The readergirlz mission is to promote teen literacy and corresponding social service.
readergirlz is the cutting-edge literacy and social media project for teens, awarded the National Book Award for Innovations in Reading. It is a nonprofit volunteer organization.
Launched in March 2007, in celebration of Women's National History Month, readergirlz was cofounded by critically acclaimed YA authors - Dia Calhoun (Avielle of Rhia), Lorie Ann Grover (Hold Me Tight), Justina Chen (North of Beautiful), and Janet Lee Carey (Stealing Death).
rgz Operation Teen Book Drop has donated over 30,000 new YA books to under-served teens.
Our mission is to champion teen literacy and corresponding social service. Does that mean we are teaching teens to read? It could! Who knows what our next special project will unveil.
Generally though, we use the term "literacy" in a broader sense. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has created a definition for literacy: "the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, compute and use printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society."
You might also ask if the social service is performed by rgz as a nonprofit organization or by teens. We answer, both! This is a community where we encourage each other to read, reflect, and reach out. You'll find everyone giving back in some capacity.
How Do We Choose Books?
Our rgz Advisory Board, the postergirlz, nominate worthy titles to correspond to the divas' monthly themes. They showcase strong female protagonists while aiming to include:
* multicultural titles,
* various socioeconomic circumstances,
* the overlooked, quiet, literary works, and
* the commercial successes that everyone is excited about.
Press Links
readergirlz Launch
School Library Journal
Publishers Weekly
Seattle Times
Associated Content
Web Junction
Wikipedia
Awards
PageTurner Awards:
Official PageTurner Site
Innovations in Reading Prize:
Official Press Release
National Book Foundation
Huffington Post
Seattle Times
School Library Journal
Publishers Weekly
Seattle PI
Nonprofit Partners
American Library Association (ALA)
Walden Media
YALSA
First Book
31 Flavorites Press
ALA
School Library Journal
Publishers Weekly
GalleyCat
Create Readers
Shaping Youth
Operation Teen Book Drop, 2008
Official Press Release
News Tribune
School Library Journal
Night Bites, 2008 TRW
Official Press Release
Examiner
Shaping Youth
The Hour
SparkNotes
Operation TBD 2009
Official Press Release
Seventeen
Publishers Weekly
Shaping Youth
Media Bistro
Studio2B & Teen Blog for the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians
ALA
Examiner
Teen Read Week, Read Beyond Reality, 2009
Official Press Release
The Unquiet Library
YPulse
Walden Media
BookBlips
Alice's CWIM (Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market) Blog
iGossip
Rock the Drop, 2011
GL, Girls Life
Boing Boing
Seventeen
GalleyCat
Seattle's Child
General Press
Seattle Metropolitan Magazine: The Perfect Party
Blog Awards
Additional Press Releases
End of 2008 Celebrations
readertotz
