A New Chapter Begins

Worlds of Words hosts our 10th cadre of Reading Ambassadors this academic year just as The Atlantic hits us with the headline, The End of Reading Is Here! The middle and high school readers in this group of Reading Ambassadors buck the downward "slump" in reading as reported by the National Endowment of the Arts and others by creating communities of readers their age while practicing real-world skills and experiences that extend beyond the pages of a book.

Setting & Characters

Photo by Bob Bingham PhotographyThe Reading Ambassador Program (RAP) is designed to immerse local middle and high school readers in a college-like experience in literature written specifically for them. Reading Ambassadors meet on the U of A campus in the Worlds of Words Center with occasional "field trips" to other campus locations. They sit in real university classrooms and talk to guest speakers in academia in preparation for author visits and other bookish events.

Reading Ambassadors come from a range of schooling experiences including public, private and charter schools and gain as much insight from each other as they do from the "pros." And they put in a lot of work! Reading Ambassadors choose their books and decide how best to share them with friends and peers with guidance from faculty and staff with backgrounds in children’s literature, education, library science and marketing.

Each "book cycle" spans two months. We have a month to read their selected book, then we meet to discuss and create plans for how to share it with peers. The second month, middle schoolers host an event for any interested readers during which they meet the author of the book they read while teens create a 'zine and explore ways to take action. Reading Ambassadors are responsible for set up and clean up, greeting attendees and partners, and moderating the program. Finally, we record an episode of our podcast to unpack the whole experience.

The Plot Thickens

Photo by Melanie Reyes
We conducted a focus group a little over a year ago and learned that participants in RAP feel they have support at their school academically, athletically and artistically. What they miss is social time with peers. The time Reading Ambassadors spend in Worlds of Words is largely analog, in small groups and with plenty of bagels and hot chocolate. Outside the program, the teens have their own private group chat where they can talk about how much they enjoy the program -- we presume.

As two things can be true at once (a program that is both social and academic), the Reading Ambassadors play an important role in literacy promotion because they share their experience with books in their social and academic contexts. They participate in literature discussions and engagements that mimic the experience of upper division children's literature classes, devise strategies to share their new insights and plan and execute public events and projects.

The more Reading Ambassadors engage in conversations with their peers and trusted adults, the more they gain autonomy, independence and confidence while improving their communication skills. One thing that hasn't changed about the program over the past ten cadres is the requirement that Reading Ambassadors share literature with their school libraries (or English/Language Arts teacher). This initiative not only enriches school library collections but also broadens access for all students.

Your Role

Photo by Bob Bingham PhotographyYou can directly contribute to reversing the national slump in reading by encouraging the Reading Ambassadors in their work and providing continued access to middle grade and young adult literature and the deeper understanding of issues the Reading Ambassadors gain from reading. We hope that you take a look at the giving levels on this page and find one that's right for you. You can also come to one of our events, listen to our podcast or read one of our 'zines (stop by to pick up a copy or email wow@arizona.edu about how you can receive one in the mail). You can be an ambassador for the Reading Ambassadors by sharing this campaign in your circles.

Thank you for considering this remarkable opportunity to invest in youth readers. Your generosity will make worlds of difference.