2005 BORN TO READ Conference Highlights

A conference participant learns about the Maine Humanities Council and the Born to Read program. First Lady Karen Baldacci welcomes Rosemary Wells to the stage. Ashley Bryan talks with young readers. The book-selling table, run by Longfellow Books, was busy all day long!

On Saturday, May 7, 2005, over 125 early childhood professionals gathered at Portland High School for the "Early Literacy in a Changing World" conference. The day began with Rosemary Wells, who spoke about the importance of reading aloud to children daily. (Wells also addressed an audience of families in the afternoon.) Morning workshops covering nine topics were led by experienced, dynamic presenters. After lunch, Ashley Bryan (who had performed for the public on Friday evening) closed the conference with a performance that had everyone on their feet, reveling in the power of poetry!

Conference participants included child care providers, preschool teachers, college students, librarians, elementary school teachers, volunteers, speech therapists, college professors, and parents. They came from all over Maine, including the towns of Farmington, Lyman, Prospect, Long Island, Parsonsfield, Madison, Springvale, Belfast, Sidney, Cape Neddick, and Rockland.

The conference was dedicated to the memory of Marcia Lovell, a dedicated advocate for the importance of sharing the riches of the arts and humanities experiences with young children in Maine. Marcia's collaborative spirit and forward-thinking efforts helped shape the first Born to Read Volunteer Reader program, which has since grown to serve children and early childhood providers statewide.