Fort Bliss Monitor

‘Read El Paso, Read’ campaign kicks off

Spc. Steve Baack
Monitor Staff

Brig. Gen. Francis Mahon, deputy commanding general, talks of his support for the campaign at the press conference.

The El Paso Empowerment Zone, in association with various community partners including Fort Bliss, held a press conference at the Armijo Public Library Monday to discuss the “Read El Paso, Read” initiative aimed to confront El Paso’s literacy concerns.

The campaign, which will distribute more than 100,000 free books during the year, aims to increase literacy, reading and library use. Those who participate in the campaign are asked to read for 20 minutes a day for five days a week, and students are encouraged to write down their progress in a “Read El Paso, Read” journal for rewards and prizes. The first book giveaway is scheduled for Feb. 19 at the YISD Auditorium at 9600 Sims.

Speakers at the event included Brig. Gen. Francis Mahon, deputy commanding general; Sylvestre Reyes, Texas congressman; Hector Montenegro, superintendent, Ysleta Independent School District; Margarita Velez, committee chair for the initiative; Carol Brey of the El Paso Public Libraries; Laura Gomez of the YWCA, and others.

The initiative came about in part due to growing scrutiny over El Paso’s literacy rate. For the second consecutive year, a study at the University of Wisconsin named El Paso the least literate of 65 metropolitan areas in the nation.

“Yes, we did receive that dubious distinction,” said Velez, who spoke at the press conference. “But rather than cringe and gnash our teeth, we decided to do something about it.”

“I fully support the initiative,” said Mahon, who represented Fort Bliss at the press conference. “I think the initiative is going to bear great fruit for the community and the nation.”

Lead by Capt. Robert McCormick, branch chief for the Officer Basic Course here, students of OBC are planning to sort the more than 70,000 books by age group and language, from Feb. 16 through 18, to be given away Feb. 19. The books have been donated by and through different community organizations. “I think it’s a great, worthwhile cause, and when you get people behind it that believe in it, it’s much easier to do,” said McCormick.

Congressman Reyes also spoke at length about how reading has touched his life ever since he was very young, and said he was very fond of books taking him to different places. “It’s a great program,” said Reyes. “I’m very pleased to be a part of ‘Read El Paso, Read.’ Twenty minutes is nothing … someday they might write their own stories that they can share.” Reyes also took time to read to the children in attendance.

Superintendent Montenegro sum-med up the campaign appropriately when he quoted Mark Twain and Harry Truman respectively: “The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them,” and “Not all readers are leaders but all leaders are readers.”



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	January 27, 2005

	‘Read El Paso, Read’ campaign kicks off Spc. Steve Baack Monitor Staff Brig. Gen. Francis Mahon, deputy commanding general, talks of his support for the campaign at the press conference. The El Paso Empowerment Zone, in association with various community partners including Fort Bliss, held a press conference at the Armijo Public Library Monday to discuss the “Read El Paso, Read” initiative aimed to confront El Paso’s literacy concerns. The campaign, which will distribute more than 100,000 free books during the year, aims to increase literacy, reading and library use. Those who participate in the campaign are asked to read for 20 minutes a day for five days a week, and students are encouraged to write down their progress in a “Read El Paso, Read” journal for rewards and prizes. The first book giveaway is scheduled for Feb. 19 at the YISD Auditorium at 9600 Sims. Speakers at the event included Brig. Gen. Francis Mahon, deputy commanding general; Sylvestre Reyes, Texas congressman; Hector Montenegro, superintendent, Ysleta Independent School District; Margarita Velez, committee chair for the initiative; Carol Brey of the El Paso Public Libraries; Laura Gomez of the YWCA, and others. The initiative came about in part due to growing scrutiny over El Paso’s literacy rate. For the second consecutive year, a study at the University of Wisconsin named El Paso the least literate of 65 metropolitan areas in the nation. “Yes, we did receive that dubious distinction,” said Velez, who spoke at the press conference. “But rather than cringe and gnash our teeth, we decided to do something about it.” “I fully support the initiative,” said Mahon, who represented Fort Bliss at the press conference. “I think the initiative is going to bear great fruit for the community and the nation.” Lead by Capt. Robert McCormick, branch chief for the Officer Basic Course here, students of OBC are planning to sort the more than 70,000 books by age group and language, from Feb. 16 through 18, to be given away Feb. 19. The books have been donated by and through different community organizations. “I think it’s a great, worthwhile cause, and when you get people behind it that believe in it, it’s much easier to do,” said McCormick. Congressman Reyes also spoke at length about how reading has touched his life ever since he was very young, and said he was very fond of books taking him to different places. “It’s a great program,” said Reyes. “I’m very pleased to be a part of ‘Read El Paso, Read.’ Twenty minutes is nothing … someday they might write their own stories that they can share.” Reyes also took time to read to the children in attendance. Superintendent Montenegro sum-med up the campaign appropriately when he quoted Mark Twain and Harry Truman respectively: “The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them,” and “Not all readers are leaders but all leaders are readers.”