Good Neighbor Stories

Books Open the Eyes of the Imagination

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 01:00:00 -0600

The pages of a book take its reader on an adventure through time, enhance knowledge and open the mind to new ideas and perspectives.

The words in books paint pictures, add depth and tell stories completely.

National Read Across America Day is celebrated on March 2, the birthday of author Ted Geisel, who we all knew growing up as Dr. Seuss. Created in 1998, the National Education Association estimates 45 million parents, students and educators across the country will participate in

a day dedicated to raising awareness and challenging children and young adults across the United States to read.

A team from State Farm^® was in Dallas for a meeting earlier this year. The team was looking to turn an act of good into a team-building opportunity.

“We wanted to spend some of our time together giving back to the local community,” says Claims Manager Rashawnda Harvey. “But when we looked at NeighborhoodofGood.com^®, there weren’t any opportunities still available over the course of the meeting.”

They were not dissuaded. They turned their search to local online news outlets. They discovered the City of Dallas was running a book donation drive to ensure children staying at Dallas Life, a Dallas homeless shelter, had books.

“Everybody coming to the meeting brought two books each,” Rashawnda says. “We had a great variety, from preschool age to young adults in high school; educational books and fun children’s stories, some history and others that featured animals.”

They presented more than 35 books to the shelter.

Dallas Life Executive Director Bob Sweeney said they often see children come to the shelter unsure why they are there. Then they sit up on a bed, open a book and become transformed to a place that lets them know they are going to be OK.

“We genuinely appreciated the opportunity to really make a difference,” Rashawnda says. “I selected children’s stories that were centered on Black History, and a fairy tale about the journey of a little girl throughout her life. I looked for books to give these children an opportunity to escape their current reality and have some fun, and a book they could identify with.”

“In a world with so much turmoil, to be able to give back to the community in such a unique and thoughtful way is what makes us human,” says Claims Manager Krista Spader. “I have three children. When my youngest leaves for school I still say things like, ‘Be Kind – Be Bold!’ and I get the older kids to be the change you want to see in the world. This reinforces in them I am walking the walk.

“The smallest gestures have the largest impact,” she adds. “Even when it is one person at a time performing one act of good at a time.”

Let’s Read It Again!

Tue, 27 Feb 2018 14:09:00 -0600

Something was bothering Evelyn.

Her parents noticed the talkative six-year-old was unusually quiet and deep in thought. When they asked her what was wrong, she told them about a troubling experience at school that day.

During the scheduled reading period, one of her friends had struggled, slowly sounding out simple words and stumbling over simple phrases. Evelyn told her parents how embarrassed her friend was to not be able to read like the other students. Evelyn wondered out loud what she could do to help her friend become a better reader.

According to a study in early 2017 by the U.S. Department of Education, about 14 percent (32 million adults) of the population struggles with reading.

Evelyn is lucky. Both of her parents are educated and have worked in the teaching profession. As the small family began to discuss Evelyn’s friend, an idea began to form. Both parents had noticed Evelyn and her younger sister reading together.

Snuggled on the couch, Evelyn would often read a book and then instruct her sister to read it back to her. There was an undeniable bond and comfort level between the two sisters that made the experience special.

Evelyn’s parents approached Alan Neitzel, a family member and executive director of the ARC Foundation in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with an idea. The Read It Again program was born.

Here’s how it works: Read It Again libraries were established in several Oklahoma City high schools. The high school students are encouraged to take a book home and read it to their younger brother or sister. Once they finished reading the book, it’s the younger sibling’s turn to read the book to the older sibling. Hence, Read It Again!

The program provides a simple solution that establishes an early literacy-based foundation for the development of basic reading skills. This is accomplished through reading repetition and a level of comfort that only siblings can share.

An American Educational Research Association study showed a student who can't read at their grade level by 3rd grade is four times less likely to graduate by age 19 than a child who does read proficiently. Add poverty to the mix, and a student is 13 times less likely to graduate on time than his or her proficient, wealthier peer.

“We know that parents with low literacy skills are less likely to share books with their children,” said Neitzel. “When we can get siblings to read together, a foundation of reading and understanding is built and a comfort level with literacy can open many doors!”

Students without a sibling who wish to participate in Read It Again are also given the opportunity to be part of the program. They are partnered with a child from a local elementary school who is struggling and then, supervised by a teacher, begin the Read It Again process.

Neitzel says the results of the program have been outstanding. “Parents report the younger children who take part in the program are gaining more comprehensive reading skills, and becoming more confident. In addition, there is a better bond between their children.”

The Foundation won a State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant in 2016 to help support the Read It Again program.

The Author of Her Destiny

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 08:00:00 -0600

Picture this: You’re handed an open book and asked to read it aloud. But the pages look like meaningless symbols. You’re lost in a busy city - and can’t recognize the street signs. Your child needs help with homework. But their worksheet is too difficult to process. For millions of people who struggle with low literacy…this is real life.

“I have so many things in my head. I’ve never been able to explain them before.”

Meet *Silvia, of Houston, Texas. Unable to attend school growing up, she couldn’t read or write. But as the author of her life story, she knew she could master the skills needed to create a brighter chapter for herself and her loved ones.

Silvia visited Literacy Advance of Houston and enrolled in classes. Since the 1960’s, the not-for-profit organization has been helping adults improve their literacy through trained volunteer tutors and programs like basic reading, writing and English.

Silvia was determined to:

Learn to read and write.
Get her GED.
Do more for her children, herself, and her community.

“I wanted my son to know I am the boss. One day he will be the boss. I want him to go further and do more than I am but for now, I am still the boss,” she smiled. Literacy Advance made the learning process easy for Silvia. It offered flexible hours, programs to meet her needs, and the technology necessary to achieve. “If I have a problem, I know I can go to Diana, the Literacy Advance Transition Coach,” Silvia explained. “She helps me and even loaned me a computer so I can learn at home.”

Since beginning her literacy journey, Silvia’s skills have improved. She also started her own hair braiding business. Her newly-acquired ability to read and write allows her to reply to client text messages and answer their questions. Silvia also says she’s a more confident parent.

So what’s next for Silvia?

“I want to get my GED and write a book,” she grinned. “I have so many things in my head and I’ve never been able to explain them before. But now that I’m learning to read and write – I want to create my own novel, filled with my own thoughts.”

"Through the support of companies like State Farm, Literacy Advance is making a difference," said Program Director Kathryn Bauchelle. "With its assistance, we are able to reach out, help students in need and change lives."