Two programs in south Stockton are looking for support as they plan to help children.
One is a reading program run by Gloria Allen, a former Stockton Unified School District trustee.
The other is an outing organized by Georgia Brownlee, president of the Sierra Vista Residents Council.
Allen has a long history of working with youth in Stockton. After earning her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, she worked at Head Start for five years and at First 5 San Joaquin for three years. He later went on to serve on the Stockton Unified Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2016.
As a way to get kids excited about reading and help stimulate their minds during summer vacation, Allen started the Southwest Summer Book Club in 2014. Children in the program often go kindergarten through eighth grade.
“I know the school system is doing the best it can, but we’ve missed the mark in terms of reading and comprehension,” Allen said. “I see that the children are missing something. They don’t like to read and the pandemic has also hurt them.”
This year, the program is running for three days instead of five as in past years, in part because donations and outside support have been low, Allen said.
Allen said there will also be a food distribution, bounce houses and piñatas. But before kids get to play, they’ll learn.
“They’ll come in the morning and we’ll give them a snack, and then we’ll go into the reading program,” Allen said. “This year’s focus will be ‘Phonics and Me.’ I want to introduce them to how they can read with phonics.”
The Southwest Reading Program runs July 20-July 22 from 9 am to 4 pm at 2739 Hawaii Ave. For more information, you can contact Allen at (209) 639-6813.
Brownlee, who usually plans a children’s summer trip, is looking for sponsors to help take the children to the Wave Water Park in Dublin on Saturday.July 23.
Their group plans to take 45 children and nine companions. The cost is $19 per child, he said.
“Anything would be greatly appreciated,” Brownlee said.
For more information, contact Brownlee at (209) 430-3505.
Reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be contacted at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at
