We call it "Operation Read" and it's what women across the Quad Cities are doing to help ensure our youth are ready for school. In 2005, United Way of the Quad Cities Area conducted a survey of 8,000 local young people to determine how many of the 40 Developmental Assets critical to a youth's future success they posses. The results - Quad City youth possess only 19 of the 40 assets, shy of the ideal 31 assets the Search Institution reports they should have. In addition to the number of assets, we found only 22% of our areas youth enjoy reading for pleasure. When United Way's Women's Leadership Initiative members learned of the results, they knew they could make a difference and they did.
To help promote asset #25 Reading for Pleasure, members of the WLI put on their creative hats, called upon their friends and initiated Operation Read. The group formed partnerships with the Scott County Family Y and Two Rivers Y after school programs and started a rotating monthly reading schedule.
Today you'll find WLI members and their friends volunteering to spend one hour a week reading to children, but they didn't stop there. Determined to engage the kids in fun and exciting reading activities each group took it upon themselves to come up with themes and fun activities associated with their stories.
Liesl Fowler, a WLI member and Operation Read group leader found a creative way to go beyond the book with a "travel" theme for her seven-person team. Students were engaged in discussions about the places they'd traveled, where their holiday guests were coming from, and the various forms of travel. They also helped the students make their own "passports" complete with pictures and held a paper airplane contest.
When asked about the experience Operation Read volunteers said,
"It was a fun experience, very rewarding. It's amazing how much the children were into every single project we offered them. After being at school all day you would think their interest in additional after school projects might be in question. But every child our group was involved with was attentive and seemed very appreciative of our time." - Cheryl
"Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The fact that simple activities tied to the messaging of a children's book can enlighten and engage them with development, it is truly inspiring to see." - LuAnn
"Great opportunity to share my love of reading and books with youth of today." - Nancy
The results of Operation Read...when the program began in January of 2007 just 38% of the children said reading was one of their top three favorite activities. After just a few months that number grew considerably with 53% of children including reading in the top three.
If you would like to get involved in Operation Read, or support the initiative, please contact Karrie Abbott at kabbott@unitedwayqc.org or 563.355.4310.
