Earlier this year, we kicked off another amazing #WorldReadAloudDay celebration on February 7th, 2024! Millions of readers, writers, and listeners worldwide came together to share the joy and power of reading and storytelling.
My One Year Reflection
Introducing LitWorld's New Executive Director
The LitWorld team is thrilled to officially announce our new Executive Director, Caitlin Cassaro.
Caitlin Cassaro
Caitlin joins LitWorld following an impressive ten years as the Executive Director of Extreme Kids & Crew, an organization dedicated to providing play and arts programing, as well as social-emotional learning and family support, to young people with disabilities. Before Extreme Kids, she served as CFO for Friends of Firefighters, a nonprofit mental health and wellness organization founded in response to the 9/11 attacks, and co-founded the Red Hook Playgroup, a nonprofit progressive community-based preschool. Caitlin is also a dual masters’ (MBA and MSW) recipient.
Caitlin believes deeply that service is successful only when done in collaboration with the people and communities being served. She takes great pride in leading nonprofits with transparency, business acumen, and empathy. She is incredibly honored and excited to step into the role of new Executive Director for LitWorld, an organization that encompasses the values she holds dear, and to partner with the staff and board to drive the mission forward.
“I deeply connect to LitWorld’s mission and appreciate how our community-based programming comes to life through collaboration and respect. To be literate is to be able to read the world around us—to be able to tell our story— and I am honored to be part of the team and to deepen and expand this valuable work.”
Upcoming LitWorld Leadership Transition
Dear LitWorld Friends,
We wanted to share with you some important transitions and updates.
Dorothy Lee, the Executive Director of LitWorld, will be stepping down in September after 12 years with the organization. Dorothy has always been a dedicated and passionate leader for LitWorld, and she leaves big shoes to fill. This is particularly the case given the breadth and depth of experience we seek in this role—spanning literacy and social emotional learning, U.S. and global education, as well as outstanding conceptual, development, and leadership skills. And, of course, someone with a deep personal passion for LitWorld’s work and mission.
We will launch a search for Dorothy’s successor this week. Dorothy will continue to lead until her departure, and we are in the midst of identifying an acting director in case there is an interim period before the new Executive Director is identified.
This is an exciting moment for LitWorld. The work has never been more necessary, and we have a clear path forward to drive even greater impact in the communities that need us most. Still, we are taking this opportunity to engage in active thinking, learning, and dialogue around our programmatic work, and always challenging ourselves on how we can deepen LitWorld’s continued commitment to strengthening kids and communities through the power of stories. We look forward to sharing more updates on this journey with you in the coming weeks and months.
Best,
Samantha, Dorothy,
& LitWorld Leadership
After Devastating Natural Disasters, Our Partners Need Our Support
It is no surprise that this year has been beyond challenging for everyone - especially the communities that LitWorld works with from around the world.
In these last few weeks, a series of natural disasters have devastated many families in Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Philippines who were already facing losses in food, resources, employment, and school-time due to COVID-19. LitWorld’s partner organizations working in these communities have shown again and again to be incredibly innovative, responsive, and quick to act to support these families and kids to the best of their abilities - and you can help.
Here are 3 LitWorld partner organizations working in emergency relief situations that you can support:
Un Mundo, Honduras
Over the course of just a few weeks, Honduras was hit by two hurricanes, causing severe damage across the country.
In the mountainous region where Un Mundo and LitWorld work, the rains have washed away roads and bridges, leaving communities inaccessible by transport and often isolated from relief efforts.
Un Mundo is working hard to access these communities and provide the affected families with food, clean water and necessities, including educational materials for children unable to attend school at this time. You can support their relief efforts here.
Fabretto, Nicaragua
Buildings destroyed by Hurricanes Eta and Iota
Similar to its neighboring Honduras, Nicaragua has been battered by Huricanes Eta and Iota in the matter of two weeks.
Our partner organization Fabretto has been supporting communities on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua and working hard to provide basic needs and supplies to those dealing with the aftermath of the disasters.
Many families have been displaced from their homes, without access to clean drinking water, food, or shelter at this time - and the kids and families that LitWorld works with are no exception. To support the urgent work our partners at Fabretto are doing and provide families with life-saving supplies, you can donate here.
Project PEARLS, Philippines
Project PEARLS in the Philippines has been working to support the communities hit hard by two powerful cyclones in just four weeks, Vamco and Goni. which have left many communities without power, water, or homes.
Project PEARLS has been on the frontlines of urgent response teams, working hard to provide families with hot meals and other resources.
As PEARLS have always incorporated LitWorld programs into their emergency response, the children displaced from their homes and out of school are also receiving emotional support through books, reading corners and access to caring adults and safe spaces to share. To support communities affected by the typhoons in the Philippines, click here.
Traveling the World with the #GlobalHeartMap Project!
This past spring, we reached out to you for the launch our aspirational #GlobalHeartMap project. At a time when many of us felt more distanced than ever due to the pandemic, we asked you to help bring our global community together by sharing what's in your heart with others around the world.
Now, after receiving hundreds of submissions from dozens of different countries, we are thrilled to share this truly global collection of #HeartMaps!
From New York to the Netherlands, Romania to Rwanda, and Canada to Colombia, thank you to everyone who has participated in our #GlobalHeartMap project.
We are so inspired by this display of unity, resilience, and hope.
Reaching Even More Kids at Home with Zigazoo!
With the new school year beginning amidst the ongoing pandemic, students around the world are facing greater obstacles than ever when it comes to continuing a meaningful, positive education.
That is why in addition to our Virtual LitClubs, we are proud to announce our new channel on Zigazoo: a revolutionary remote-learning app for kids!
One of the LitWorld projects on Zigazoo.
Founded earlier this year, Zigazoo is a free app that offers kids engaging and educational prompts that they can respond to with their own short videos.
With over 2.5 million views as of this week, LitWorld is working with Zigazoo to reach millions children around the world.
Together with the Pheonix Zoo, Glazer's Children Museum, and more, LitWorld will be joining Zigazoo to provide joyful learning to kids everywhere.
Check out our channel now by downloading the app and searching for LitWorld, or learn more about Zigazoo by visiting their site or reading about their recent launch today.