grows, we plan to incorporate literacy activities into the program. Current ideas include a virtual book club and virtual story time sessions, with pre-vet undergraduate students, veterinary students, and veterinarians reading to youth.
