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The latest news from the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy
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Bb | BARBARA BUSH FOUNDATION for FAMILY LITERACY
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MARCH 2022
Welcoming Springtime
President and Mrs. Bush enjoying the cherry blossoms in 1992.
Photo credit: George Bush Presidential Library and Museum

Dear Friends,
 
The cherry blossoms are blooming here in Washington, D.C. – a welcome sign that brighter, warmer days are just around the corner. Spring always feels like a new beginning to me, but it’s particularly special this year, as much of the world seems to be opening back up again.
 
It’s been a busy month for the Barbara Bush Foundation team. In addition to celebrating our 33rd anniversary on March 6, we’ve had the opportunity to visit Austin, New York, and Palm Beach this month. In the coming weeks, we’ll spend time in Seattle, Los Angeles, and Charleston. It has been truly wonderful to reconnect with our friends and supporters, and we look forward to visiting with even more of you in the months ahead.
 
Until then, wherever you are, I hope that each of you find the opportunity to get out and enjoy the beauty of springtime.
Warmly,
BRITISH A. ROBINSON, PRESIDENT & CEO
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SXSW EDU Recap
We had an amazing experience earlier this month at the 2022 SXSW EDU Conference & Festival. SXSW EDU is a reflection of the world’s most critical social issues as seen through the lens of education, bringing together thought leaders from private, public, and nonprofit organizations. Highlights of our time in Austin included:
 
  • Literacy: The Key to Equity & Economic Recovery Barbara Bush Foundation President and CEO British A. Robinson was joined by Ken Bigger, Senior Fellow at the American Library Association; Holly MacDonald, Chief Investment Officer for Bessemer Trust; and Denine Torr, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy at Dollar General (and Barbara Bush Foundation board member) for a fascinating panel discussion on how improving literacy rates can lift families out of poverty and drive economic recovery. READ MORE
     
  • Envisioning the Future of Adult Literacy In this edtech-focused panel, British A. Robinson appeared alongside Ted Dinsmore, President of SphereGen Technologies; Ellen Hisken, Senior Mixed Reality Specialist for Microsoft; and Andrew Sugerman, President of Sketchy and member of the Barbara Bush Foundation Technology Advisory Council, to discuss the use of cutting-edge tools to help address low literacy in America. READ MORE
     
  • Explore What’s Next In Education President and CEO British A. Robinson and Barbara Bush Foundation Technology Advisory Council member Shelley Peterson stopped by the T-Mobile for Education booth to record a conversation with Dr. Kiesha King, T-Mobile’s Senior National Education Administrator. Jump to the 47 minute mark to watch their interview, or enjoy the entire showcase, which also features representatives from the U.S. Department of Education and Lenovo. WATCH NOW
2022 Webinar Series
We were thrilled to be joined by New York Times bestselling authors Eva Chen and Brad Meltzer for our first webinar of the year, Inspiring the Next Generation of Changemakers Through Reading. Ellie LeBlond Sosa, author and granddaughter of our founder, Barbara Bush, moderated this virtual conversation on the power of reading to foster confidence, creativity, and self-acceptance in children.

If you missed it, you can watch the replay on our YouTube channel. We also encourage you to check out the list of fun and inspiring children’s books recommended by Brad, Eva, and Ellie. 
WATCH NOW
Ellie LeBlond Sosa, British A. Robinson, Brad Meltzer, and Eva Chen
Wall Street Journal's The Future of Education
As part of The Wall Street Journal’s Future of Education conference, President and CEO British A. Robinson joined Denine Torr, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy at Dollar General, and Dr. Corey Clark, Deputy Director of Research at Southern Methodist University Guildhall, for a virtual discussion moderated by Shirley Carswell, Executive Director of the Dow Jones News Fund.

The conversation, titled Breaking Barriers: Solutions for America's Literacy Crisis, highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the Barbara Bush Foundation, Dollar General Literacy Foundation, and SMU to develop Enigma, an innovative, game-based app for adult learners and families. The partners are currently pilot testing an updated version of the game (formerly Codex, a grand prize winner in the Barbara Bush Foundation Adult Literacy XPRIZE competition) that will expand the range of literacy skills to serve learners reading up to an eighth-grade level.
Book Explorers in Action

Book Explorers mentor and mentee at Woodmont Academy in Hillsborough County, Florida

Our newest reading mentorship program, Book Explorers, has now officially launched nationwide! Building on the success of our school-based program, Teen Trendsetters®, Book Explorers pairs students in grades 1-3 with a reading mentor and uses targeted strategies and activities to build literacy skills and confidence. 
 

The Book Explorers program resources are fully online and contain nonfiction and narrative digital books. Each digital book is accompanied by a mentor guide that helps mentors make the most of their sessions, and a parent guide full of fun, enriching activities. These resources are designed to engage and foster a love of reading in young learners. Parent guides also include access to a free adult literacy app for parents who wish to improve their own literacy or English skills without attending classes. 

To learn more about Book Explorers and how it might help students in your school or organization, contact us at bookexplorers@barbarabush.org

 
Barbara Bush Foundation Recognized by the Library of Congress 
We were honored to have Teen Trendsetters®, our long-running reading mentorship program, recognized with a Successful Practices Award by the Library of Congress’ 2021 Literacy Awards. President and CEO British A. Robinson recently joined the Library of Congress, along with other honorees, for a virtual conversation on successful practices related to literacy education beyond the classroom.
What We're Reading
If you’re looking for a quick, uplifting read, look no further than this recent article from The Washington Post: At age 101, he finally got his high school diploma.” The story of Merrill Pittman Cooper proves that it’s never too late to pursue a second chance at education.
Bb | BARBARA BUSH FOUNDATION for FAMILY LITERACY
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