The Chicago Literacy Alliance

The Chicago Literacy Alliance is an association of agencies operating in and around the city to help meet literacy needs for people of all ages and backgrounds.

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Feeling Good at the End of 2017

You can help change the literacy landscape in Chicago! We know that you have a lot of considerations to make when thinking about if and where to give—we can say with certainty that the choice to support the CLA is one that will help extend your holiday cheer. Check out our top five reasons to continue the holiday spirit and give the gift of literacy:

Double the impact. We’re extending our Giving Tuesday campaign, which means the first $5,000 received will be MATCHED by a generous lover of literacy. Giving in 2017 means that you can make an even bigger difference!

The numbers. 79% of 8th graders in Chicago Public Schools are not grade-level proficient in reading and over 30% of adults would benefit from literacy services. Our community can only thrive if everyone has access to the skills and job opportunities that allow them to live independent, fulfilling lives.

Giving makes you feel good! In research conducted by the National Institutes of Health, participants who made the choice to donate a portion of $100 they were given enjoyed activated pleasure centers in the brain.

Every dollar counts. Whether you’re able to give $5 or $500 dollars, each and every donation the CLA is incredibly appreciated and makes a difference.

Your donation stays local. The CLA is working to improve literacy rates right here in Chicago. We’re just as invested in your community as you are!

We're thrilled to roll up our sleeves, keep innovating, and continue to work toward a 100% literate Chicago in 2018! Low literacy rates should be a concern of the past. Do you agree? 

Give the gift of literacy today!

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The Perfect Fit for Big Dreams

Our member organization Dream Big Education seeks to enrich children’s lives with life-affirming and energizing, creative experiences in the performing arts. With a focus on fostering confidence and self-expression, these collaborative experiences led by professional teaching artists allow children’s hearts and spirits to shine bright on and off the stage. We caught up with their Education Director, Siobhan Maycraft to get the inside scoop on what makes her tick!

She started as a freelancer.

I've worked in youth and children's theater as a freelance teaching and workshop facilitator artist for over 10 years. When I moved to Chicago I knew I was ready for the next step and wanted to get more involved with a company. I started at Dream Big as the Administrative and Education Coordinator and grew into the position I hold today as Education Director.

She loves watching her students grow.

Meeting students at end of session performances or during class visits and witnessing first hand the creativity, teamwork and confidence that our classes are cultivating is definitely one of the most rewarding pieces of my job.

Dream Big Education joined the CLA to form collaborative relationships.

Dream Big has grown exponentially over the last couple of years and it was time to find a home. We are also expanding the programs we offer and were seeking a collaborative environment where we could meet like minded people to learn from and with.

Her friends and family think that her gig at Dream Big is a perfect fit!

When they find out what I do, they usually say, "that sounds like an ideal job for you"; which is true, I love it!

Something surprising about Siobhan ...

I lived in rural Ireland for a year and raised chickens!

Her favorite children’s book is The Tiger Who Came to Tea.

I remember reading this book all the time as a child.  The absurdity of a tiger ringing the doorbell, coming into your house, and eating everything in sight always made me giggle!

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Member Profile: Meet Elizabeth Bartley

As a child, Elizabeth Bartley spent hours playing school in her bedroom where she would teach her stuffed animals to read using an old textbook and a small chalkboard—needless to say, she knew she wanted to teach from a very young age.

Having grown up in an economically disadvantaged school district, it was important to her to serve a similar demographic, leading her to her to teach fourth grade at Waukegan Public Schools shortly after graduating from Purdue University. This led to a second job at a CPS charter school where she quickly moved to administration in order to broaden her impact. While her administrative duties were rewarding, Elizabeth also experienced some frustration with the various restrictions within which she needed to operate. As an Instructional Coach at Big Shoulders Fund, she feels as though she’s found a true home where she can work to make the lives of teachers and administrators a bit easier, all while raising the quality of instruction in schools. We caught up with Elizabeth—learn more about her below:

She is a member of the Chicago Literacy Alliance because she believes a fully literate Chicago is essential to the future viability of the city.

We need to ensure our children are given an outstanding education that provides them with the tools they need to be successful. The partnerships within the CLA are amazing. I have met so many dedicated professionals and educators who are working day in and day out to make this a reality. It’s very inspiring!

She loves when teachers tell her that the work she’s doing is impacting not only their instruction, but their students’ learning.

Every day is rewarding! I love to hear that I am making teachers and administrators lives easier. Working in education is demanding and exhausting, if I can make it a tiny bit better for someone, then my day is made!  

Collaboration alert: Elizabeth is currently working with the Chicago Literacy Group to provide literacy-focused professional development and coaching to a cohort of Big Shoulders Fund schools.

I had the amazing opportunity to work with CLG as a teacher, and my instruction was transformed. My students began to love reading and writing! They grew leaps and bounds. I’m so excited to bring this same experience to teachers across our network. One teacher recently told me that the program was, “A teacher’s dream come true!” That almost made me cry. Honestly, I did tear up a little.  

She’s currently reading Dreamcatchers by Stephen King.

My husband and I are currently having a mini-book club. I gave him a head start on Dreamcatchers, but now I’ve more than caught up and we can’t talk about it! I would recommend it. It’s engaging, funny, horrifying, and sentimental all at once.

Surprise! Elizabeth loves rap and hip-hop.

I think people would be surprised to learn that that is almost exclusively what I listen to. I often have to turn my music down about a block or two away from the schools I work with so students don’t hear anything that isn’t school appropriate! My favorite artists are Chance (obviously!) and Lil Wayne. I’m currently digging Logic and Cardi B, as well.

Her favorite children’s book is The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown.


The illustrations are amazing! I loved that no matter how bratty the little bunny was, the mommy bunny always had a comeback. The message is about loving someone – no matter what. I think this is a message that needs to be spread around right now.

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Raising Our Voices for Adult Education

During Adult Education and Family Literacy Week (AEFL), our member organization, the Chicago Citywide Literacy Coalition (CCLC), held a Rally for Adult Education to give the community an opportunity to hear student success stories and join in CCLC’s advocacy efforts to keep Adult Education funded. We caught up with their Communications Associate, Jazmine Salas, to pick her brain about the rally and the state of Adult Literacy in Chicago.

Alexander Gouletas Photography

What do you think is the biggest obstacle that adult literacy organizations face?

From funding to professional development, the biggest obstacle that most adult literacy organizations face is lack of resources. Public funding for adult education has declined, and nearly two thirds of providers across the country have long wait lists for new students. There are 36 million adults in the US with low literacy skills—500,000 in Chicago alone. Programs struggle to meet that need. 

What inspired you to hold the Rally for Adult Education?

As a field, adult education traditionally hasn’t organized mass rallies or protests. During the budget impasse, providers saw the growing need for bigger action. Adult education needed to be heard and our voices needed to be inserted into existing narratives about the budget impasse. We needed to be visible! The first rally was a collaboration between adult education providers, many of which are CLA members: Allied Health Care Career Network, Chinese Mutual Aid Association, Centro Romero, Howard Area Community Center, Indo American Center, and Literacy Works. All but one of these providers returned to help organize this year’s rally. 

Alexander Gouletas Photography

If you want anyone to take away one thing from the rally, what would it be? 

My one takeaway would be to encourage providers to think boldly. Sometimes, advocacy involves stepping out of your comfort zone for a greater good. In CCLC’s case, it was the first time that we participated in planning a rally. There was definitely a learning curve, but I think being surrounded by organizations who had that experience helped us grow our advocacy skillset.   What was your favorite moment from the rally? My favorite moment from the rally was hearing student stories and their perspectives. Being on the administrative side of adult education, I don’t have daily student interaction. Hearing the positive impact of adult literacy programs straight from learners was very inspirational. There was one student who asked to speak after watching the speeches from other students—and his remarks were awesome. I like to think that rallies can inspire other people to speak up, and I loved seeing students support each other.

Alexander Gouletas Photography

What else did CCLC do to spread awareness and support during Adult Education and Family Literacy week?

During AEFL Week, we coordinated advocacy activities for providers. We hosted sign-making at the Literacenter, a social media day-of-action (another first for CCLC), a letter writing day, and a celebration on Friday to wrap-up the week. While AEFL Week is a big week for adult education, it’s important that we continue to advocate all year round. We need to make sure our voices are heard throughout the year.

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Tomorrow’s Master in International Education Policy

Jessica Bergmann knew from her first trip to Uganda with Pangea Educational Development (PED) that she had to remain involved with the organization and worked with the co-founders to identify how her strengths could further the organization's mission and goals—she’s been working as the volunteer Director of Marketing ever since! Jessica loves sharing the powerful stories of students and teachers from PED partner schools and the impact of education on their lives. You can often find her nose deep in a book at a coffee shop or exploring different neighborhoods in her current city. Learn more about Jessica below.

She discovered PED as an undergraduate student.

“While I was an undergraduate student, I connected with PED because I was interested in issues of access to education throughout the world. I had been studying urban education issues and was curious to learn more about how these issues were also seen in other contexts.”

She recently moved to Boston to begin her next chapter.

“I began my career as a high school English teacher and was passionate about positive mentoring experiences for students. My work with PED actually led me to want to know more about the non-profit sector, so I made the transition to working for a college access organization for the past year and a half.

Recently, I wanted to focus more formally on international education and I am now currently studying for my Masters in International Education Policy at Harvard University. I'm most interested in developing the capacities of teachers in developing contexts to deliver relevant and culturally-sensitive literacy instruction while incorporating social-emotional learning and global citizenship instruction.”

The passion of her colleagues and seeing organizational growth inspire her.

“Working in education is incredibly rewarding and extremely humbling. In every context in which I have worked, I have been surrounded by individuals who are passionate about ensuring that every student receives a quality education and who work tirelessly to achieve this goal. With PED especially, the most rewarding part for me has been seeing the growth of our partner schools over the past five years and sharing that narrative with our supporters. The professional development that we have offered to teachers has led to some incredible innovation in student-centered learning practices and literacy instruction.”

Jessica wants her friends & family to read The Alchemist.

“Currently, I'm revisiting The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, which is one of my absolute favorite books. Every year or two I'll come back to a fresh new copy to see what meaning I take away from it. I take notes in the story on my interpretations and comparisons to my life; once I finish, I give my copy away to a friend or family member who I feel would enjoy the story. At its core, The Alchemist focuses on finding one's truth and pursuing one's destiny. It encourages us to think about the journey and the present rather than the future destination, which I feel is extremely relevant for a lot of readers. I would highly recommend individuals read this text - there is so much meaning that can be drawn from every line of the story.”

“People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.” 

― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

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16 Quotes to Celebrate Reading & Literacy

The Chicago Literacy Alliance and its members believe that all Chicago residents should have the ability to identify, understand, interpret, and create the written word; advance beyond foundational literacy to develop skills that can lead to professional opportunities; and develop a lifelong love of reading and writing. This is currently an issue in Chicago, as 49% of 4th graders are reading below basic levels of proficiency and 30% of adults need basic literacy skills.

Chicago deserves a brighter future, and while addressing low literacy rates is tremendously complex, they know that the most innovative, successful solutions are not going to come from just one person or organization—they’ll come from a wide range of expertise and perspectives. They’re proud to help their member organizations work together to provide literacy services to 18 million people, and they look forward to highlighting literacy as an issue on which we can all have a positive impact. To that end, check out these quotes that celebrate literacy & a love of reading!

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Gender and Literacy

By Maddie Xilas, CLA Membership Intern

For the past three months I have been doing research and conducting interviews about the relationship between gender and literacy for my final independent project. Ultimately, I found that the gender reading/STEM gap affects people at all stages of their lives, not just young students. I learned that even at the doctorate level, women and men clearly pursue gendered degrees. 

Through the interviews I conducted, I also discovered that many factors contribute to the gender reading/STEM gap. I chose to focus on the three of the most common complaints: problematic gender dynamics, lack of diverse representation in content, and lack of men in literacy organizations. If you are interested in learning more, you can read the complete essay of my research here.

For some tips to combat gender inequity in literacy, see below:

1. Hold a screening for The Mask You Live In, a documentary that focuses on boys and why they tend to struggle with asking for help and the frustration they have with failure.  

2. Connect with local Women and Gender Studies departments and ask them to talk to volunteers about gender dynamics in the classroom and tactics to practically combat them.

3. Be aware of how much diversity you have in the content your organization uses.

4. Screen Miss Representation, a documentary about the importance of positive and diverse female representation in the media and in entertainment.

5. Connect with Kids Like Us, or simply look at their recommended book lists, which feature diverse characters (in many different gender roles) sorted by grade level.

6. Talk to groups that have developed strategies for recruiting men as tutors, such as Leading with Literacy, and find out what they're doing.

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Shakespeare’s Biggest Fan

While studying acting at Columbia College Chicago, Arin Mulvaney learned that the majority of her peers despised Shakespeare or thought he was boring or irrelevant, most likely because they had a boring or otherwise unpleasant experience with Shakespeare as kids. She wanted to change this. Arin started Shakespeare All-Stars in 2010 to introduce or re-introduce audiences to Shakespeare in a way that was fresh, accessible and fun. Now, adult actors have the chance to bring these incredible stories to life, and the students they work with have the opportunity to perform Shakespeare and make it their own. Learn more about Arin below.

She believes A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the gateway to Shakespeare. “Jill, the All-Stars Managing Director, calls it ‘the gateway to Shakespeare’, and it so is!” she says. “It has everything I love about Shakespeare: magic, romance, comedy and poetry!”

Surprise: Arin is an introvert. “WHAAAAAAAAA?!“ she says. “I know.”

Her favorite genre is self-help. “I’m reading Jen SIncero's You are a Badass at Making Money,” she says. “As artists, I think we sometimes forget that money is not only a necessity but a nice thing to have - we'll see if this book helps.”

She loves when people of all ages perform Shakespeare. There are so many things that Arin finds rewarding about her job. To name a few: watching students perform Shakespeare for their peers at the end of a residency, seeing kids make connections between Shakespeare and their own lives or pop culture and other art forms, and signing actor paychecks.

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CLA’s August Book Recs

Looking for something to read but don’t know where to find good book recommendations? Look no further! The CLA is filled with book-loving literacy folks who are constantly reading the hottest new books as well as the classics. Check out what we’re reading this month below, and join us on August 23 to get your book recs live at the CLA Confab!

Salt Houses- Hala Alyan

In this debut novel from Palestinian American poet Hala Alyan, a Palestinian family is displaced from their home and must begin assimilation in foreign cities, scattering from Kuwait City to Beirut, Paris, Boston and beyond. Their journey and displacement from place to place confronts the idea of what happens when you can’t go home again.

The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicles)- Patrick Rothfuss

This unique coming-of-age story follows the life of what will eventually become the most notorious wizard the world has ever seen. The Name of the Wind follows Kvothe’s narrative through his childhood, years spent as an orphan in a dangerous city, his bid into magic school, and his life as a fugitive after the murder of a king. You’ll want to read this story before both the feature film and TV series for The Kingkiller Chronicles come out, which will be produced by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.

A Beautiful Mind- Sylvia Nasar

The most surprising thing about John Nash winning the Nobel Prize in economics in 1994 was not that he won this esteemed prize, which many believed he deserved, but that he was well enough to receive it. Nash was stricken with schizophrenia in the late 1950s soon after being recognized as America’s brilliant young star in “new mathematics”, and the disease devastated his life. This biography tells Nash’s story, illustrates what it’s like to live with schizophrenia, and shares the journey to winning the Nobel.

Persepolis- Marjane Satrapi

The New Jim Crow- Michelle Alexander

Wizard and Glass- Stephen King

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy- Douglas Adams

The Graveyard Book- Neil Gaiman

Mrs. Pollifax on Safari- by Dorothy Gilman

Goodnight Moon- Margaret Wise Brown

Ragtime- E.L. Doctorow

Creative Confidence- David Kelley

Double Whammy- Carl Hiaasen

Dracula- Bram Stoker

Love Story, with Murders- Harry Bingham

The Sneetches and Other Stories- Dr. Seuss-

Nothing is True and Everything is Possible- Peter Pomerantsev

The Prospering Power of Love- Catherine Ponder

A Hundred Flowers- Gail Tsukiyama

A Series of Unfortunate Events- Lemony Snicket

Windy City Blues- Renee Rosen

Shattered: Why Hillary Clinton Lost the Presidential Election- Edward Harris

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone- J.K. Rowling

Fahrenheit 451- Ray Bradbury

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in A World That Can’t Stop Talking- Susan Cain

Bossypants- Tina Fey

Madame Bovary- Gustave Flaubert

The Rules Do Not Apply- Ariel Levy

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Keeping It In the Family (Part 3)

One of the perks of CLA membership is the ability to recruit trusted literacy professionals within the CLA community. It’s also a great network for people looking for the next step in their careers. In this 3-part series, you’ll read the stories of those who made the leap to new homes within the CLA. Finally, Dena’s story.

A Q& A with Dena Giacometti of Chicago Citywide Literacy Coalition

What were you looking for in the next step of your career? Advocacy has been so important to me throughout the budget impasse. I was looking to be able to harness my energy into that and looking for something that would allow me to work on a more city-wide and state-wide scope. Was remaining in the literacy/education community important to you during this search and why? Absolutely! I think that many socioeconomic issues facing our communities can be addressed via education. I think that many of them are especially relevant to adult literacy students. There was no question that I would remain in adult literacy, it was just a question of the right position opening up. What was your journey like from Centro Romero to CCLC? Centro Romero was awesome and working in direct service is a critical component to doing this work. The journey is really the story of the budget impasse. I had only been in my position for one year when I was faced with the budget impasse, which greatly impacted the field. I began an advocacy journey and engaged many adult education partners in the fight for a responsible budget. I am looking forward to continuing to engage those leaders in this new role. What drew you to CCLC? The fact that advocacy was in their mission and the forward thinking the coalition is doing surrounding career pathways. Did moving within the CLA/literacy/education community make the transition easier for you? Absolutely. I think that the literacy world in Chicago is at an amazing place and the collaborations that are taking place are incredible. Much of this collaboration is streamlined thorough the Literacenter and the Chicago Literacy Alliance. What do you get out of your membership in the CLA? The collaboration piece is huge. I think it allows organizations to piggyback off of each others work and be able to work in a more strategic way to improve skills for all individuals in Chicago.

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Keeping It In the Family (Part 2)

One of the perks of CLA membership is the ability to recruit trusted literacy professionals within the CLA community. It’s also a great network for people looking for the next step in their careers. In this 3-part series, you’ll read the stories of those who made the leap to new homes within the CLA. Next up, Alex’s story.

By Alex Dunbar, Program Coordinator at Literacy Volunteers of Illinois

I moved to Chicago from England a couple of years ago. I’d trained as a heating engineer back home to balance child-care and a none-too-burgeoning career as an actor. Moving to Chicago presented me with the opportunity to do something a little different.

Early on, and before my work permit came through, I saw an ad stuck to a door next to the DMV inviting people to consider tutoring with Literacy Chicago. I signed up and very quickly became inspired. Working with adult learners has been an amazing experience. I ended up teaching math, language, and history classes for the Adult Basic Education program at the Harold Washington Library.

At around the same time, I heard about a Masters program in Adult Education at DePaul University. The course complimented what I was doing at Literacy Chicago and also had echoes of the corporate training I’d taken part in as an actor back in England. DePaul places great stock in ‘agency’, and as a result of speaking to my tutor and my ongoing experience with adult learners at Literacy Chicago, I started exploring the possibility of teaching incarcerated youth.  

Walking through the CLA offices with Literacy Chicago’s June Porter led to a chance meeting with Dorothy Miaso, Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers of Illinois (LVI). It was during this and subsequent conversations that I became aware of the incredible work LVI undertakes in three of Chicago’s juvenile detention centers. I recently joined the team at LVI and began my role as Program Coordinator at IYC Chicago. As well as tutoring, I’m recruiting and supervising AmeriCorps members and setting up an evening tutoring program at the facility.

It’s certain that without the cross pollination that goes on at the CLA, I wouldn’t have had the initial meeting with Dorothy Miaso, and the whole process wouldn’t have felt quite so organic. I still feel very connected to Literacy Chicago and continue some tutoring on a one-to-one basis.

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The Ed Tech Entrepreneur

Caroline Crozier’s family has always been a major influence on her career choices and her current professional life. More than 30 years ago, she decided to take a break from the corporate world as a CPA auditor to take time to raise her children. While going through that transition, she started doing part-time education consulting and found her passion in it. That experience launched her entrepreneurial journey, and as a result, she founded CSC Consulting Group, which provides ed tech literacy solutions for Chicago Public Schools. Learn more about Caroline below.

She’s always been her dad’s protégé. “He mentored me since childhood to take care of the family and extend my service to the community as he did,” she says. “My dad’s proudest moment was joining me at the White House when I received the United States Small Business award presented by President Clinton. This experience for my dad was validation of immigrants living the American dream.”

Her work brings her personal gratification and connects her professional and advocacy work to her immigrant roots. “As the founder and CEO of CSC Consulting Group, I lead initiatives and seek strategic partners that focus on bringing new ideas and innovative solutions to the educational ecosystem,” she says. “Our primary goal is to impact learning and increase literacy levels for diverse students, especially the underserved, such as immigrants and English learners.”

Although she thrives in a fast-paced environment, she likes her quiet time. In her down time, Caroline enjoys quiet time with her husband and family surrounded by nature.

She lives by 3 Ps: passion, pride and perseverance. “I'm reading a book titled Getting It Done - Leading Academic Success by Karin Chenoweth,” she says. “I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who wants to gain insight from innovative principals who led schools and their communities in improving student outcomes. The case studies shared are very inspirational to anyone who is passionate, as I am, about making a difference in challenging learning environments, through passion, pride in the work and perseverance - the 3 Ps I live by.”

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The Collaborator

Angela Rudolph is involved in the best collaboration of her life right now. As Chief Operating Officer for ConTextos, she’s working closely with her colleagues Debra and Lisa to bring their powerful intensive writing program, Soy Autor, from El Salvador to Chicago’s Cook County Jail. Although she’s only worked with ConTextos since March, she’s already fallen in love with the staff and their work. Learn more about Angela below.

She’s a serial reader. “I start reading different books and I’ll put one down for a bit and pick up another, going back and forth until I finish,” she says. “Right now I have in my rotation White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson, The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead and Hunger by Roxane Gay. I recommend all of them.”

ConTextos allows her to work with her two passions. “I’ve worked in and around Chicago and Illinois policy and advocacy circles since 1998 in K-12 education reform and then in criminal and juvenile justice reform,” she says. “I’ve often been frustrated with how separately these two worlds operate despite, in my opinion, how intimately linked they both are. I think it can be argued one is the result of the failure of the other. I really like how, with my work at ConTextos, I can now marry my two passions to each other and utilize the lessons/strengths of each to reform the other.”  

One of her fond childhood memories is reading an anthology of African American folklore with her parents. “My mom came across it in a bookstore, and she and my dad would read me stories that included Bre’r Rabbit and Anansi the Spider,” she says. “I have really fond memories of the three of us reaching for that thick red book, especially on rainy days. It became one of the first books where I wouldn’t just listen but I’d also read to them.”

She loves the written word but doesn’t like writing! “I’m a sci-fi/horror lover who has been so since I was really young,” she says. “I have always devoured any and all of [Stephen King’s] books and others in the same genre. Yet as much as I love the written word (and work for an organization focused on creating/cultivating writers) I really hate writing! I agonize too much over each word, so it’s tough for me. My colleagues are trying to reform me!”

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Keeping It In the Family (Part 1)

One of the perks of CLA membership is the ability to recruit trusted literacy professionals within the CLA community. It’s also a great network for people looking for the next step in their careers. In this 3-part series, you'll read the stories of those who made the leap to new homes within the CLA. First up, Eileen’s story.

By Eileen Dominic, Member Success Manager at The Graide Network

After four years with Citizen Schools Illinois, first as an AmeriCorps Teaching Fellow in CPS neighborhood schools, then as Regional Operations Coordinator, I was looking for a new role where I could further develop my operations, communications, and relationship-building skills. The perfect position would be on a small mission-driven team where I'd have the opportunity to wear many hats and be involved in bigger-picture decision-making and organizational development.

Within days of launching my job search, I saw a post on the CLA Community Board for an open position at The Graide Network, another CLA member and Literacenter resident. The job description checked every single box on my list. I felt like I had the skills and experience the team was looking for. I had met CEO Blair Pircon at the Literacenter a few months earlier. It was too perfect to pass up.

During the interview process (which involved walking a few steps from my Citizen Schools office to a booked conference room), I was very quickly sold on The Graide Network's mission of giving students more effective feedback through a model that supports teachers, students, and aspiring educators. I loved meeting all of the members of the team and became even more excited about the role and work. As Member Success Manager, my main job would be recruiting, training, and supporting college student "Graiders," managing day-to-day operations, and, because The Graide Network is a small start-up, wearing the many other hats I'd been shopping for. When Blair made me an offer, I was excited to accept.

I have loved my time as a CLA member and Literacenter resident. I have gotten to work alongside and in partnership with some really awesome people and programs and love the sense of community that comes from working in a shared space toward a bigger goal. I am so glad that I still get to be part of this amazing community, and it certainly doesn't hurt that my commute hasn't changed and my favorite bookstore is still right downstairs.

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CLA’s July Book Recs

Looking for something to read but don’t know where to find good book recommendations? Look no further! The CLA is filled with book-loving literacy folks who are constantly reading the hottest new books as well as the classics. Check out what we’re reading this month below, and join us on July 19 to get your book recs live at the CLA Confab!

The Cubs Way: The Zen of Building the Best Team in Baseball and Breaking the Curse- Tom Verducci

Sports Illustrated senior baseball writer Tom Verducci shows the journey of Theo Epstein and Joe Maddon as they build the Chicago Cubs team that broke the longest championship drought in sports history after 108 years.

When Breath Becomes Air- Paul Kalanithi

On the verge of finishing his decade-long training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. This book chronicles his journey from medical student to someone questioning the meaning of life toward the end of his. It is a reflection of facing mortality from the perspective of someone who has been both a doctor and patient and asking “What makes life worth living?”

Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original- Robin D.G. Kelley

Known as the definitive book on modern jazz’s most original composer, Thelonious Monk tells the story of this jazz artist’s struggle to “make it” without compromising his vision. Thelonious Monk shook the jazz world to its core with his original, dissonant harmonies and created the jazz genre “bebop”, establishing himself as a great American composer.

Big Little Lies- Liane Moriarty

If you’ve loved the HBO series based on this book, you should read this. Big Little Lies follows three women each at a crossroads. From dealing with ex-husbands and second wives to schoolyard scandals and mother/daughter relationships, this book will bring to light the little lies we all tell ourselves to survive.

Key to Yourself- Venice Bloodworth

The Intelligent Investor- Ben Graham

The Lies of Loch Lamora- Scott Lynch

The Handmaid’s Tale- Margaret Atwood

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing- Judy Blume

Moonglow- Michael Chabon

Where’d You Go,  Bernadette- Maria Semple

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children- Ransom Riggs

Three Cups of Tea- Greg Mortenson

Bossypants- Tina Fey

My Beloved World- Sonia Sotomayor

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference- Malcolm Gladwell

Catcher in the Rye- J.D. Salinger

King Lear- William Shakespeare

2666- Roberto Bolano

Brooklyn- Colm Toibin

Ball Four- Jim Bouton

Last Days of Night- Graham Moore

Al Franken, Giant of the Senate- Al Franken

Pack of Lies- Gilbert Sorrentino

Dracula- Bram Stoker

For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood- Christopher Emdin

Under the Tuscan Sun- Frances Mayes

It- Stephen King

The Country of Ice Cream Star- Sandra Newman

The Secret History- Donna Tartt

The Art of Hearing Hearbeats- Jan-Philipp Sendker

Why Not Me?- Mindy Kaling

My Brilliant Friend- Elena Ferrante

Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics- Richard Thaler

Photo credit: Kirsten Fogg

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The Yes-Woman

Lisa Wagner loves saying yes to people. As Executive Director of Guild Literary Complex, she gets to say yes a lot to make big dreams possible. Through their innovative literary performances and writing contests, Guild Literary Complex celebrates underrepresented narratives and leverages the power of community with a mission of social justice and literary arts for all. Learn more about Lisa below.

She was in Jerusalem when the Second Intifada began. When Lisa went to the Old City to pursue an MA in sectarian Judeo - and early Christian relations, she never expected to be around for the second Palestinian uprising against Israel. “I was taking shelter from the ensuing chaos and mob in the 7th Station of the Cross with the caretaker there who had become a friend,” she says.

She had fun taking a romp through dinosaur history. In one of the coolest collaborations we’ve seen, Lisa helped bring to press a wonderful children’s book of limericks on dinosaurs called There Were Dinosaurs Everywhere!: A Rhyming Romp Through Dinosaur History. As the editor and project manager, Lisa worked with an extensive group of people, including an English writer, an illustrator from Kansas, a Chicago publisher, and Floridian designers.

In her free time, she loves spoiling kittens while drinking champagne. “If there is any time, I do love learning about plants and playing in my garden, while also spoiling my kitties and drinking champagne,” she says. “If given my druthers, I would run wild in the Colorado Mountains like I did when I was a kid, calling to the clouds and talking to the animals.”  

Lisa not only tries to make dreams come true, but also she loves reading about them. One of her favorite children’s books is The Secret Garden, because she enjoys reading “anything with those wonderful qualities of magic, transformation, loyalty, and the unending possibility of dreams.” It makes her want “to curl up with kitty, blanket, and tea, reading the whole long afternoon through.”

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The Magnanimous Musician

Steve Hartley has dedicated his life to three things: his family, his community and the creative arts. Being the Executive Director of Foundations of Music has allowed him to spend time with all three of those things, and through his work he’s helped strengthen communities and develop children into healthy adults through music. Learn more about Steve below.

His resume is extensive…and weird. “My values have led me to making career choices that have provided me with a wide variety of experiences,” he says. “In the last 20 years, I have been a middle school language arts teacher, a fundraiser for a legal aid center, a Blue Man in the Blue Man Group, and a professional musician specializing in drums and bass.”

He believes in the importance of music.  “When children from low socio-economic backgrounds are exposed to arts-rich academics in school, they see an 18% increase in the likelihood of graduating high school and a 23% increase in the likelihood of attending college,” he says. “Foundations of Music believes that studying music enables children to access a part of themselves that is creative, powerful, and inspirational. Children exposed to music education receive a lifetime of benefits, skills, and are enabled to express themselves in positive and powerful ways once they become adults of our community.”

He practices what he preaches. Steve has played drums and upright bass professionally, and he can also play guitar, mandolin, and percussion. He’s currently studying piano.

He loves science fiction. “I am currently re-reading the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov,” he says. “I recommend these books to anyone that is a true science fiction lover.”