This past Friday, November 6th, READ USA welcomed community leaders, partners, supporters, and friends to The Schultz Center for our annual Peace in the Pages luncheon, an afternoon dedicated to celebrating literacy, recognizing outstanding community champions, and honoring the collective efforts that help children and teens build brighter futures.
This year's theme, It Takes a Team to Build a Reader, served as a powerful reminder that literacy is a shared responsibility. From educators and tutors to families, community partners, and advocates, each plays an important role in helping young readers develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
We were honored to welcome Super Bowl Champion, children's book author, and literacy advocate Malcolm Mitchell as this year's keynote speaker. Through his personal journey of discovering the power of reading and his continued dedication to youth literacy, Mitchell shared a meaningful perspective on the importance of ensuring every child has access to the opportunities that literacy provides.
His work through Read with Malcolm and the Share the Magic Foundation reflects his commitment to inspiring children to embrace reading, build confidence, and discover their potential.
A highlight of the afternoon was recognizing three outstanding individuals whose leadership, service, and dedication continue to make a meaningful impact in our community. This year's distinguished honorees included Stephanie Cost, recognized for her commitment to community leadership and philanthropy; Dr. Marva McKinney, celebrated for her decades of dedication to education and student success; and Nate Monroe, honored for his contributions to journalism, transparency, and accountability through the Mark Landen Memorial Award for Democracy through Journalism.
Each honoree represents the many ways individuals can strengthen our community and help create opportunities for future generations.
Beyond the inspiring remarks and special recognitions, Peace in the Pages was a celebration of the people who bring READ USA's mission to life every day. Our Teen Tutors, AmeriCorps members, educators, volunteers, and community partners are essential to helping children become stronger readers while creating meaningful opportunities for teens to develop leadership and workforce skills.
Seeing our community come together in support of this work reinforced the importance of collaboration and the lasting impact we can achieve when we invest in literacy.
A special thank you goes to Clary & Associates Professional Surveyors & Mappers, our Presenting Sponsor, whose generosity and partnership were instrumental in bringing this year's Peace in the Pages to life. During the luncheon, Tina Clary, Principal & CEO of Clary & Associates, shared a powerful reflection on the connection between literacy and opportunity. She recalled two young men whose experiences entering the workforce took very different paths: one who struggled to complete a job application because he could not understand the questions, and another who connected with Clary & Associates through READ USA's Teen Tutor Mock Interview Day and went on to secure a position with the company.
That second young man is Amari Jenkins, a former READ USA Teen Tutor whose participation in Mock Interview Day opened the door to a career opportunity he had never considered. His story is a wonderful example of how READ USA's Workforce Development programming, combined with the support of community partners, can help young people take meaningful steps toward their futures.
Read Amari's story: Mock Interview Opens a New Path for Teen Tutor.
As Tina reminded guests, "Literacy isn't just the ability to read and write. It is the ability to understand, to communicate, to learn, to dream—and ultimately, to have greater choices in life."
Her remarks captured why partnerships like this matter. Clary & Associates not only supports READ USA's mission but also helps create real opportunities for young people as they prepare for their futures. We are deeply grateful to Tina and the entire Clary & Associates team for their generosity, leadership, and continued commitment. We truly could not have made this year's Peace in the Pages possible without their support.
We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated volunteers who generously gave their time and energy to help make the day a success. From preparing the venue and welcoming guests to assisting throughout the luncheon, their behind-the-scenes efforts helped ensure a wonderful experience for everyone in attendance. We cannot thank them enough!
To all our sponsors, supporters, event participants, and guests, thank you for standing alongside READ USA and helping us continue this important work.
READ USA President & CEO Dr. Rob Kelly shares a special message of appreciation with everyone who helped make this year's celebration memorable.
Stay tuned! Next week, we'll share our official Peace in the Pages photo album and full event recording, giving you the opportunity to revisit the memorable moments, inspiring messages, and special celebrations from this year's luncheon.
Thank you for being part of our literacy team!
#FastFacts Wednesday
November is a month full of opportunities to celebrate learning, growth, and the skills that prepare us for success! This week's #FastFacts Wednesday highlights two important observances that connect directly to READ USA's mission: National Career Development Month and National Family Literacy Month!
National Career Development Month
Did you know November is National Career Development Month? Recognized by the National Career Development Association (NCDA), this observance encourages people of all ages to explore career possibilities, develop professional skills, and prepare for their futures.
Here are a few fast facts:
- Career exploration starts early! Introducing young people to different professions can help them discover their interests, recognize their strengths, and imagine future possibilities.
- Career development is a lifelong journey. From exploring interests in school to building new skills in the workplace, professional growth continues throughout our lives.
- November 16–20 is National Career Development Week! This year's celebration also includes National Career Development Day on November 18, encouraging students and professionals to think about their career goals.
At READ USA, workforce development is an essential part of our mission. Through our Teen Tutor and AmeriCorps programs, young people gain valuable experience while developing communication, leadership, responsibility, and professional skills that prepare them for opportunities beyond the classroom.
Learn more: Explore the National Career Development Association's 2026 celebration and resources.
National Family Literacy Month
November is also National Family Literacy Month, a time to recognize the important role families play in developing strong readers and lifelong learners.
Here are a few fast facts:
- Family literacy is about more than reading books together! Storytelling, conversations, writing, and everyday learning activities all provide opportunities to build literacy skills.
- Parents and caregivers are important learning partners. Reading and talking together can help children expand their vocabulary, strengthen comprehension, and develop positive associations with books.
- Literacy can be part of everyday routines! Reading recipes, making shopping lists, exploring signs, or sharing bedtime stories can turn ordinary moments into meaningful learning experiences.
Learn more: Discover family literacy activities from Reading Rockets, including practical reading and writing ideas for families.
Look out for more #FastFacts coming your way this month!
Children’s Book: Everyday Bean by Stephanie Graegin
Who says an adventure has to be enormous to be exciting? 
In Stephanie Graegin’s Everyday Bean, a little hedgehog named Bean discovers that ordinary days can be filled with surprises. Through a collection of short, charming stories, Bean navigates the small challenges and happy moments of growing up, often with Grandma nearby.
Graegin’s gentle humor and expressive illustrations capture the way a tiny problem can feel very big to a young child—and how much comfort can come from someone who understands. The bite-sized episodes make this book especially welcoming for developing readers, who can enjoy one story at a time while noticing details in the pictures.
Warm, funny, and full of personality, Everyday Bean celebrates curiosity, family connections, and the little moments that make everyday life worth remembering.
Parent Education Corner: Helping Your Child Understand What They Read
A child may read every word on a page and still have trouble explaining what the page means. Reading comprehension—understanding and thinking about what we read—develops through conversation, background knowledge, and practice. Families can support it with a few simple habits.
Before reading, ask your child what they already know about the topic. If the book is about a garden, talk about plants you have seen or grown. This gives new information something familiar to connect to.
As you read, pause when something is confusing. Ask, “What happened so far?” or “Is there a word we should talk about?” It is perfectly fine to reread a sentence or page.
After reading, invite your child to retell the beginning, middle, and end in their own words. For nonfiction, ask them to share two new facts and one question they still have.
Try to keep these conversations natural. The goal is not to get every answer right; it is to help your child think, wonder, and make sense of ideas. Understanding grows when children have time to talk about what they read.