Last Words on Literacy

When I began this journey, I set out to inform as many people as possible on the importance of literacy.  Whether it was though reading a story at a local elementary school, donating books, or connecting an group of concerned parents to a literacy organization, I wanted to encourage, empower and educate the world on the importance of literacy.  I was raised to know and understand that education is power, and at its core is literacy.   It is with this belief that I sought to give others access to the power that so many of us take for granted.  The power to read is not just the power to pick up a book and understand its contents.  It is the power to pick up a newspaper and understand the world we live in.  To read a congressional bill and understand how it impacts you.  It is the power to read and understand a lease, so that you can make sure that your home is safe for your children.  Or in some cases to read a court document and understand your rights. 

The power to read has transformed societies, one person at a time.  Indeed, Literacy impacts us all.  I hope that I have conveyed that message to everyone that has read my blogs, I have met, read to, or even autographed a picture for.  Just Read, Fighting Illiteracy Starts With Your First Book- is not just my platform, it is my mantra and a personal mission.   As my time as Miss International winds down I am excited to enter the next phase of advocacy.  My work has just begun. 

Best,

Ciji Dodds
Miss International (for a few more days)

Overcoming Family Illiteracy

Admittedly, I have placed a lot of emphasis on childhood illiteracy.  One issue that I haven’t addressed in depth is what happens when both parent and child are illiterate?  This presents a special challenge because parents are often ashamed of admitting to their children that they can’t read.  What would you do if your child asked you to read her a book and you couldn’t?  The solution isn’t easy but there are some ways that both child and parent can overcome illiteracy.  Literacy advocates can do the following:

1. Encourage parents to attend their child’s tutoring lessons:  By “tagging along” it has been shown that parents are at first passively engaged, then over time, they become more engaged.  This makes them want to enhance their own skill and seek out adult literacy programs.  A lot of literacy tutoring programs also have an adult component, so that parent and child can learn to read at different times, but in different settings.

2.Make sure there are books within the home:  The mission of First Book and Reach Out and Read is to make sure that children have access to books in their homes.  By doing so, parents also have access to books.  When a child practices reading to their parent, the parent is also presented with a learning opportunity.

3.Promote family literacy:  There is a great emphasis on childhood illiteracy, but parents sometimes fell left by the wayside.  By encouraging the entire family to take part in the process, literacy advocates cam make an impact on the literacy of the entire family.

Best,

Ciji Dodds
Miss International 2011

First Book Rocks 2011!

First Book has been a little busy… That may be the understatement of the year!  First Book has been very busy spreading the message of the importance of literacy and pursuing its mission of ensuring that all children have access to high quality reading materials.  First Book has fostered new relationships and strengthened existing relationships.  But most importantly, First Book has put a dent in the greatest barrier to literacy, access to books.

During 2011, First Book Distributed 8 Million Books!  But it doesn’t stop there!  First Book added 7,000 new schools and programs to its national network.  This  means  that 7,000  additional schools  and programs are now eligible for grants and have access to First Book’s Book Bank where they can buy brand new books at a fraction of the price, $2.50.   First Book also started local volunteer chapters (First Book Advisory Boards) in over a dozen communities. I can’t wait to see what 2012 brings!

Best,

Ciji Dodds

Miss International 2011

Give the Gift of Literacy!

Trying to figure out what to give this holiday season?  Give the gift of literacy.  Here are a few special literacy initiatives for the holidays.  

• First Book:  From now until December 31, 2011, for every 1 dollar you donate to First Book, Disney Publishing has graciously agreed to donate 1 new book to a child in need! 
• Build-A-Bear Workshop:  Are you purchasing a Build –A- Bear?  Build-A-Bear will donate 50 cents to First Book for every Read Teddy they sell this Christmas season.
• Barnes and Noble Holiday Book Drive:  Barnes and Noble is holding a holiday book drive.  Upon checkout, you will be asked whether you would like to donate a book.  Books will benefit various literacy organizations.
• Philosophy:  Are you a fan of philosophy’s fantastic bath and shower products.  Well, philosophy is donating 100% of the net proceeds from all sales of their Sweet
  Dreams Fresh Cream shampoo, shower gel & bubble bath to First Book.
• Better World Books:  Every time you purchase a book, Better World Books donates a book to a child in need.  http://www.betterworldbooks.com/go/book-for-book
• I See Me!:  I See Me makes personalized books for kids, featuring their names and images.  A personalized book is a great gift idea for a child of any age.  When you check out, if you enter “firstbook” as a coupon code, they’ll will donate 10% of sales to First Book and plus you will get 10% off your order.
• Reach Out and Read:  ROR is holding a special Holiday Book Drive.  Click on the link to donate!   https://www.reachoutandread.org/supporters/contribute/donation.aspx

Happy Holidays!

Ciji Dodds

The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy presents, A Celebration of Reading!

“The home is the child's first school, the parent is the child's first teacher, and reading is the child's first subject."

As Second Lady of the United States and then, as First Lady of the United States, Barbara Bush selected the promotion of literacy as her cause.  Beginning with Martha Washington, who promoted the cause of Revolutionary War Veterans, there is a longstanding tradition of First Ladies taking on a cause that is dear to their hearts and promoting it throughout their husbands’ presidencies.  Our current First Lady, Michelle Obama, continues this tradition by promoting her Lets Move campaign, which hopes to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation. 

As a literacy advocate, Former First Lady Barbara Bush has traveled throughout the country raising awareness and much needed funds to ensure that all Americans have access to the American Dream via literacy.  After seeing first hand the impact that literacy has on a family’s well being, she established The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.  “The mission of her foundation is to support the development of family literacy programs, to break the intergenerational cycle of illiteracy, and establish literacy as a value in every American family.”  Through its National Grant Program, the foundation has donated over 40 million dollars to literacy organizations throughout the country. 

During the year, the foundation hosts numerous fundraisers called “A Celebration of Reading.”  November 7, marks the tenth anniversary of the Dallas, Texas, Celebration of Reading.  These events are major fundraisers that feature readings by authors and appearances by notable politicians and celebrities.  If you are interested in working with the foundation or if you are an organization that would like to receive funds from the foundation, I encourage you to checkout the foundation website: http://www.barbarabushfoundation.com/site/c.jhLSK2PALmF/b.4344531/k.BD31/Home.htm

I look forward to participating in the 2012 Maryland Celebration of Reading! Best,

Ciji Dodds

Miss International 2011

Books in Baltimore!

This past Friday I had the honor of working with Reach Out and Read to do a site visit at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center!  I was even featured on WBALTV NBC in Baltimore. Johns Hopkins Children’s Center has consistently been ranked one of the best in the nation and after visiting, I know why.  It is a one stop shop that is committed to making sure that children are not only physically healthy, but that they have the resources that they need to succeed.   A big part of that is Johns Hopkins’ partnership with Reach Out and Read.  The goal is to encourage early literacy and to make literacy a family affair. 
 

Although it was early in the morning, I had a very good audience.  We read a number of books, including one of my personal favorites, How Do Dinosaurs Clean Their Rooms? by: Jane Yolen & Mark Teague

A very special thank you to Andrea Pyatt-Johnson (pictured here), Judith Forman and Deanna McCray James for making my visit possible.

I look forward to continuing my work with Reach Out and Read! Please check out Reach Out and Read’s Facebook Page to learn how to get involved or to just keep up to date.

Best,

Ciji Dodds

Miss International 2011

Looking for a way to get involved?

There are tons of ways to get involved in the fight against illiteracy. I have aligned myself with First Book and Reach Out and Read, but there are a variety of organizations that need volunteers, donations and advocates.  Reading Is Fundamental is one such organization.  RIF is one of the oldest and most expansive literacy programs in the country.   It has established itself as a classroom staple.  RIF has recently had its funding cut, so it is in dire need of assistance.

A great way to get involved is to become a Reading Is Fundamental Ambassador.  By becoming an Ambassador, you will become the face of RIF in your community.  You can organize events, visit schools, launch book drives and much more.  If you don’t have the time to volunteer, you can tailor your ambassadorship program to advocacy or fundraising.  It is all about supporting the cause and making literacy a priority.

If you would like to get involved or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best,

Ciji Dodds

Miss International 2011



Illiteracy and Your Health

When most people think of the effects of illiteracy they think of the obvious- the inability to read a newspaper, fill out a job application or take a test. They don’t think of the health consequences of illiteracy. A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine deemed illiteracy as the “Silent Epidemic.” Based on a numerous studies, there is a link between illiteracy and poor health. Specifically, individuals who function at the lowest levels of literacy are more likely to suffer from diabetes and heart failure.

The hallmark of illiteracy is shame and fear. People who are illiterate are ashamed of their condition and fearful that they will be found out. When they do visit the doctor, they are scared to ask questions because they are scared that the doctor will figure out that they can’t read. So they don’t ask important questions and because they can’t read written instructions, are more susceptible to making life threatening mistakes. As a result, they are more likely to visit the emergency room due to improper usage of medication or failure to follow doctor’s orders. This dramatically increases their health care costs and makes them more weary of going to the doctor altogether.

Hence the term the Silent Epidemic. Illiteracy is killing people. Let’s all do our part to make sure illiteracy doesn’t continue to deprive people of a healthy life.

Best,


Ciji Dodds
Miss International 2011

Illiteracy

I want to put ending illiteracy at the forefront of the national agenda.  Illiteracy is an issue that flies under the radar.  It is the unspoken of symptom of a failing education system.  It is a badge of shame for adults and children alike who struggle to live everyday life in a world of words. 
 

The facts speak for themselves.  Currently, 774 million adults around the world are illiterate in their native language.  Women represent 2/3rds of the 774 million illiterate adults.  20% of adults in the United States function at the lowest level of literacy, with 14% of the country’s adult population reading at or below a fifth grade level. 34% of children enter Kindergarten without the basic language skills that they will need in order to become literate.

There is a direct correlation between illiteracy and extreme poverty, crime, substance abuse, low self esteem, the spread of preventable and infectious diseases and gender abuse. Illiteracy affects all aspects of a person’s life, from their ability to fill out a job application to their ability to take control of their health.  Individuals who are illiterate spend, on average, 17% more at the doctor’s office and are more likely to suffer complications due to their inability to read labels, follow directions and make informed decisions.

The greatest barriers to literacy are access to books and access to literacy instruction.  As Miss International, I will leverage my partnerships with First Book and Reach Out and Read to attack these issues. 

Using my partnership with First Book, my first goal is to take on the issue of access.  As a result of First Book’s relationships with corporate sponsors such as Walmart, Cheerios and Target, as well as its relationships with major publishing houses, such as Random House, Disney Publishing and Harper Collins, First Book donates about 18,000 brand new books per day.  As Miss International and an ambassador for First Book, I will increase that number through the implementation of my virtual book drive and by securing additional corporate sponsors and donations.

Through my partnership with Reach Out and Read, I will address the issue of access to literacy instruction.  Reach Out and Read believes that the best way to immunize children against illiteracy is to read aloud to them.  As Miss International, I will tour the world reading aloud to children and I will work to establish literacy friendly areas in pediatric centers.   My goal is to spark the desire to read in children and to make reading a family affair. 

Lastly, through my partnership with the American Heart Association and the Go Red for Women Campaign, I hope to advance the mission of the AHA and raise awareness of the link between women’s health and women’s literacy.

The journey of a lifetime has begun!  Let’s Go!!

Ciji Dodds