Dr. Bron Anders has been pediatrician consultant for the East San Diego County Kumeyaay Indian bands for more than 20 years. During this time the tribes have begun to attain economic sustainability along with an interest in learning and sustaining language and culture. Dr. Anders began to work with Lisa Welch Scalco, an early child development specialist from the Barona band . Lisa is currently in a doctoral program and is tribal chair of the Barona Band of Mission Indians. Together they took the first language classes offered in the Kumeyaay language. Lisa and Dr. Anders developed ROR programs at 2 sites, Indian clinics in Alpine and Campo. Lisa's grandfather, Tom Hyde from the Viejas reservation is one of the few elders who speaks excellent Kumeyaay . They began to imagine a series of books, following the ROR targeted ages, that could be published in Kumeyaay. Lisa and her grandfather put together the first 6 month old board book, illustrated by Lisa's niece and helped by a volunteer from the San Diego Literacy Council. Sunset Press published the book with donations from Barona and Viejas. "Children's Dreams" was translated into Spanish for the Kumeyaay people living in Baja California (6 villages), and Sycuan helped to publish these books. Lisa is currently working on a second book and Dr. Anders is helping to facilitate a story book for the Mexican Kumeyaay that can be tri-lingual.

Kudos to Dr. Anders and Lisa Welch-Scalco for going above and beyond Reach Out and Read!

Thanks to the efforts of Nurse Practitioner, Marilyn Braun, Reach Out and Read is now underway at 2 new locations- Children's Primary Medical Group (CPCMG) Chula Vista 3rd Ave. and Otay Lakes Rd. Marilyn reports that she was pleasantly surprised by the free box of books Scholastic sent and is excited about ROR. Keep up the good work!

Several Reach Out and Read sites in San Diego county received book funding from Target between $1000 and $5000! Congratulations to these site, their efforts paid off. The collaborative also received a grant from Target. Each site submitted the straightforward application to their local Target manager. Target is looking for innovative ways to support the community, and next year they will be introducing an on-line grant application. However, it's still a good idea to make contact with your local store manager and share with them about Reach Out and Read in the neighborhood. Target grants are due May 31, 2007.

Reach Out and Read (pediatric literacy program) was the only US literacy program, and one of a few global programs, discussed at the White House Conference on Literacy. Click below on Read On...