2014 Sequoia Awards

The Sequoia Awards recognize local senior high school youth, who have significantly contributed to their community above and beyond their educational requirements. 

Project READ proudly recognizes our amazing teen tutors who were recognized for their community service at the 2014 Sequoia Awards.

Paul Chavez: (FLIC Teen Tutor )Paul is a leader in his community. Paul moved to Redwood City ten years ago from Peru and has been deeply involved in many community and school organizations and clubs, including tutoring young learners in Project READ.

Lizette Cuevas (KIP Teen Tutor) Lizette values both education and volunteerism and combines these passions while helping young Fair Oaks students improve their literacy skills. Lizette is a teen tutor in our Fair Oaks tutoring program (KIP), where she is paired with a third grade learner.

Chelsea Lollar (FLIC Teen Tutor) Chelsea has been both a learner and tutor at Project READ. As a teen tutor, Chelsea works with K-5^th graders to improve their reading, writing and critical thinking skills. She has volunteered in both our after school program and our summer programs, inspiring our youngest learners.

Audrey Poltrorak (FLIC Teen Tutor) While involved in many varied community service organizations, including collaborative partner Young Dreamers, Audrey has been a teen tutor in our drop-in program since her freshman year. She has dedicated countless hours to helping young students improve in their reading, writing and homework skills.

Kayte Toscano (FLIC Teen Tutor) Kayte and her family have been a part of Project READ since she was in elementary school. Kayte began with Project READ as a learner, and as her reading excelled, so did her commitment to Project READ. Kayte has been both a pre-teen and teen tutor at Project READ, dedicating countless hours of tutoring to our youngest learners both in our drop-in program and summer programs.

Viridiana Caracheo (FLIC Teen Tutor) Viri and her family have been a part of Project READ since she was a young girl. Viri first started with us as a learner, but quickly gave back by tutoring in our drop-in and summer programs. Additionally, Viri volunteered over 80 hours at Project READ through a program at her school, Summit Preparatory High School.

Project READ Teen Poetry Slam

This month five Project READ teens took to the stage in our first Poetry Slam/Open Mic event. Teens who were teen tutors in our Summer FLIC Summer Program worked together for several weeks creating and work shopping original poetry. Students worked with staff, volunteers, and a member of Youth Speaks, a youth organization based in the Bay Area.

Five of our teens read poetry at the slam that was held in the Community Room of the downtown Redwood City Library. Over 30 people were in attendance to support our teens. Congratulations to all of our poets!

‘The Planter’

Kyrie Perez Alvarez

‘Willow Tree’

Joy Velasco

‘Pursuit of Happiness’

Silvana Valle

‘Day 1’

Lindsey Bogott

‘Untitled’

Komal Kumar - read by Cesia Barrera

Project READ Teen Awarded Sequoia Award

This month one of our teen tutors was awarded the Sequoia Award for his outstanding community service and work with Project READ. William Dahu has volunteered at Project READ in the FLIC program for the past four years, committing many hours of time to tutoring and mentoring our youngest learners, as well as being a peer tutor to our teens. The Project READ staff was honored to be invited to the Sequoia Awards to support William for his commitment to literacy. William is a dedicated and thoughtful young person who adds to the Project READ community. Congratulations William!

Haikus by PR Writing Group

Our young Writing Group has been working on many genres of writing over the past few months. This month we are highlighting some of our tweens haikus.

Brianna & Sabrina's Haiku

Hardwork Inspires
Goals, success and fulfillment
Ends in Happiness

Kimberly & Kelly's Haiku

Our Friendship is strong
It will never break apart
Always Together

Project READ Writing Group

Cheryl--Facilitator/Tutor

FLIC’s newest pilot program for 2013 is our first writing group. Since the reading/writing connection is integral in improving literacy and writing skills, we decided to offer a program to our youth that embraces writing. The group is made of preteen learners, most of whom are also preteen tutors, allowing the students to bring their improved writing skills into their own tutoring. In their weekly meetings, the students work on both individual and collaborative writing projects that have already spanned from short fiction stories to poetry. The group’s goal is to contribute to our Project READ blog as “youth correspondents.” To prepare for this role, the writing group has already begun practicing the art of interviewing. The writing group meets weekly for over an hour, focusing on a new genre or style of writing each session.

Additionally, the learners are encouraged to bring in their own writing assignments from school to peer review. Within FLIC, an entire bulletin board has been dedicated to their work, and each session they add to it with finished products. In addition to writing, proofreading and improving their literacy skills, the tweens have also started presenting their works to FLIC families, learners and tutors, honing their public speaking and presentation skills. Within the very first session, it was obvious that these students’ confidences in themselves have already grown and the friendship between these leaners blossomed into true camaraderie. The community tutor who facilitates this writing group was impressed with the sense of community the students formed, as well as the positive affect peer-review and group work has on these teens. erowHer

Kelly

Kimberly

Her own youth learner is part of this writing group and often struggles with prioritizing homework and studying. Now that she is around peers who not only encourage, but also support her to tackle even the most daunting subjects, she has a renewed sense of determination to complete her tasks in order to get to more writing and time with her friends as FLIC. It is amazing to see what a positive effect youth have on each other. Project READ’s writing group’s curriculum is created by staff and led by a trained Project READ tutor.

Brianna

Sabrina

2012 Reflection

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”

― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

The end of the year will soon be upon us and it is the perfect time for me to reflect on my incredible experiences with Project READ. I have had the good fortune to meet so many kind and generous people. I feel a deep gratitude toward the learners.  I have learned so much from them and I will always carry their spirit of geniality with me whenever I think of Project READ. The staff is extraordinary as they have always encouraged and supported me in whatever volunteer project I have been involved in, whether it was one-on-one tutoring, being a table monitor for Summer FLIC or stuffing envelopes, to name just a few.  On top of fulfilling my dream of being a tutor, I have also had the extreme pleasure of writing for the blog. This assignment has taught me to be a better person as I have had the privilege of working with people who have transformed their lives in such positive ways.

I invite you to be a volunteer for Project READ and be a part of a team that is committed to helping people of all ages. There are many ways in which you can donate your time. Please pick up a brochure and find out what works best for you and see how you can make a difference in your community.

I wish you all a bright and happy holiday season!

Loretta Farris  

 

 

Loretta Farris is a Project READ volunteer tutor and writes monthly Project READ blogs about our learners, families, volunteers and events . She has been awarded the "Spirit of Project READ Award" along with her learner Evelyn for their commitment to Project READ. 

Project READ's Annual BBQ & Awards Ceremony

 Loretta's View of the BBQ!

The skies were a vibrant blue with just a hint of a cooling breeze as Project READ (P.R.) hosted its annual BBQ and Awards Celebration at the Community Activities Building in Redwood City. This year’s theme was “Pirates through the years”. As I walked through the entrance into the colorfully decorated hall, I was greeted by a motley crew of pirates. “Captain” Joanne, her “first mate” Jean, Chelsea  and Matthew the beloved “go-fors” assisted the arrivals. Jayita and Cecilia, a tutor/learner pair, handed out name tags as they signed in the numerous volunteers for the day. 

The children were given re-usable tote bags to decorate at the crafts table led by Maryanne, who is a volunteer for HOBA (Hands on Bay Area) as well as other volunteers from this incredible non-profit organization.  These volunteers also helped the kids to assemble eye-catching pirate hats and had fun creating pirate puzzles.

Long tables were set up with multi-colored balloons awaiting the delicious BBQ to be served later in the day. Opposite the tables, teen tutors Leslie and Marie were selling P.R. T-Shirts. Pam Patek, Youth (FIP) & Small Group Student/Tutor Coordinator, was in charge of the “Guess How Many Gold and Silver Coins” game. She says “there were tons of guesses” as people counted the coins from top to bottom, sideways and even picked up the jar to guess how many it held. The actual amount was 586 and Sara Martinez won with a guess of 589.

At last it was time to present the “Spirit of Project READ Awards”. Kathy Endaya, Director of Project READ addressed the crowd with an eloquent and thoughtful speech acknowledging the various entities such as “Redwood City Friends of Literacy” and the many volunteers that contribute so much to the success of Project READ. This year Angele Echele, Adult & Families (FFL) Student/Tutor Coordinator, honored the Adult Tutoring pair, Larry Knox and Trivan Lovings. Gil Gatea, Family Literacy Center Student /Tutor Coordinator and Brigid Walsh, Student/Tutor Coordinator honored Teen Tutor Katherine Ruiz. Pam Patek honored the Adult Tutor with Child pair, Gabriela Ake and Annie Georges. It was wonderful to see the beaming faces of all the honorees. Following the awards, yummy desserts were served courtesy of the kitchen crew.

Loretta Farris is a Project READ volunteer tutor and writes monthly Project READ blogs about our learners, families, volunteers and events . She has been awarded the "Spirit of Project READ Award" along with her learner Evelyn for their commitment to Project READ.