Read Aloud Storytime with Council for a Strong America Friends!

In celebration of Women’s History Month and National Reading Month in March, we launched a fun new mini-series titled “Read Aloud Storytime with Friends” where we invited some of our members and other friends to share their favorite stories with us. We know significant brain development occurs in the first five years of life, and research shows exposure to activities such as early reading are essential to a child’s development. With these videos, we aim to promote early literacy, help foster young children’s love of reading, and engage our members in advocacy efforts on early childhood care and education this legislative session.

This series features:

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids - Read Aloud Storytime with Chief Bisa French Chief Bisa French began her career with the Richmond Police Department in 1998, and was promoted to the rank of Chief in August 2020, making her the first African American and Latina Chief in department history, and the youngest ever to hold the position. Chief French is an active member of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, and is deeply committed to making a positive impact by improving relationships between law enforcement and the community, supporting the state’s youngest learners through investments in early childhood programs, and advocating for afterschool programs to keep youth engaged in positive activities.

ReadyNation - Read Aloud Storytime with CEO Lilly Rocha Lilly Rocha is a business owner, food industry expert, and CEO of the Latino Restaurant Association. As a complement to her work representing and supporting the growth and recognition of the Latino restaurant community, Lilly also advocates for increased investments in early childhood programs through ReadyNation. Lilly understands that our economy is stronger when our current workforce is supported with child care and our future workforce is put on a path to succeed in school and life.

Mission: Readiness - Read Aloud Storytime with VADM (Ret.) Jody Breckenridge Vice Admiral (Ret.) Jody Breckenridge has been an engaged member of Mission Readiness since 2010. Her commitment to veterans, service members and their families, and the community is evident through her service on numerous boards and civic organizations. Vice Admiral Breckenridge served 34 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, retiring in 2010 from her assignment as Commander, Pacific Area and Defense Forces West. Vice Admiral Breckenridge is a reading enthusiast and dedicated advocate for investments in early and K-12 education.

California Legislature - Read Aloud Storytime with Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris Cottie Petrie-Norris is a businesswoman and community leader who was elected to the State Assembly in 2018. Prior to being elected to the Assembly, Assemblywoman Petrie-Norris had a successful career in finance and technology. She has helped build businesses and lead teams at Fortune 500 corporations, small companies and start-ups. As a working mom of two young boys and a proud product of California public schools, Assemblywoman Petrie-Norris understands how important a quality early education is for the success of our children.

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