[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4577]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING ALAMEDA COUNTY LIBRARY PROGRAM

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                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 16, 2007

  Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Alameda 
County Library. The Library's Write to Read Youth Literacy program at 
Juvenile Hall in San Leandro, CA, was honored on January 22, 2007 at a 
White House Ceremony in conjunction with the 2006 Coming Up Taller 
Awards. The Library's 8-year effort to help incarcerated youths read 
and write won a $10,000 Federal grant, the Coming Up Taller award, and 
plaudits at the White House Ceremony.
  The Coming Up Taller Awards recognize and support outstanding 
community arts and humanities programs that celebrate the creativity of 
America's young people, and provide them with new learning 
opportunities and a chance to contribute to their communities. The 
awards also highlight the contributions that historians, scholars, 
librarians, and visual and performing arts make to families and 
communities by mentoring children.
  The Alameda County Library's Write to Read Youth Literacy program at 
Juvenile Hall has introduced the joy of reading to more than 4,000 
incarcerated youths. Founded in 1999, Write to Read motivates and 
inspires young people housed in the Alameda County Juvenile Hall to 
strengthen their reading skills and make meaningful connections to 
authors and books that can positively influence the choices they make 
in their own lives.
  Offered 3 days a week, the Write to Read program enables youths to 
take books to their rooms, meet with authors, and engage in tutoring 
and book discussions.
  Alameda County Librarian Jean Hofacket was present at the White House 
ceremony to receive the library award along with Amy Cheney, juvenile 
hall librarian, and Hannah Kefala of Alameda, a former juvenile hall 
resident who now attends Chabot College in Hayward.
  Ms. Kefala said meeting authors through the program helped her learn 
``my human rights'' and gave her pointers ``on how to improve my 
future.'' Her comments are a testament to the success of the Alameda 
County Library's Write to Read Youth Literacy program at Juvenile Hall.
  I join the community in applauding the Alameda County Library's 
success and contributions to make a positive difference in the lives of 
youth incarcerated at the Juvenile Hall.

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