Make Way for Books

In this episode of Nonprofit Spotlight, Stephanie sits down with Yissel Salafsky, Chief Executive Officer of Make Way for Books, to explore the organization’s mission to ensure that all children have the opportunity to read and succeed. Yissel shares how Make Way for Books fulfills this mission by delivering proven programs, services, and resources to more than 30,000 young children, families, and educators across southern Arizona each year. Their work focuses on children from birth to age five, a crucial period for developing early literacy and language skills, helping them discover the joy of books and start school ready to learn. The conversation also highlights the upcoming Read Aloud Week, taking place April 27 through May 3. Now an annual event in Tucson and Pima County, Read Aloud Week underscores the importance of literacy as a foundation for academic, civic, and economic success. With only 40 percent of third graders in Pima County meeting reading standards, the initiative calls attention to the urgent need for collaborative literacy efforts involving local organizations such as Literacy Connects, the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, and the Tucson Festival of Books. The week also coincides with Día de la Niñez, celebrating literacy through diverse cultural traditions.