Building a Culture of Reading: Denine Torr and Alicia Levi on Literacy Access

[00:00:00] Speaker 11: Welcome. Today, I'm bringing together two leaders who have spent their careers thinking about how we create stronger communities through literacy. Rejoining the show for a second time is Alicia Levy, president and CEO of Reading Is Fundamental, and new to the show, Deneen Torre, vice president of corporate social responsibility and philanthropy at Dollar General, and executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.

[00:00:26] Deneen has helped lead Dollar General's longstanding commitment to literacy, expanding access to books, educational resources, and literacy opportunities for children, families, and communities across the country. So welcome, Alicia and Deneen

[00:00:40] Speaker 12: Good morning. It's lovely to be here.

[00:00:43] Speaker 13: Erin, thank you for having me back.

[00:00:45] I'm so excited to be here, and I am beyond thrilled to be here with one of my favorite people, Deneen. I tell her this every time I talk to her and see her. I think she is just an inspirational leader in the literacy space, and we are lucky to partner with her. So thanks for joining me.

[00:01:01] Speaker 11: Yes. So let's start personally with both of you.

[00:01:05] And Alicia, I'm gonna turn it to you first 'cause I'm hoping to learn something new about you, even though we've known each other for quite a while. literacy is at the center of the work that you lead, but what role has reading and literacy played in your own life? was there a person, a book, or an experience that shaped the way that you think about your work today?

[00:01:22] Speaker 13: So thanks for asking me that question, Erin. I will share something that you don't know about me. When I was in fourth grade, living in a small farm town in central Illinois that had one stoplight and not even a McDonald's, I won the Battle of the Books. in fourth grade, in my ponytails, I went down to the public library and competed with every one of the other, you know, very few number of kids that lived in my town

[00:01:48] and I won the Battle of the Books. And when I got this job, when I was, called my mom, one of the first calls I made when, when the board of directors offered me the CEO role here at Reading is Fundamental, it's just a dream opportunity for me, I called my mom and I said, "Mom, you'll never guess what happened."

[00:02:04] And she sent me the clipping from the newspaper- ... here that I don't wanna say out loud right now, of me making, making the local Wilmington Advocate and, winning the Battle of the Books in fourth grade. So when you ask, how has literacy shaped my life, it's virtually been every part of my life. I, I authentically believe that if a child can read, they have the opportunity to achieve anything, and i- then that's, and then it becomes their opportunity, right?

[00:02:33] But if they don't have that foundational building block, then how are they going to get a job? How are they going to read a label? How are they gonna read to their children when, you know, if, if they're lucky enough to have children of their own? That foundational building block is incredibly critical, and it is, it is worth our attention.

[00:02:52] It is worth our urgency. it is so critical, and I'm, again, so inspired whenever I have the opportunity to talk to Deneen, who has spent her career really focusing on very similar things.

[00:03:05] Speaker 11: Thank you. That is something I didn't know about you, Battle of the Books. how about you, Deneen? Was there a spark in your childhood or even adulthood that led you to literacy?

[00:03:16] Speaker 12: Well, I have both. But first of all, congrats on your Battle of the Books win. You should still have that trophy on your desk, Alicia. That's so awesome. We're gonna have to talk about that sometime over lunch, but, so great to be here. And yeah, you know what most people may not know about me is that I, was actually the library assistant my junior and senior year of high school, and I lettered in library.

[00:03:39] I think I'm the only person that I know that has lettered in library. I actually got my, my high school letter with my library pin, which was a book. so I think I was destined to be here at some point in time, right? This was my path all along. I've loved reading. I love the, the power of stories, the turn of a page, and all the ways that it opens the world to you when you just read, right?

[00:04:01] And then all the things that Alicia was talking about, how cool is it that when you learn to read, it builds year after year. It's a s- you know, that skill that keeps growing and taking you to new levels and new places. So very excited about, excited about that and, the great work that we get to do.

[00:04:18] And I will tell you, I stumbled into this as a profession by accident. This is not where I thought I would be, when I was growing up, you know? I thought I was gonna be a rock star or something, and then realized I couldn't sing. but you know, you're young, you, you think. But,

[00:04:33] Speaker 13: You can dream ...

[00:04:33] Speaker 12: but I remember one...

[00:04:34] Yeah, you dream, right? So one day I was, I had s- relatively new in role here, and I had not yet been out to visit a program, and I just remember the CEO at the time, Mr. Turner, who was part of the founding family of Dollar General and the founder of the Literacy Foundation, sent me out to visit a program, and it was one of those moments as an adult 26 years ago that has stayed with me forever and always will, because I was walking into a program we funded in Orlando, Florida, and I was gonna meet an adult learner at that program.

[00:05:14] But when I walked through the door, this young girl, maybe eight years old, comes running up to me. She throws her arms around me, and she says, "Thank you." And I said, "For what? I just walked in." And she said, "My mother reads to me at night

[00:05:29] Speaker 11: Beautiful ...

[00:05:31] Speaker 12: 26 years later, I still get goosebumps. That's why we do this, right?

[00:05:37] Speaker 11: Yeah, I love that. And I love that you lettered in library. You can letter in so many things. It's not just for athletes. I lettered in community service, and maybe that's what led me to a career in, in philanthropy, so That is great. so Deneen, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has had such a rich history of investing in literacy.

[00:05:58] Can you take us back to the beginning? Why did Dollar General choose literacy as an area of focus? And then why over the years has that commitment endured?

[00:06:09] Speaker 12: Oh, well, Dollar General's co-founder, J.L. Turner, was functionally illiterate. He only had a third grade education. He had to drop out of school as the oldest son in the family, to take care of the family farm and take care of the family at that time.

[00:06:22] And we realize, you know, that was... And he went on to start Dollar General Cor- the company at the end of the Great Depression because he saw his neighbors go without, and he's like, he wanted to do something about it, make sure their basic needs were met. And the beauty of how that ties to where we are as a Dollar General Literacy Foundation is that the family saw, you know, how life can be a little bit more challenging if you don't know how to read, or if you don't have that high school diploma or equivalent, or you don't know the English language.

[00:06:52] And, they're like, "Let's do something about that so that the next individual, the next J.L. Turner, who's got this brilliant idea and beautiful heart, has the opportunity to go and experience the same level of success that he did." And that starts with a great education and the ability to read. And so the Dollar General Literacy Foundation was established in his honor 33 years ago.

[00:07:12] So it's not a charity of the month, it's part of who we are truly. And, we've been doing this, like I said, over 33 years, $292 million, and 25 million individuals who've been impacted by the programs that we've funded. So I'm very grateful for all the teachers, the volunteers, the tutors that are out there that are doing great work and helping bring life and possibility to the dollars that we've invested.

[00:07:39] Speaker 11: It's incredible. And Alicia, I'll let you jump in because I know Dollar General has been a funder for Reading is Fundamental. They've supported us over, over the years, so I'd love to hear your perspective as well.

[00:07:53] Speaker 13: Well, look, I, as, as you know, I fundamentally believe in collective impact. There's no one person, there's no one solution.

[00:08:00] I think that communities, when you invest in communities, you invest in the people in communities- Mm-hmm ... that's when you can really build sustained impact. So over 30 years, right, of a commitment from the Dollar General Foundation and Literacy, we've partnered, Reading Is Fundamental has partnered with Dollar General for over 20 years, right?

[00:08:18] Because our work is really designed to build capacity, to invest in communities so that, that, that sustainable impact can, can be seen through the power of reading. And, and so our partnership is vital, because we come together, we bring our strengths, and ultimately we invest in communities. The communities that Dollar General serves are the communities that we serve.

[00:08:42] There are children in communities across the country, there are parents and families and caregivers and educators, who are desperate, for support. You never meet a person, I've never met a person that hasn't said, "Yes, of course, every person should be able to read." I've never met a person that doesn't think every person is able to read.

[00:09:02] What they don't have are the resources they need to, to empower that, to be able to, and that's where partnerships like ours with Dollar General, and, and that, that really, really recognize that investing in communities, the communities that we serve, is really the power of our work. So, so we're lucky, to have this kind of longstanding partnership and shared values, right?

[00:09:24] Our values are really aligned. if a parent can read, a child is more likely to be able to read. If there's a, a parent that can't read but a child has resources and tools, then a parent is gonna engage in that process. And of course, community leaders and educators, you know, their, that, that's their, that's their life, right?

[00:09:43] That's what they care about, and the more we can help empower them, the more likely we are to ensure that every child and adult has the ability to read.

[00:09:52] Speaker 11: Yeah. I think what you highlighted very well there is access is something that continues to be one of the most fundamental challenges that we face. you know, I'm thinking about Dollar General, it's often in rural communities.

[00:10:05] I myself am a urban educator, for all the years that I've, I was in teaching. so I'm wondering if both of you can share a little bit about the specific needs of rural communities where access to books and literacy resources is even more limited, and what have you learned about meeting communities where they are?

[00:10:27] Speaker 13: So, Deneen, I should definitely let you jump in here because the work that the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has done, again, none of us have walked into a community, rural or otherwise, that we don't find the local Dollar General store. Like, I just bought some, you know, gift cards yesterday 'cause my daughter had a birthday that she was going to.

[00:10:46] The, the, the Dollar General, footprint is, is nationwide, right? And every community that you walk into, like, there is, there is a need for literacy, particularly in rural communities, because rural communities don't have as much access to libraries. Public libraries aren't as available in rural communities as they are...

[00:11:07] I- internet access, right? Connectivity is a challenge in rural communities, so where you might have been able to access a book through a digital platform, you might not have that connectivity. Every community has a Dollar General store, and every community has a need for literacy. So, so where we come together is we bring the tools that RIF can bring uniquely, and the footprint that Dollar General has, and we really work to, you know, to provide, again, build that capacity, help parents find resources, help educators find resources, but importantly, bring those home libraries to kids in those communities where they would otherwise not have the ability to walk up to the public library.

[00:11:49] Lots of schools, increasingly schools under tight budget constraints, are eliminating the school library. Mm-hmm. If you can imagine, you littered in library. And Mm-hmm. I know ... and many schools, particularly in rural communities, they don't have libraries in the schools anymore. So our work, we're actually, next week, I'm really excited, we're gonna be down in Texas with, Dollar General, and we're gonna be building, a reading corner, we call them RIF Reading Corners, in a, in a library where a community otherwise would not have access.

[00:12:21] So it's, access to your question, Erin, is so critical, and with budgets tight and, and, challenges that people face every day, the more organizations like ours that can come in and, and help fill that gap and provide that access, that's really where we're focusing our time.

[00:12:40] Speaker 12: Yeah. You know, and just building off that, you know, first of all, Alicia, I am so grateful and thankful for our partnership and all the beautiful work that Reading is Fundamental has been doing for the past 30 years, and for our tremendous partnership for more than two decades. But the access point is so powerful and so critical.

[00:12:59] If you wanna look at reading achievement, you wanna look at reading gains, you wanna look at how you continue to address that issue and help students be proficient, help them be at grade level, one of the things you gotta do is you have to give them the ability and the tools and the resources to be able to practice that skill so they can hone it and not only just be at standard, but excel and exceed.

[00:13:20] And so we have to equip our teachers and give them the resources they need in their classrooms. We need to equip our children so they can do it not only at school, whether it's through a school library or in the community through, their local library, public library. Both of those we're finding more limited access than ever before.

[00:13:36] So how do we start to address that? But then also, how do we bring it into their home? So sometimes we found that when children, are maybe not as confident or secure in their ability to read as some of their peers, that when they go home and practice They don't feel, they, they have a little bit more confidence.

[00:13:55] They, they feel like they can practice and they can make mistakes when they're reading on their own. And then they strengthen that skill, and then they go back in. And when they're in front of other peoples, they have more confidence. And then they start seeing it build and seeing it grow, and then that feeds into other categories, into other subjects.

[00:14:11] 'Cause even math has reading problems, guys. Science, you're gonna go into STEM and all of that, starts with a basis in reading, right? So how do we get those teachers equipped with the skills, get the students equipped with the skills? We need to give them the access. And one of the things that we love about our Reading Is Fundamental partnership is we take books into schools, and we take books into home where they can reinforce and where they can practice that, and really see students start to thrive.

[00:14:38] Because you ... If you know me, and you can tell I get a little bit of passion about this subject, that, one of the things that I've said for a long time is that books are a luxury no home should be without.

[00:14:49] Speaker 13: Mm-hmm.

[00:14:49] Speaker 12: And we are constantly at ... nowadays seeing families having to make some tough choices with their financial situation and what they purchase and what they buy, and there are a lot of homes out there that books are a luxury.

[00:15:02] So how do we begin to address that, address the access issue, and just let people know we care, and help lift them up, both teachers, classrooms, families, and students, so. I said both, and then I said four. I did notice that for all my grammar. people out

[00:15:18] Speaker 13: there.

[00:15:18] Speaker 12: But

[00:15:19] Speaker 13: Deneen, I actually ... If, if I can pick up on that for a second.

[00:15:21] Yeah. Because I do think, you know, reading motivation, frequency, engagement, like that drives confidence. Yeah. And, you know, I, Erin, am so grateful for your podcast. I love to listen to it. I love podcasts. I listen to them on my way to work every day. And you bring on these experts, and they talk about exactly, Deneen, what you're talking about, is the research that demonstrates that if you build that motivation, and confidence, and frequency, and, and choice for children, right, that builds the, the baseline that they need to be able to read proficiently.

[00:15:57] And Erin, I think that the research is such a critical piece, right? There's the passion, and the, the ... You know, like, again, never met anybody that doesn't think a, a child should have a book. how do you make that happen, right? How do you enable the access? Mm-hmm. But why does it matter, right? And, and that research component I think is so important.

[00:16:16] And Erin, again, I hear you and your experts on Reading Inspires talk about this often. and it really, it motivates me, right? 'Cause you wanna do things that are gonna make a difference as, as well as like build that kind of emotional connection. But, but the research demonstrates that these models, when implemented, when the access is, is provided, they work.

[00:16:39] They... Like, PISA came out with their scores, their international scores on reading last, last week. they align very closely with what the National Assessment for Educational Progress shows, which is children in the United States are losing ground on reading proficiency. We have to solve that problem.

[00:16:55] How do we solve it? One important way is access.

[00:16:59] Speaker 11: Yeah, absolutely. And I think, Deneen, you said it perfectly. Books in the home are a luxury. it shouldn't be that way, but it is. But then what each of you highlighted is that, so books in the home are a luxury, and we can't always guarantee access. But it used to be that, that at least children could go to school, to their libraries, and get books.

[00:17:22] But now, to the, to your point, like Alicia, where R- Reading Is Fundamental is creating these reading corners because there are schools across the country that funding has been cut, and they have had to shut down their libraries. So now, not only do children not have book access in their home, they don't have it in their school.

[00:17:41] And to highlight the research piece, Alicia, that you alluded to, not only does having access to books create confidence, motivation, reading frequency, children need books to be able to practice reading. It is part of their skill development. So all of these things work together to create skilled readers.

[00:18:03] It's not just the, you know, what a teacher is doing in the classroom. It has to be a community effort

[00:18:10] Speaker 12: Amen.

[00:18:13] Speaker 11: so speaking of community, I mean, I- you've, you've both talked about community as central to your approaches to literacy. What have each of you learned that it takes, Because it's more than just, as I highlighted, it's more than just providing resources to truly engage a community around literacy.

[00:18:33] How do we inspire people to play a role in creating a literate community?

[00:18:40] Speaker 12: So I would- Alicia, do you wanna go first? Yeah.

[00:18:42] Speaker 13: Yeah. I'll jump in really quickly 'cause it, I- we obviously think about this often, and the thing that, that always comes to me when I think about stuff like this is, how, how I engage in my community, right?

[00:18:53] Like, what, like w- communities, we make up communities. We are the people that make up communities. And, and, you know, access is definitely an obstacle, right? There's no question, and we talked about that. But it's also about engagement, and how do we, how do c- we create those moments that people can see themselves and their experiences in, that we don't have to convince them that this matters, right?

[00:19:19] Again, we've, I've said it, like, four times now, and I say it all the time. Never met a person that doesn't think children should be able to read. How do we enable that, and how do we create those moments in communities that bring that to life, that give them the opportunity to really be part of the solution?

[00:19:35] and I think a big part of that is making sure that, that children and adults, don't see reading as, as an obstacle or, a challenge. They need to see themselves and their experiences in reading. And reading happens everywhere. It doesn't just happen in a book anymore. It happens online. It happens in digital platforms and apps.

[00:19:56] It happens in, in games. It happens when you're at home, when, and you're, and you're pulling out a menu or, reading a label. So reading happens everywhere. I think the big, challenge for community engagement in, in my view is ensuring that people see that, and then they see pathways for them to be able to, you know, to read, right?

[00:20:18] So we want everybody to have a book, and we want everybody to experience reading in books, for sure. That's a critical thing. But we also, wanna make sure that we meet people where they are because people's experiences are different than they were when I was winning the Battle of the Books in fourth grade and you were lettering in, in, in library, in high school.

[00:20:39] Yeah. but the, the fundamentals remain the same. So I think working with communities to really continuously reinforce, that, you know, that, that reading happens everywhere, and we wanna empower that in any way that we can.

[00:20:53] Speaker 12: So, you know, I think that's so right, and that's so powerful, Alicia. I really do. I think it does happen everywhere, and it's not just one place, and it's not just one person who's gonna make a difference, right? When you start looking at how this issue, a- as, as we look at literacy as an issue and an opportunity for us to advance our neighbors, our hometowns, and our great nation, right?

[00:21:15] I think that it... there's a role for all of us to play. So it's finding your position, finding your voice, and where you can have an impact. And guys, it can be simple. Start where your love is. Start where your passion is. Start small if you want to. Some of us have the ability to go big. Wherever it is, tailor it to meet your needs.

[00:21:34] It could be just as simple as showing up at the school and saying, "Hey, do you have a reading buddy program? Do you have a need here? Can I tutor someone? Can I read to somebody?" Or it can start with a child in your own life. You don't even have to go outside the home. You can find somebody in your family who may need that extra support.

[00:21:51] Spend a few extra minutes with them. Find a good book they can cuddle up with. Get them excited about the adventures that's within it. Just think about all those times you read a book, and the book was so much better than the movie that you ever saw. And I don't mean that... I mean, I love movies, I love Hollywood.

[00:22:05] But let me tell you, there's something powerful about your imagination and your creativity that's brought to life through the turn of a page and through the power of words and understanding what those words mean. And then you go from the creativity side of that and just the learning and passionate side of reading as a child, and you got all your, everything from Dr.

[00:22:23] Seuss when you were little to all the beautiful works that you read as an adult. And you're like, you go from reading from learning and enjoying to then specializing and taking that into your workforce, your life, and how to be a better mom or, or employee or, coach, mentor, whatever it may be. You use it every single day.

[00:22:44] And what I like to say is that, you know, no matter whether you're able to give your time, your talent, or your treasure, whichever one you can give, when we all come together to help others' dreams of a better education and our dreams of a better world come together, hope thrives. And I think that it starts with the ability to read and to read well.

[00:23:05] That gives people the opportunity and the platform to dream big and to open up new doorways. And so I am so excited about having more people join us in this conversation, join us in this pathway, right? So whether you have the ability to influence policy that's gonna get more funding for reading and reading initiatives, and whether you have the ability to fund programs from your personal wealth or from your platforms at your companies and businesses, or whether you have the time to go into your hometown community and just roll up your sleeves and lean in- All are needed.

[00:23:40] It's gonna take all of us working together wherever we are with whatever skills and talents we can bring to the table to really change the tide to make a beautiful difference, and to get kids excited and passionate about reading, and get teachers equipped with the supports they need to help their students thrive.

[00:23:57] Speaker 11: Yeah. I love that.

[00:23:59] Speaker 13: Boy, Erin, I, I get to talk to Deneane all the time, and I gotta tell you, I'm inspired. I love the title of your podcast because that just inspired me. That's so true, right? Like, everybody has a role to play. We can create a culture of reading anywhere, and, and everybody can play a part no matter where they fit in the- Mm-hmm

[00:24:17] you know, in, in the spectrum. So th- I think that's super inspiring. Thank you for sharing that.

[00:24:22] Speaker 11: What will stick with me is that phrase time, talent, and treasure. I'm definitely going to use that again, so thank you for that, Deneane. kind of on the topic of time, talent, and treasure, August 25th we lost a leg- a literacy hero, Dolly Parton.

[00:24:40] I'll always remember that it was August 25th, because the next day, August 26th, was my son Raymond's third birthday. And when I opened up my email in the morning, I had a birthday song, from Dolly Parton to Raymond because he participated in her Imagination Library. but Deneane, you're based in Tennessee.

[00:25:00] Mm-hmm. You've had the opportunity to meet Dolly. I'm wondering if you can share about that experience. I'm sure our listeners would love to hear a little bit about her legacy.

[00:25:12] Speaker 12: Oh, what do you say about Dolly Parton? You know, I, I wish I knew her better and had spent more time together. I only saw her a few times, you know, over the years and stuff.

[00:25:22] But w- she was always genuine and authentic. Her love for people, for literacy and learning, the reason why she started this foundation, the fact that she did, you know, she has so many platforms, so many amazing ways she was touching the world. To be able to s- recognize the value and power in literacy, and book ownership, and having one that's your own, right?

[00:25:44] Having it come directly to you with your name on it, and having little kids all around the nation, and around the world, getting these books. And I, one of the stories that stuck with me is there was a little girl who, that, that my daughter knows, that she was babysitting, and she found out that Dolly Parton had just passed away.

[00:26:04] And she said, "But she sends me books, and I hadn't got to meet her yet. I didn't get to thank her yet." Oh. And I was like, you know, they, the power of th- that child feeling like she was loved by someone, enough that they were sending her a book every month. I mean, like, how cool is that? They just, they don't know that she's some big celebrity or whatever.

[00:26:26] They just think she's a beautiful lady who loves them, and who sends them a gift once a, a month. And so Imagination Library's beautiful and special, and I love the fact that she was always authentic, always real, always had time for others, and just amazing in all the works that she did. I think she touched so many lives in such a beautiful way

[00:26:47] Speaker 13: Yeah, boy, I couldn't agree with that more.

[00:26:48] She'll leave a legacy that far outlasts, right, her time here. She- Yeah ... I, I think what you said is so right. The authenticity and the relatability, right? Whether it was through her music or her commitment to, reading. When she passed, the, one of the first texts I got that next day was from Erin, and she sent me the, you know, copy.

[00:27:08] Erin, remember you sent me a copy of Raymond's letter? Mm-hmm. And it, it... like, that, that connection, right, that authentic connection to something that everybody could relate to, I think is, is a real testament to the difference that someone can make. This one person, this one person who had this passionate, passionate, passionate belief that children should be able to read.

[00:27:31] I, I mean, we've been really honored to work with the, Imagination Library over the years. and just, again, collective impact. Be aligned with organizations that together believe that if we stay focused and committed, this is a problem that we can solve. We can, we can solve the access problem. We can solve the community engagement problem.

[00:27:52] We can create a culture of reading in communities across the country, and we can ensure that every child and adult has the opportunities that reading provides. It's, it's stories like Dolly Parton's, right, as I listen to her music on my way to work every day for the last, couple weeks, really inspire, right?

[00:28:09] It inspires you to think this is possible, because look what she was able to accomplish

[00:28:14] Speaker 11: Yeah,

[00:28:15] Speaker 12: absolutely And, you know, she was able to accomplish it with an incredible team.

[00:28:18] Speaker 13: Yes.

[00:28:18] Speaker 12: So she surrounded herself with people who had equal passion and a lot of beautiful talent, and the leadership at her foundation and at the Imagination Library are absolutely best in class, and they have the heart and the passion that she has or had for that.

[00:28:34] And I think it's really important that if you have, if you have the passion for service, there's a way to do it. There's a way to get there. All you gotta do is look for it, right? You just gotta open the doorway, take that first step, and then all the things will start falling into place, right? You'll be able to engage more.

[00:28:52] You start learning things more. You start doing more. And the fact that sh- her, her team starts with one market, and then they're around the globe, right? It's surrounding yourself, letting your passion shine, and, being gra- grateful for those who are doing great work. 'Cause sometimes we're quick to judge, and we're, we, hold back on the praise that people deserve.

[00:29:12] So kudos to her amazing foundation team as well.

[00:29:15] Speaker 11: Absolutely.

[00:29:15] Speaker 13: Boy, I th- I so agree with that, Deneen, and it, it's, it's another form of community, right? And I do think today people really... They, they look for that, right? They look for people and organizations that, have a passion for things that align with theirs, and there is something for everybody.

[00:29:32] There just is. and, and I think that's a, that's a really good point, because it takes an entire group of people, to be able to impact change and, and, that, that's just a wonderful, great example, and that legacy will absolutely live on. Mm-hmm.

[00:29:48] Speaker 11: Yes. Thank you both. That goes back to that time, talent, and treasure.

[00:29:52] We all have something that we can share. my grandma would always say it's about discovering what that talent is, but then the second part is saying yes. you know, being able to take that talent and apply it to do some, some good in the world, and we can all do that, as Dolly Parton did. so I wanna go back to storytelling a little bit.

[00:30:13] you know, we talked about the research and the data, which is something I'm of course very passionate about, but at the heart of both of our missions is storytelling and children, and children have a wonderful way of bringing us back to the heart of the work that we do. So I'm wondering if each of you could share a moment with a child or a family that was, like, touching, funny, surprising, something that stuck with you.

[00:30:38] Speaker 12: So I can go. you know, I told you about the little girl in Orlando, Florida who came running up, and, "My mother reads to me at night." Now, I will-- That will forever l- leave a lasting imprint on my heart, right? You, You know, I've had some funny moments where we're reading, There's a Wocket in my Pocket, and if you know that book, there's a line that says, "There's a bofa on my sofa."

[00:31:01] And afterwards, we're asking questions, you know, about the book, and little boy raises his hand, and I was like, "Okay, what's your question?" He's like, "Well, that bofa on the sofa, that sounds like my uncle- ... and my mom tells him he needs to get a job." And I was like- ... "Thank you for sharing that." and so you never know what kids are gonna take from a book, but at least he was listening, so I was grateful for that.

[00:31:23] But then we've also had moments when there's power in connecting families through the beauty of story time. And so we've seen that through our partnership with Reading is Fundamental. We also have a partnership where we put reading and recording libraries on military bases around the- Mm-hmm ... the globe, uni- US military bases, so that they can record bedtime stories for their children.

[00:31:46] And so while their family's serving ours, we can, They shouldn't have to miss those beautiful moments of connectivity together. And I was meeting with a family, and there was this young girl and the, and her brother. And the little boy was like, "I love it because Dad sends us these videos, and he, I love his silly faces and all his silly voices, and I love the books."

[00:32:06] And he was all, you know, excited and doing all that. And then the little girl, who was a little bit older- She said, she got up there, she got really quiet, and she's like, "You know why I love getting those story times back from my dad?" She said, "Because then I know he's safe, and that he's with them." Aw. I was like, "Oh."

[00:32:27] So we forget sometimes the power and the connectivity that reading and books bring to family. That sense of community, that sense of family, that sense of together-ship, that bonding, that cuddle time. And, you know, we know about the creativity and the exploration and learning new things, but we forget sometimes that there's a beautiful connection that can come with that.

[00:32:48] And so if we slow down just for a few minutes in our crazy busy days, and we just take a few more minutes to read with someone, to ask something of, somebody about something they read, to take that cuddle time or those special moments. Doesn't matter if it's with your teenager or with it's your little one, right?

[00:33:06] There's something beautiful that lasts forever in those moments and their memories. So I really hope that people don't forget that, you know? There's so many beautiful things about technology that I embrace and love and am grateful for, but there's also real power in just taking and sitting and spending time reading together, and using that as a form of entertainment and education.

[00:33:31] So I hope families take that to heart and do that a little bit more.

[00:33:35] Speaker 13: Boy, I, I love that, the power of connection, right? Mm-hmm. Reading really offers that, power of connection. I would say, Erin, there's no shortage of stories. I, I will tell you, I'm coming... I'm joining today from my office. I would much rather be out in the field.

[00:33:51] We're, Mm ... working across the country as, as back to school is well underway. you know, helping communities, you know, make books available to children across the country. And, and every time, every time I get the opportunity to participate, it's just joyful, right? They're... Like, children are remarkably honest, right?

[00:34:12] And they will tell you what they think. And they, But there's a consistent experience for us when we, enable children, to have choice and access to books, and, and it, and it, and it happens every time, right? A child, children take all the time in the world. They're shopping, right? And they love it because they get to choose their own stories.

[00:34:33] and i- i- and every time there are, there are children that will say, "Are you sure I get to take this? And can I take an extra one?" Because back to Deneen's point, "I wanna take it home and read to my parent," or, "I have a sibling at home and they don't have a book." And that- It's just always such a, a powerful moment.

[00:34:55] and it happens, again, in communities across the country. you know, every time, w- you know, we, we work with partners to enable, access to books. But I will share one of my most favorite recent, stories. A little girl and a little boy were walking by the gym, and you know, that we were setting up for a big book celebration event, balloons and books and activities around reading.

[00:35:17] And the little boy is like, "What's going on in there?" And the little girl says, "It's like Christmas with books." She- the joy in her voice, it was like... It was the most exciting thing, and you could kinda see the look on the boy's face like, "Oh, I'm not sure that's my Christmas," but, he was gonna be able to take some books home too.

[00:35:39] but there's... if I could capture those moments, Erin, a- and, and we try, right? Social media enables you to share some of those stories more freely than you used to be able to. but if you could capture every one of those moments, you wouldn't have a dry eye in the house, and you absolutely, would not have a person that wouldn't want, wanna lean in and find a way that they could, that they could participate as well.

[00:36:01] Speaker 11: Yeah. Well, I haven't had a dry eye t- throughout this conversation. So thank you for that. So I think I've heard you say this many times, Alicia, and you, and you just said it now, th- there is not a person that if you walk up to them and say, "Do you care about literacy in this country? Do you care about education?

[00:36:20] Do you care that children have access to books?" Not a single person would say no to any of, of those, right? So if there's somebody who's listening right now who's thinking to themselves, "I care about this, but what can I actually do?" What is one thing that each of you would encourage that person to do to support literacy?

[00:36:42] Speaker 13: Well, I would say start where you are, and don't underestimate what is possible, what you can do. The, like, one child, one moment at a time. That makes a difference. I- you heard Deneen talk about this earlier. You know, you could contact your local school if you wanna volunteer. There are local community organizations, faith-based organizations.

[00:37:03] My p- my parish, does, book distributions, right? They, they do, they have a food pantry, and then now they distribute books with food to, to families in our community that need help. There is no short... Every community wants their community to be better. And, and, and there is- Mm ... there is no shortage of connection to reading to anything that's happening in a local community.

[00:37:28] So I, I just encourage people to just start where you are, and know that your, your action, no matter how big or small, can make a difference. And, and it just starts with taking that first step. And you heard Deneen talk about it, I think, so beautifully earlier. I, I would just reinforce that

[00:37:46] Speaker 12: Oh, I'm s- so I think too, you know, I think a- along with everything you just said, you know, how... Just if people wanna volunteer, sometimes it takes the courage to take that first step- Mm-hmm ... 'cause they simply don't know that they can make a difference 'cause the issue's so big. So they're like, "How do I do that?"

[00:38:04] We're like, "Just make that phone call. Visit that community center, that non-profit organization, your faith-based institution that you just saw, heard Alicia talk about." It's take the first step. And sometimes you don't even have to take it outside your home. You can take it inside your home too. But have the courage to change some of your, your everyday routines, to put something new in there.

[00:38:27] have the courage to go into the community, to use your voice to help raise awareness about the issue. Most people don't realize that we have a literacy crisis and opportunity in our nation, not only, on the K12 side, but also on the adult side. So how do we lean in and say, "Look, it's not about what could've been or should've been, but what can be, and we're gonna be a part of the solution.

[00:38:47] And we'll take one step at a time, and we'll get there." And if all this takes small baby steps, just take that one step. When we all come together, just think about the change we can make. That's when the wave happens, right? When the big difference comes, when everybody has the courage to raise their voices together, to lean in, roll up their sleeves, and just take one step forward to create positive change.

[00:39:11] So don't be afraid. Give your time, talent, treasure. Like I said, whichever one you got, let's use it, and own it, and just be proud that you're being part of something bigger than yourself. And I guarantee at the end of the day, there's a real joy in giving, and you'll get just as much back as you are able to give to anyone else.

[00:39:30] And I... That's a beautiful day, right?

[00:39:33] Speaker 11: It is. I couldn't agree more, and I will also be sure to link in the show notes opportunities for listeners, to ways to get involved. so thank you both. I always end the show by asking this very challenging question, and that is, what does reading inspire for you?

[00:39:50] Speaker 12: I think for me, I will take it first. I think reading inspires for me, it's like hope and curiosity. It, inspires a brighter tomorrow and, and increases knowledge. It changes the din- conversations around the dinner table. You wanna talk about, social mobility, economic mobility, employability. You wanna talk about opening doorways of opportunity.

[00:40:15] It starts with being able to read and to read well. Mm-hmm. And then all your education builds off that, and then it increases in your work and in your personal life and in the way you engage civically in community, right? there's a real beauty in reading. So it's not just one thing, it's the collective things that it makes possible.

[00:40:37] Speaker 13: Boy, Erin, I'm gonna have to say we should end on that 'cause I'm inspired. 100% agree with that. I, I would just, I would just say it, reading inspires possibilities, right? What's possible, with reading is, is, is just, you know, what, what inspires me every day, for sure.

[00:40:56] Speaker 11: Yeah. So I'll end by just asking our listeners to please use your talent, treasure, and your time, to do good in the world and to do good in children's literacy.

[00:41:06] And if something you heard during this discussion today, resonated with you, share it to somebody that you care about. And thanks for joining us.

[00:41:15] Speaker 13: Thanks, Erin. Thanks, Deneen.

[00:41:17] Speaker 12: Thank you.