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Janell Bolte, Director
San Francisco Raising A ReaderStudies show that one in three children entering kindergarten do not have fundamental pre-reading skills, a key dynamic in determining success in high-school and life-long achievement. Raising A Reader exists with the sole purpose of providing the support for healthy brain development, parent-child bonding, and early literacy proficiencies that are vital for triumph in school. Janell Bolte knows that the lack of reading skills can reverberate for the rest of a child's life, so she works hard to make significant impacts on lives through her involvement in this non-profit organization. While addressing the national need for effectual early literacy curriculums and giving new meaning to the word "book bag", Bolte is also doing something that is evidently necessary but too often overlooked: she is looking at the children. This week, realize how lucky you are to be able to read on, by soaking in the inspiration of Janell Bolte of Raising A Reader in this week's LatinConnect Non-Profit Spotlight!
Non-Profit
San Francisco Raising A Reader
Founded
1999
Website
www.raisingareader.org
Name
Janell Bolte, San Francisco Raising A Reader Director
Hometown
California's Central Valley
Current residence
San Francisco, California
Education
University of California at Santa Barbara BA- Art History: 1995
San Francisco State University MA- Museum Studies (Emphasis: Education): 2000
Past companies
Associate Director of Education, ZEUM, 1998-2002
San Francisco Raising A Reader Director 2002-present
Ethnicity
Mexican-American
About the Non-profit
Imagine every preschooler spending hours each week in a parent's lap, sharing their favorite storybooks together, and then arriving to kindergarten already in love with books.
That's the vision behind Raising A Reader. This program encourages caregivers to share books with young children daily so that important reading skills and a love of reading are developed during infant and pre -schools years.
At the core of Raising A Reader is a "take-home" book bag program, which provides kids and their families with bright red bags filled with high-quality children's books.
This program in NOT about teaching a 3-year-old to read. It's about introducing books early, so that they are a familiar and welcome part of their childhood. If a child loves books, when they are developmentally ready, they will love reading.
Most notable achievements
This year, Raising A Reader won the Fast Company Award for Social Capitalism and was named one of 25 groups that are changing the world.
What's the niche?
It's the bag! We choose the very best children's literature and the vehicle for getting the books home is a bright, red Raising A Reader bag. This bag is synonymous with fun. The kids know that something wonderful is lurking inside and most of them can't wait to get it open.
What's the biggest challenge?
Most of the families that I work with have literacy challenges--I am constantly assuring parents that they are capable and valuable as their child's first teacher. Regardless of their reading level or language barriers they are gifted storytellers. I let them know its okay to read the pictures, its okay to make the story up. Most parents don't realize that the words printed on the page are secondary. The PRIMARY experience is to spend time together. That's how positive memories around storytime are formed.
What's in store for the future?
For San Francisco, the goal is to reach saturation. That means providing Raising A Reader for 10,000 low-income and limited English speaking families. I'm passed the halfway point, there are currently 6,500 families participating. I need a strong finish, can't stop now.
Who would you like to be contacted by?
I would love to be contacted by any company or individual interested in funding the cost of books and those fabulous signature red bags. There is a waiting list for schools that want to participate--I want to make it happen for all of them.
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Guiding principle in life
Live in the moment.
Yardstick of success
I love being known as the "bag lady". When you enter a pre-school and a group of 4 year-olds looks at you like you're Brad Pitt...you know you're hot stuff.
Goal yet to be achieved
More families need books and need to feel good about sharing them with their kids. When book-cuddling takes the place of TV, I'll feel satisfied.
Best practical advice
Books are heavy. Lift with your legs.
Supportive words from a family member or friend on your venture
As an amazing colleague of mine once said, "it's always about getting one more on the life raft."
Mentor
Every good book I've ever read.
What motivated you to get started?
I worked for a children's museum for years and loved inspiring kids about the creative process, but one day I was handing out a simple instruction sheet to a group of third graders and half of the class looked at me with blank expressions. Most of them couldn't read! It was then that I did some research and found out that nearly 60% of Bay Area third graders can't read at grade level. Moreover, third grade reading scores are a prime indicator as to whether or not a child will graduate from high school. I just couldn't fathom that so many children were unprepared to learn.
The move over from art education to promoting early childhood literacy came easily. For most children, the first art they are exposed to is found within the pages of a picture book. One can easily argue that "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" is a genius work of primary colors and shapes. Plus, I had already been developing educational programming on a city-wide scale, this would just be for a much younger demographic.
“I love being known as the "bag lady". When you enter a pre-school and a group of 4 year-olds looks at you like you're Brad Pitt...you know you're hot stuff.” What keeps you motivated?
The kids--and kids are the most brutal audience. Get a group of 24 of them in a room and be prepared. They do not filter emotion, so you better be damn good when you try to entertain them.
Like best about what you do
It's gotta be the read-alouds. Seeing the delight in a child's eyes as she hears "Where the Wild Things Are" for the first time. There's nothing better.
Like least about what you do
The driving. I have 123 (yes, one-hundred and twenty-three different) Raising A Reader sites in the city and I am the sole employee, so I do a lot of driving.
At age 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Well I read (of course) "The Lives of the Saints" when I was young and thought the only way that I could perform miracles was if I were a nun. So, I wanted to don the habit and enter the sisterhood. Scary.
Biggest pastime outside of work
Bacon, not the food...my terrier-mix dog by the same name.
Person most interested in meeting and why
My mother's mother. Unfortunately, I never knew her.
Leader in business most interested in meeting
Bill & Melinda of course. The Gates Foundation funds educational programming in Oakland. Why not jump across the Bay? It's not that deep.
Three interesting facts about yourself
I grew up in a hair salon, my best friend is my dog and I love wine.
Three characteristics that describe you
Vivacious, motivated and curious
Three greatest passions
Education, children and Bacon
Favorite book
Herman Hesse's Siddartha
Favorite cause
Dog rescue a.k.a Bacon
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