Page 131 - Iris Tennessee Teen Judges Book 2022

promote early literacy, and even reading books virtually on my social media during the pandemic are just some of the ways I have made a positive impact upon my community as Miss Iris Festival Iris Teen.
What has been your involvement with your platform?
My local county’s mayor, Jake Bynum, and I share a passion for promoting early childhood literacy. We have created a partnership that I am proud to say has greatly benefited the children in our area. His
support has helped make it easier for me to create a presence in our local schools and community organizations, and together, we organized a book drive where we collected books which were then distributed to organizations in our area which work to help set children up for success.
What inspired you to first become involved in your platform?
I have watched my ten-year old cousin, Grasyn, struggle in school because she was not read to as a child as much as she should have been. She is behind on her reading level and is enrolled in an after-school program in the hopes of getting her to the level she needs to be before the next school year begins. Watching her struggles made me realize how vitally important it is to start reading to kids just as soon as we can. It is my mission to help kids love reading, and in support of that, my platform focuses on informing parents, caregivers, and educators about all the resources available to help make that possible.
If you are selected as the winner, how would you mobilize and market your platform nationally?
As Miss Soybean Iris Teen Volunteer, I will continue to work to promote awareness of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. My goal is to partner with the Labor and Delivery Departments in hospitals to
distribute information about Imagination Library to all new parents so that they can get their babies signed up for this amazing program which will provide their household with a book every month until that child reaches the age of 5. Ensuring that new parents are aware of this program will greatly increase the chances that books become present in the lives of children at an early age. Until recently, Covid restrictions have not allowed me to achieve this goal. However, with life starting to return to normal, I hope that I can get this implemented soon.
How would you utilize social media in order to positively further your position as titleholder if you are selected the winner?
Because Covid placed so many limitations on my ability to get into schools and read to kids, I began using my social media to read books to kids virtually. As Miss Soybean Iris Teen Volunteer, I will
continue to reach kids via my social media in the hopes of cultivating an interest and love of reading. I will be a transparent titleholder on social media; sharing not only my wins, but also my struggles so that kids and young adults can relate to me and know that I am there for them as a friend, mentor, and just a safe place to share their struggles and victories. I am ready for this job, and if trusted with the title, I will continue to strive to create more positive change on a local, state and national level.