This past Thursday, WITS hosted its Book Bash event at Venue West. Supporters from companies across Chicago all came out to show their support for our mission, participating in fun games and raffles and enjoying delicious food in honor of WITS.
WITS CEO Tena Latona spoke about why she thinks reading matters so much in a city like Chicago. You can read her full speech below.
Tena’s Speech
Hi Everyone. At the end of the day, it is the incomparable WITS staff that makes us the largest and most consistent provider of literacy enrichment in Chicago. Please help me in thanking the absolute best WITS staff.
There are few things that bring me more joy than this, seeing hundreds of people that believe it when we say reading matters. For nearly a dozen years, I have been honored to lead an organization that is built on not just that – but more importantly relationships.
This is where I would usually start telling you all the numbers that make WITS important and necessary, the hundreds of thousands of books we have put in the hands of Chicago students, the number of schools that we support at no-cost to them each year, the thousands of teachers we have engaged, the tens of thousands of students that have developed a love of reading over our 34 years supporting CPS.
But then I went to a Chicago Innovation event last night, and now we have a whole new speech. At the event, the Chicago Public Library and my literacy partner in crime, Commissioner Chris Brown, were recognized for the 81 Club – an innovative initiative that made every CPS student’s ID card a library card. The first of its kind in the country. Chris was on stage with leaders in tech innovation – Cleveland Avenue, The Polsky Center, and Corazon Capital. The first question asked of the panel was, “What is something innovative in Chicago that you are excited about?” The answers included Quantum computing, incubator spaces, and startups. And what did the library commissioner say? He said, “Reading – organizations like WITS and what Tena Latona and her team are doing to change the literacy outcomes for students in a district where only 40% are considered proficient.”
Of course, I was struck to hear this from the stage as I was texting on Teams with my staff about the event we are at now. And then I thought -that was the best answer. Every other answer that was given required his answer: reading. Reading is the most innovative thing we do. Let me tell you why, by paraphrasing Harvard anthropologist Dr. Joseph Henrich.
When you learn to read as a child, it reshapes the wiring in your brain – it connects the right and left hemispheres. You gain specialized circuitry in your left hemisphere and more whole-brain activation even when you hear spoken language. The cultural process of learning to read changes our brains and how we take in information.
If that is not innovation – I don’t care what is!
And so, how did this tech panel featuring a library commissioner end? With every person on stage saying the same thing – that in this world of AI, automation, and algorithms, what matters most are relationships, community.
WITS believes that. We also believe that reading is foundational to all other learning. And we build that foundation and a love of reading in our students through consistent relationships. In a world that sometimes feels like we are devaluing what makes us most human, you are investing in it – relationships. You are doubling down on that younger version of yourself you see in our students.
Mercy and Israel, hundreds of those relationships exist every year throughout our city because of WITS. Like a book, WITS starts at the beginning – Hi, I’m Tena, what is your name, how are you today – let’s start on page 1. This is why we focus on building a love of reading and foundational literacy skills with our youngest learners. Reading is one of our first personal innovations.
Right now, we need a more literate world. You are standing next to someone who believes this, just like you do. Introduce yourself, get to know them, and thank them for being here with you. I thank you for being here with me today and with our students and teachers every day. I want you to know that when you donate this evening, you are supporting thoughtfulness, empathy, connection, innovation, and most of all a love of reading.
Support WITS
Even if you were unable to attend the WITS Book Bash this year, there are many ways you can still support us.
WITS is proud to be 100% privately funded, ensuring uninterrupted program delivery that does not rely on school or city budgets. In addition to being a WITS partner, you can support our programming in several ways. We offer opportunities for individuals to donate, purchase books for the WITS library, and volunteer. No matter how you choose to support WITS, your contribution keeps WITS programs free and accessible to Chicago Public Schools students and teachers.
