National Literacy Action Week

Since moving out to Los Angeles about a year and a half ago, I’ve helped out with a few volunteer events from time to time, but really haven’t gotten involved with my local community the way that I was involved when I still lived in Philadelphia (let’s call it transitional lassitude). Since returning from Cambodia a couple of weeks ago, I’ve decided to turn a couple of things around here and really focus in on ways that I be more effective in my life, and also make my life more impactful on a greater scale.

That said, this week I started taking yoga (some inner focus always helps), began a new class, and yes—signed up for a volunteer tutoring position at a local non-profit organization! From now on, I will be tutoring with this organization twice per week, and am really excited about it!

What I’m further excited about is the timing. Unbeknownst to me when I signed up—this is actually National Literacy Action Week! The NLAW is celebrated January 28, 2008 to February 2, 2008 and campuses all around the country are participating. Originating with SCALE (Student Coalition for Action in Literacy Education) at the University of North Carolina, this week will feature workshops, tutoring and tutor recruitment, storytimes, and book distributions, and other literacy awareness activities. For more information, click here.

Not that doing good deeds ever goes out of style, but I’m pretty proud of myself for being so with the times for once. Join me this week (and every week) by getting more involved in your own community—even little things can make a big difference!

Posted by Natasha Harris, Pacific Senior Director, Better World Books