Building a Culture of Reading: Denine Torr and Alicia Levi on Literacy Access
Reading Inspires by Reading Is FundamentalShow Notes
Summary
Erin Bailey talks with Denine Torr of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and Alicia Levi of Reading Is Fundamental about why literacy access is a community responsibility. They discuss the long partnership between Dollar General and RIF, the specific barriers facing rural communities, the importance of books in homes and schools, and the role of motivation, confidence, and practice in developing skilled readers.
The conversation closes with practical ways listeners can support literacy through their time, talent, and treasure. Denine and Alicia share personal stories about the power of books, family reading, community programs, and the possibilities that open when children and adults have meaningful access to literacy.
Chapters
0:00 — Welcome and introductions 1:01 — How reading shaped Alicia and Denine 5:37 — Why Dollar General made literacy a lasting commitment 7:39 — RIF and Dollar General’s long-term partnership 9:52 — Literacy access in rural communities 14:38 — Books, confidence, motivation, and practice 18:13 — Building literacy through community partnerships 24:22 — Remembering Dolly Parton’s literacy legacy 30:13 — Stories that show the power of books and family reading 36:20 — What listeners can do to support literacy 39:33 — What reading inspires
Show Notes
**Denine Torr** — Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy at Dollar General and Executive Director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. She leads philanthropic and social-responsibility efforts supporting communities nationwide and serves on several literacy and education boards. **Alicia Levi** — President and CEO of Reading Is Fundamental, the nation’s leading children’s literacy organization. She has expanded RIF’s reach through literacy programs, digital resources, partnerships, and professional learning. Reading Is Fundamental: https://www.rif.org/ Dollar General Literacy Foundation: https://www.dgliteracy.org/
This episode was produced for Reading Inspires.
More from Reading Inspires by Reading Is Fundamental
Summary
Summary What happens when two cousins turn a drawer full of lost socks into a graphic-story universe? Erin Bailey talks with Shidan and Roshan Youssefian, creators of Life Really Socks, a playful book series about mismatched socks, friendship, individuality, and belonging. Shidan and Roshan grew up in Italy in a culturally mixed family, followed different professional paths, and came together during the pandemic to build a creative world where lost socks become characters with their own stories. They explain why they chose graphic storytelling, how humor helps children engage with big ideas, and why celebrating difference can be both meaningful and genuinely fun. Chapters 00:00 — Meet the creators of Life Really Socks 01:44 — Growing up in Italy and finding a shared creative path 05:08 — The origin of the Life Really Socks idea 07:22 — Celebrating misfits, individuality, and belonging 10:33 — Creating during the pandemic 13:14 — Why graphic storytelling invites children into reading 16:00 — Building the Sockverse and its cast of characters 20:00 — Humor, empathy, and making big ideas approachable 24:00 — From books and socks to a larger creative universe 29:00 — Taking the risk to make something new 34:18 — A message for readers and families Show Notes Erin Bailey is joined by cousins Shidan and Roshan Youssefian, the creators of Life Really Socks. The series follows lost and mismatched socks in a world where characters learn to navigate difference, friendship, and community. In this conversation, they discuss: How a simple idea about mismatched socks became a story universe The influence of their multicultural family and international backgrounds Why the Sockverse uses humor and adventure to explore belonging How graphic novels can help children build confidence as readers The creative possibilities of combining books, characters, and physical products What the pandemic changed about their work and creative process Why taking a creative risk can lead to unexpected connections Learn more about Life Really Socks: Website: lifereallysocks.com YouTube: Life Really Socks Instagram: @lifereallysocks_official TikTok: @lifereallysocks Reading Inspires is presented by Reading Is Fundamental. Share this episode with a reader, family, or educator who would enjoy the Sockverse.
Dr. Erin Bailey sits down with Abby Quammen Conrad, former Miss New York 2024, to discuss her lifelong passion for children's literacy. Abby shares how books became a source of stability after losing her home at age 12, and how that experience shaped her Read Lead Succeed initiative, through which she's run book drives, after-school reading programs in the Bronx, and tutored students one-on-one — including the powerful story of a struggling third-grader who's now an English major in college. The conversation covers practical tips for building a love of reading at home, the economic case for literacy investment, creative community efforts like her Book Buddies social media challenge, and why libraries and local businesses have a role to play in keeping kids engaged with books. About Abby Quammen Conrad: Abby Quammen Conrad, Former Miss New York and friend of RIF Bio: Abby believes reading is a human right, and she's spent more than a decade proving it. A former Miss New York and founder of Read → Lead → Succeed, she has helped distribute over 10,000 books and reached more than 20,000 students in a mission to make reading "cool" for a new generation and fight our nation's illiteracy crisis. Through after-school reading programs in Title I schools and one-on-one tutoring, she works directly with the students who need it most — turning reluctant readers into confident ones. As the coach and mentor behind her own pageant consulting business, CrownedByQ, she guides rising titleholders to find their voice, own their story, and compete with confidence. By day, Abby works in development for the nation's largest private university while earning her MBA at NYU's Stern School of Business.