The snow is finally melting which allowed for my training session to begin my new volunteering assignment at The Reading Connection in Arlington VA. The Reading Connection is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of at-risk children and families by helping them create and sustain literacy-rich environments and motivation for reading. Their mission is accomplished by – Volunteers who read aloud to children at shelters and community centers – Donations that provide children with free, new books to keep – Workshops that help parents encourage reading and literacy development – Trainings of family support workers who promote the importance of reading. The organization has a new program called The Reading Connection’s bilingual (English-Spanish). This will be my area of focus as I maintain my Spanish speaking skills and help young children become interested in maintaining their family’s language skills. I have been working with the local team that owns the program to plan and deliver my next assignment. I have also contacted the Children’s Librarian at my public library so he can help me pick books that are current, interesting and will want make kids read more. Very exciting assignment.
