The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) hosted a dual immersion story time and Q&A discussion panel for their LA Reads program at Dunsmore Elementary School, featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Yamamoto participated for the second season in a row, reading a story from Japanese-author Hayao Miyazaki and answering questions from the students.
“We did this last year and this year, and I’m very thankful to be given this opportunity,” Yamamoto said through his interpreter. “I’d like to do this if there’s another opportunity.”
Dunsmore Elementary is a Japanese Dual Immersion school located in La Crescenta and has more than 200 students enrolled. Dual Immersion schools teach students in both English and another language from an early age.
“It is so important for them to be able see someone today that looks like them, that speaks their language,” Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation CEO Nichol Whiteman said. “Many of them today, Japanese was their native language. So to see somebody who is from their home country, or family’s home country, or of the language they’re celebrating and trying to immerse themselves in, it’s really special.”
LADF partnered with a dual immersion school to diversify their literacy efforts and highlight the importance of cultural inclusion in literacy focused community programming.
“I think it’s great for kids to see Japanese people coming here and becoming successful,” Yamamoto said. “I’d like to be a player who can give positive elements to these kids.”
LADF was also grateful to be able to partner with Yamamoto for the event, bringing a Japanese-star to interact with the kids.
“We are the 2024 World Series champions, and we’re still basking in that glow. So to have a World Champion here today and to have such a crucial guy and part of our team, Yamamoto here is a big deal,” Whiteman added.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto joins LADF’s LA Reads program
LA Reads is a joint program with the Dodgers and LADF to address the literacy crisis in the city and motivate youth to read and build a lifelong love of reading. The program includes story times and book giveaways with Dodger players, coaches, broadcasters and alumni, as well as partnerships with libraries and literacy focused nonprofits.
Since 2017, more than 30,000 books have been distributed to students, showcasing diverse authors and characters, and ensuring access to essential educational resources.
LA Reads also invests resources into renovating and refurbishing literacy corners at after-school centers and libraries providing new furniture, paint and age-appropriate books. The Dodgers Reading Champions challenge incentivizes youth participants grades K through 8 to read 30 minutes or more per day.
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