Decorative WOW Currents Banner

Invest In Youth as Readers 2025 Final Update – We Did It!

Over the summer, a group of young readers met in Worlds of Words for a focus group to better understand their needs as readers. They expressed a desire for more social connection. This connection certainly happens between peers in the program, and it also is a function of a wider community who connects in digital spaces like their Instagram or podcast feeds.

Middle schooler smiles next to an adult holding a clipboard

A Middle School Reading Ambassador shares her sketch with author and illustrator, Jose Pimienta, at a cartooning workshop run by the artist. Pimienta flew to Tucson for the workshop and provided special edition books to participants who bravely shared their work.

Continue reading

Decorative WOW Currents Banner

Invest In Youth as Readers 2025 Update

Contact Rebecca Ballenger, Worlds of Words Associate Director

It may seem sweet to have adorable kids engaging in the quaint act of reading, but we see ourselves on the cutting edge of children’s literature with plenty of opportunities for digital connection. The sustained focused reading we do with the hard copies of our books combined with the energy from so many bagels not only helps us gain new perspectives on the world, it helps us with the persistence to learn new technologies. This year, we will record the fourth season of our podcast, WOW Reads, while growing into additional digital spaces. This may include video, and it will most certainly include creating interactive graphics like the one below.


Click here to view the accessible version of this interactive content Continue reading

Decorative WOW Currents Banner

Invest In Youth as Readers 2025

Contact Rebecca Ballenger, Worlds of Words Associate Director

Worlds of Words renews our commitment to make a meaningful impact on middle and high school readers through the Worlds of Words Center Reading Ambassador program. Since its inception in 2018, the Reading Ambassador program has been instrumental in creating a community for young people around reading, equipping them with real-world skills and experiences that extend beyond the pages of a book. We hope that you will contribute to the success of the Reading Ambassadors by participating in our crowdfund campaign at crowdfund.arizona.edu/wow.

Teens share a laugh over a book Continue reading

Decorative WOW Currents Banner

Invest In Youth As Readers: Catch the Reading Ambassadors In Action

Contact Rebecca Ballenger, Worlds of Words Associate Director

Reading Ambassadors participate in literature discussions with books that offer multiple perspectives and equip them to be critical thinkers, empathetic citizens and reading promoters. Those experiences include hosting events with the book authors. Please join these remarkable readers in action at two events this October and consider making a gift at crowdfund.arizona.edu/WOW. Continue reading

Decorative WOW Currents Banner

Invest In Youth as Readers: 2024 Crowdfund Campaign

Contact Rebecca Ballenger, Worlds of Words Associate Director

This year, Worlds of Words offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on middle and high school readers through a crowdfund campaign benefiting the Worlds of Words Center Reading Ambassador program. Since its inception in 2018, the Reading Ambassador program has been instrumental in creating a community for young people around reading, equipping them with real-world skills and experiences that extend beyond the pages of a book.

For more information, visit our U of A Foundation crowdfund campaign website.
Continue reading