We are proud to announce our 8th annual 2013 ON THE SAME PAGE community reads event headed by Pájaro Valley Unified School District’s Extended Learning Program, Family Literacy Project. Together with our main community sponsor, Ow Family Properties, we will feature Enrique’s Journey by twice Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist/author Sonia Nazario.
Ms. Nazario has spent more than 20 years reporting and writing about social issues, most recently as a projects reporter for the Los Angeles Times. She has won numerous national journalism and book awards tackling some of this country’s most intractable problems: hunger, drug addiction, and immigration. In 2012 Columbia Journalism Review named Nazario among “40 Women Who Changed The Media Business In The Past 40 Years.”
Enrique’s Journey, an astonishing true story, recounts the unforgettable odyssey of a Honduran boy who braves unimaginable hardship and peril to reach his mother in the United States. Based on the Los Angeles Times newspaper series that won two Pulitzer Prizes, one for feature writing and another for feature photography, Enrique’s Journey is the timeless story of families torn apart, the yearning to be together again, and a boy who will risk his life to find the mother he loves. Expanded into a book, Enrique’s Journey is a national bestseller, won three book awards and is soon to be a movie. “If you only read one non-fiction book this year, it has to be this because you know these young heroes. They live next door . . .” Isabel Allende
The main event is a presentation, photo essay and book-signing by Sonia Nazario:
Author Presentation and Book-Signing
November 14, 2013, 6:00 PM Doors open at 5:30 PM
Henry J. Mello for the Performing Arts
250 East Beach Street, Watsonville
Limited FREE tickets ($25.00 value) available at the Watsonville, Freedom and Pájaro Public Libraries and Crossroads Books in Watsonville. THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Other events which are part of the 2013 On the Same Page:
October – December: District-wide classroom participation
November – December: Parent and community book clubs & independent reading. Book Friday, November 15: Pájaro Valley & Watsonville High School Presentations
Sorry, these presentations are not open to the public
On The Same Page was originally founded under the leadership of George Ow Jr. together with a group of leaders in business, education, and the community who were committed to bringing inspiring authors to the Pájaro Valley. The mission was to support educators and to empower our
youth and their families by maximizing educational experiences to achieve success in the new global economy. When the community group dissolved, the Pájaro Valley Unified School District, under the leadership of the After School Program Division’s Family Literacy Project, together with Migrant Education and Owe Family Properties, made a commitment to continue this program into the future. This year we welcome Watsonville Public Library and MidPen Housing @ Villas del Paraiso as new sponsors.
On The Same Page goals are to:
- Support our students develop their personal identity and positive self-esteem
- Identify and discuss productive ways for overcoming challenges, negative experiences,
and past and future failure
- Create an eye-opening lesson for students and adults
- Recognize the power of passion and resiliency
- Promote knowledge and good mentorship
Previous year events and author presentations continue to positively impact and inspire our students. Each year student classroom curriculum is developed and adapted for adult book club use. Prizewinning books and authors from previous year events include Burro Genius by Victor Villaseñor, The Circuit by Dr. Francisco Jimenez, Zoot Suit by Luis Valdez, Across a Hundred Mountains by Reyna Grande, SeedFolks by Paul Fleischman, and Thunderweavers by Juan Felipe Herrera. Books and curriculum continue to be utilized and enjoyed by students district-wide. Participating teachers share that it is truly exciting and meaningful to know that other staff, students, parents and community members are sharing the same learning experience. Students share that these books have inspired them to read and to move beyond their personal challenges.
This year there are 30 classroom teachers participating at various middle and high schools and eight Parent/Adult Book Clubs community-wide.