Today we’d like to introduce you to Aileen Sanchez Gonzalez.
Hi Aileen, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up in Hialeah, Florida, as a child of Cuban immigrants, I witnessed the importance of education and the challenges that many children face in accessing educational resources. After obtaining my bachelor’s degree in English Education and my Master’s in Reading Education from Florida International University, I became an English middle school teacher.
In my 10 years of teaching, I saw firsthand how a reading gap can impact students’ academic, social, and emotional well-being. During the pandemic, I witnessed these gaps widen among our most vulnerable students. These experiences inspired me to found Uplift Literacy to help children in historically marginalized communities access the resources they need to improve their literacy skills and become proficient readers.
My education and experience in teaching English and reading have equipped me with a deep understanding of the importance of early literacy interventions and the role they play in shaping a child’s future. Through Uplift Literacy, I am committed to making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families by providing the support and resources they need to succeed academically and in life.
As a newcomer to the nonprofit realm, I was uncertain about what to anticipate. However, I was surprised by the extent of collaboration among organizations throughout Miami. Despite each organization having distinct objectives/missions, they all strive towards creating a positive impact in people’s lives. Observing individuals unite for the greater good is a beautiful sight to see.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Although it can be challenging to balance the tasks of managing a nonprofit organization and raising two young children, I take pleasure in setting an example for my children. I hope to instill a love for literacy in my children and emphasize the significance of community service.
In addition, as an organization, we face the challenge of acknowledging the substantial need for early literacy interventions in our city, while unable to serve all children. As of 2022, 44% of 3rd-grade students in Miami-Dade public schools scored below grade level in reading. We are committed to enhancing our capabilities to assist a more extensive range of children throughout Miami-Dade.
As you know, we’re big fans of Uplift Literacy. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Mission
Uplift Literacy’s mission is to maximize lifelong success for underserved children by improving their reading proficiency – at school, at home, and in their communities.
We believe that all children deserve the opportunity to develop proficient reading skills and achieve their full potential. By offering free services that promote and build early literacy skills to those who may not be able to afford them, we empower children and communities most in need. The ability to read is a human right, and we envision a Miami where all children have the tools needed to succeed in school and life. At Uplift Literacy, we improve the academic outcomes of early struggling readers through research-based practices grounded in the science of reading.
Our Core Programming
ReadingPals is an early literacy initiative that pairs volunteer mentors from the community with students in Pre-K through 3rd grade who are struggling with reading or at risk of falling behind. Our volunteers build meaningful relationships with children while helping improve their social-emotional development and early literacy skills. Our program is based on the five pillars of effective reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Our tutors provide high-quality and motivating instruction in the critical components of reading to help children build foundational literacy skills.
Our family engagement events are designed to connect families to existing resources in the community and educate families on how to become advocates for literacy development at home. We host a quarterly storytime for families where parents and caretakers are introduced to foundations of early literacy, educated on tools that can be used to support literacy development at home, and provided with free books to create a literacy-rich environment at home while simultaneously instilling a love for reading in children.
Our free book bin distribution program aims to provide historically marginalized communities with easy access to diverse books. We achieve this by placing book bins in the waiting areas of local businesses, such as laundromats, barber shops, and pediatric offices. This approach ensures that children have access to books in a convenient and accessible way. Furthermore, by promoting a culture of reading within the community, parents and caregivers are encouraged to prioritize reading with their children. It is well-documented that children who have access to books achieve higher levels of academic success.
Thanks to the dedication of our board, volunteers, and supporters, our organization has distributed over 1,200 books throughout businesses in Miami-Dade County to help increase access to books for children. Additionally, we have provided over 550 hours of free reading interventions to children in grades PreK-3 and have assisted over 100 families to equip them with tools and resources to aid in their children’s literacy development.
Our organization is seeking more volunteers to assist us in expanding our reach. The greater number of volunteers we have, the more children and families we can serve. If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of children in our community, please visit our website at www.upliftliteracy.org.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
A cherished memory from my childhood is when my family and our friends gathered on “Noche Buena” to commemorate the festive season.
The festivities included my father’s skillfully roasted pig, my mother’s delicious rice and beans, and my sisters and I performing songs for our guests. The evening was accompanied by lively salsa music playing in the background.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.upliftliteracy.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upliftliteracymiami/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UpliftLiteracy
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uplift-literacy
