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From the Director, Susan Straub:
This newsletter again promises brevity and enthusiasm.
RTM has been up in the Bronx with LYFE moms and in Harlem with LYFE teachers; we’ve been heralded in a hip Chelsea club with an award from Reach Out and Read; and we’ve been to London. It’s been exhilarating, fabulous and gratifying.
Coming up later this year are more collaborations with the NYPL in LYFE Centers, more conferences, and more opportunities to share tips for helping parents relax & enjoy reading books with their babies.
Cheers,
Susan
RTM-UK team: Ann Curno, Susan & Catherine Whitehead, with Thomas Coram, original benefactor of the Foundling Hospital, Borough of Camden. Missing: Ron Bailey.
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Susan’s Report on the RTM-UK Initiative
A small group in London is assessing the viability of bringing RTM over to help address their concerns about teen parents and family literacy. We had quite an intense and full week demonstrating RTM for teen mums, agency staff and potential collaborators. I am thrilled with the rich possibilities. We also offered an observation segment in an ongoing UK training course for people working with teen parents. Thanks to Joan Raphael-Leff and the Anna Freud Centre.
From Associate Director,
Deanna Pacelli:
REACH OUT AND READ Benefit & Award
On May 14th our RTM team (including Peter Straub, Diane Whitaker and Jane LeCroy) had the great pleasure of attending the Reach Out and Read of Greater New York’s (RORGNY) benefit and accepting the Literacy Champion Award on behalf of The Read To Me Program’s Director, Susan Straub. It was a lovely affair with a fabulous silent auction that helped raise money for their vital literacy program that works with pediatricians to get books into the lives of babies. Jane of the Read to Me staff even ‘won’ a Vermont weekend at the auction!
Photo by Gerald Peart
(Clockwise from left) Lynna Scott Carnegie, Traci Lester, Dana Tyler, Deanna Pacelli and Vera Williams
Susan was honored for her 20 years of service promoting literacy with teen parents in New York City High Schools.
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The adorable and accomplished writer Vera B. Williams introduced Susan to the audience. The Volunteer of the Year Award went to Lynna Scott Carnegie, Director of NYC Department for the Aging Foster Grandparent Program. We are all deeply grateful for this enormous honor.
Two moms practice reading to each other. Everyone received a gift copy of a peek-a-boo book for their family libraries.
Bronx Regional LYFE at GED Plus
Read To Me ran its second program this year at a LYFE program in the Bronx. The wonderful social worker Marjorie Wilson facilitated the 6-week session with her teen mothers who are in the process of getting their GEDs. We met one hour a week during a lunch period and learned what, how and when to read to your baby. Each session was filled with games, books and exercises that introduced mothers to the joys of reading with their children. The program culminated in a visit to their local library (Wow, the Bronx Library Center is gorgeously renovated!!) to get a tour and sign up for library cards. By the end of the program, one mother said bedtime TV-watching was now replaced with bedtime reading!
Enjoy the good summer,
Susan & Deanna
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