Family Literacy in the Time of COVID-19 and Call to Action
Written by Tamara Starr
Watch the recording of “Family Literacy in the time of COVID-19: Impacts Now and Moving Forward” is now available below. This webinar features Dr. Denny Taylor and she is an author, researcher, and educator who has been active in the area of family literacy for forty years.
This webinar will explore the many ways family literacy initiatives throughout the world have been used to address local crises and now can provide families with opportunities to survive and thrive in a post COVID-19 world. This webinar will bring the human experience to a new place as the world reopens into a “new normal.” Participants will learn how to reimagine human connections and how to support and care for families. This event is being held in commemoration of the 27th Anniversary of the UN International Day of Families.
Call to Action
The webinar concluded with a call to action, #ForTheLoveOfOurFutureLeaders, which involves submitting a photo of an elder in your own family and sharing why this person is special to you. You can do this on your own, or you can help a younger member of your family get involved with this initiative.
This project was designed to bring families together, and to encourage children to join in by collaborating with a parent or caregiver in a fun way.
Please note that by sending the photo and paragraph you give permission for WFWPI to share on social media and for Denny Taylor to share and write a paper about the photos and paragraphs that everyone sends.
About the Speaker
Dr. Denny Taylor is an author, researcher, and educator who has been active in the area of family literacy for forty years. The concept of family literacy originated from her doctoral research and launched her life-long passion to improve the lives of families, with a focus on children. In 2013 she founded Garn Press and uses her company to mentor writers, as well as help teachers and scientists publish books that address urgent global issues. Dr. Taylor was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018. In 2019, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Columbia University and the Distinguished Scholar Award from NCRLL. Her desire to help families overcome challenges led her to write 17 books - many are being used in universities around the world. UNESCO uses her work in supporting vulnerable populations worldwide.