Literacy Partners
WNBA promotes literacy in a variety of ways on the
international, national, and local level. Brief descriptions of
WNBA's organization-wide and chapter-based initiatives are
provided.
U.S. Fund for UNICEF
As a proactive UN DPI/NGO since 1959, WNBA's national focus is on
the U.S. Fund for UNICEF--and by extension, UNICEF itself. This
decision makes sense considering the efforts of WNBA's former
DPI/NGO representative Claire Friedland during preparations for the
International Year of the Child Conference in 1978. It is ratified
by WNBA's current emphasis on children's and YA literacy. Known as
the "citizens' voice" for UNICEF in the United States, the mission
of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF is "to promote the survival,
protection, and development of all children worldwide through
fundraising, advocacy, and education." Most familiarly, it supports
UNICEF by selling greeting cards and gift products, and by
encouraging children (and adults!) to "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF"
in October (National UNICEF Month), and supports other fund-raising
efforts throughout the year; The U. S. Fund keeps Americans
informed about the abhorrent conditions facing the world's
children; urges Congress to support "children-first" programs; and
raises awareness among youth through school and campus visits, and
educational materials for teachers.
One of WNBA's objectives is to create awareness of UNICEF
"high-priority" programs such as the "Back to School" and women's
literacy textbook initiatives in Afghanistan, and the "Operation
Child Survive" emergency effort in Iraq through distribution of
informational pieces to WNBA members. Learn more about UNICEF
(www.unicef.org) and the U.S.
Fund for UNICEF (www.unicefusa.org).
Library of Congress Reading Promotion Partners
WNBA is a Reading Promotion Partner with The Center for the Book at
the Library of Congress (www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook). The Center for the
Book was established in 1977 to use the resources and prestige of
the Library of Congress to promote books, reading, libraries, and
literacy.
Within the Library, the Center is a focal point for celebrating
the legacy of books and the printed word. Outside the Library, the
Center works closely with other organizations, such as WNBA, to
foster understanding of the vital role of books, reading, libraries
and literacy in society.
Now numbering more than 95, the Center's Reading Promotion
Partners are mostly national or international organizations that
promote books, reading, literacy or libraries. To review the full
list of Partners, visit www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/partners.html.
Since 1984, 50 states and the District of Columbia have
established statewide book centers that are affiliated with the
Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Each state center
uses themes established by the Center and develops activities that
promote its' state's book culture and literary heritage, sponsoring
projects and hosting events that call attention to the importance
of books, reading, literacy, and libraries. A full list of State
Center Affiliates is provided at www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/stacen.html.
Visit the main Library of Congress web page at www.loc.gov. Learn more about The Center
for the Book and its affiliates, partners, themes, projects, news,
events, and publications at www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook.
Read Across America
This year the WNBA joins the National Education Association to
celebrate a Read Across America Day of "Seussentennial" proportions
as we commemorate Dr. Seuss' 100th birthday on March 2, 2004!
To honor the good doctor and celebrate the fun and value of
reading, NEA, with support from its partners like the WNBA, and NEA
affiliates and members, will bring America under one hat "the
famous red and white stovepipe of the Cat" for a flurry (or furry)
of reading excitement on March 2nd.
To accomplish this mass bedecking, NEA is encouraging events all
across the country where groups who typically wear hats for their
profession or for fun can exchange their regular hat for a reading
hat "the red and white stovepipe of the Cat" and spend time reading
to or with children.
Now in its seventh year, NEA's Read Across America Day generates
enthusiasm for reading nationwide and focuses the country's
attention on how important it is to motivate children to read in
addition to helping them master basic skills. The 2.7 million
members of the National Education Association are committed to
advancing the cause of public education and driving home the
message that reading is important and fun! Reading opens the doors
to achievement, and Read Across America Day celebrations "whether
large or small" are crucial building blocks toward making the joys
of reading an integral part of every child's life.
At www.nea.org/readacross you'll
find national, state and local contacts, program information, book
lists, games, event ideas and an electronic version of the Read
Across America Resource Kit to help you plan for the March 2nd
festivities and to get involved in year-round reading fun in your
community.
WNBA Chapter Initiatives
Boston
The Boston chapter of the Women's National Book Association's
Teen Literacy Outreach Project provides books and writing supplies
to adolescents in group homes, shelters, and detention centers in
the greater-Boston area. Since the program's inception in 1999, we
have focused primarily on building a library for the Metro Center,
a Massachusetts Department of Youth Services detention center for
males and females from 12- to 19-years old.
When WNBA/Boston became involved with the program, the only
out-of-class activities available were television, board or
computer games, outdoor basketball scrimmages (when weather
allowed), or crafts (if offered). The teens had little to read
other than magazines or an occasional paperback. No library
existed. Thanks to the generosity of Boston chapter members and
friends, the Metro Center now has hundreds of books, writing
supplies, and a library cart.
Boston chapter member Susan Manning, who initiated and
coordinates the Teen Literacy Outreach Project, is currently
forging relationships with additional programs for teens who do not
have the normal resources of a public or private school. The
project continues the Boston Chapter's long-standing commitment to
supporting literacy. In the past, the chapter has donated to
reading readiness and other programs sponsored by charities and
public libraries in the Boston area.
Nashville
The Nashville chapter has strong ties to BOOK 'EM!, RIF, the
Nashville Adult Literacy Council, NashvilleREAD, and other literacy
agencies.
During the 1997-1998 membership year, the Nashville chapter
sponsored several public programs to promote reading to area
children. "Books change the world" was the theme of several
Saturday discussions at local libraries, and successful Nashville
women from different walks of life shared the many ways that
reading had made a difference in their lives.
The Nashville chapter has been a big supporter of BOOK 'EM!
since its inception in 1989. Since then, WNBA members have
enthusiastically donated hundreds of books, given generous amounts
of money to support our programs, and served countless hours as
reading volunteers in local classrooms on a regular basis, as well
as during Read Me Week in the spring. The back page (above the
fold) of our newsletter is devoted just to BOOK 'EM! news.
New York
The New York City Chapter of WNBA has been actively involved
since the mid-1990s to help promote reading and literacy throughout
the city. Whether acting as individual tutors or guest speakers, or
by donating books and other educational materials, members of the
chapter have sustained a lively, ongoing dialogue about reading and
writing skills with those who represent schools, tutorial programs,
and community groups.
The chapter has focused on providing private tutors to the East
Harlem Tutorial Program (EHTP), which services 450 students (K-12)
annually throughout New York City. With the help of the Children's
Book Council (www.cbcbooks.com), the chapter was
also able to donate hundreds of books to the EHTP library. For the
past forty years, EHTP has been instrumental in placing its
students in excellent colleges and seeing them through, even past
college graduation--students who at one time were determined to
drop out of high school. See their program at www.ehtp.org
In another educational program, the NYC chapter worked for two
years with PENCIL by sending members into public school classrooms
to speak on special topics and take questions and comments from
their student audiences. Long-range projects also emerged from
these occasions, centering on elementary and middle school
students.
Finally, members are taking advantage of an opportunity to
volunteer as readers to disabled children and adults at the United
Cerebral Palsy (UCP) facility. UCP carefully coordinates outside
activities and learning opportunities with the specialized needs of
their students in order to maximize learning benefits. Their
programs and services appear at www.ucpnyc.org.
Washington, DC
WNBA's Washington chapter supports various literacy programs and
causes in the Washington, DC area, including The Reading Connection
(www.thereadingconnection.org),
a literacy outreach program for children in housing crisis, and
Turning the Page (turningthepage.org), an
organization that provides resources to support the role of public
schools in improving the reading skills and educational well-being
of DC schoolchildren.
The Washington chapter also co-sponsors programs with The Center
for the Book at the Library of Congress (www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/),
which promotes books, reading, libraries, and literacy, and
participates in the Library's annual National Book Festival
(www.loc.gov/bookfest) to
promote reading in the Festival's Let's Read America Pavilion.
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