Sarah Brenden: Board Member | Secretary

​I am a lifelong Madison area resident and have chosen to raise my family here, as well. Currently, I live in Verona with my husband and our teenage son. I went to High School in Monona, college at UW Madison and have been growing my career as a Private Banker for Park Bank in Madison for nearly 12 years. I love my community bank and appreciate their dedication to our clients and focus on giving back to the community in which they do business. I've always loved volunteering for groups that I find meaningful. Some of my favorite organizations include, Luke House, Empty Stocking Club, the Ronald McDonald House, Garding Against Cancer, and I'm also currently a Board Member with the Fitchburg Chamber Visitor and Business Bureau.

 

I'm an avid reader and believe that the skills and opportunities that result from an early, healthy relationship with books are essential to the fabric of our communities. Providing reading materials for youngsters to cherish and meaningful programming in our communities in an effort to champion literacy is a benefit to us all.

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I joined the MRP Board to lend my time and skills to a cause I believe in.

Chris Laurent: Board Member | Treasurer

My parents made sure that I started reading when I was very young - I was well into Dr. Seuss by the age of four. It opened a lot of doors for me, as a quiet, introspective kid it gave me confidence in my growing knowledge about the world around me. I’ve built on that base with good public speaking skills and a love of numbers and problem-solving skills that serve me well in my role leading our Cinnaire’s real estate development affiliate. Our firm is committed to making sure that everyone in our communities has access to the opportunities created by living in healthy communities.

I live in Oregon and have constant support with my new extended family - two grown daughters in the area - and my fiancé and her two children. I actively serve on boards throughout Madison and Milwaukee - particularly those that address issues of homelessness or providing opportunities for less advantaged people. In my free time, I play guitar, enjoy travel, hiking, and camping in our teardrop trailer throughout the country.

Corinda Rainey Moore: Board Member

My husband and I have two children and eight grandchildren. I currently work for Kids Forward as an Outreach and Engagement Coordinator. I’m also a mentor through Madison Reading Project and Madison College Women’s Scholar’s program. I’m also on the board of Vera Court/Bridge Lakepoint Community Center. I also currently serve as President of the following organizations: Equal Opportunities Commission, Safe Communities, Madison Network of Black Professionals, Madison Urban League Guild and the Madison College Community Council of Color. 

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I joined MRP because I love the concept of working with kids to decrease the disparities around literacy. I also wanted a chance to be able to give back to our community and be able to work with youths to let them know that they can be and do whatever they set their minds to do. I know that literacy is the gateway to opportunities and access to opportunities. I am passionate about MRP because of the trajectory that can literally change the outcomes for our youths particularly youths of color. I also love the fact that MRP works collaboratively with MMSD and other community members to get books into the hands of the kids who needs them. I also know that once kids are able to read it can be life changing.

Rachel Werner: Board Member 

Currently the Content Marketing Specialist for Taliesin Preservation (a UNESCO World Heritage site and the home, studio, school, and 800-acre estate of Frank Lloyd Wright), I am also guest faculty at The Highlights Foundation and Hugo House; a 2016-17 national WomenRide4Change Ambassador; a 2018 We Need Diverse Books mentorship finalist; and a 2017 World Food Championship judge. As the the former digital editor at BRAVA (a Wisconsin-based publication created by women for women), I enjoyed overseeing culinary, arts, style and live event coverage while working in the media in addition to previously having contributed print, photography and video content to BLK+GRN, Madison Magazine, Entrepreneurial Chef, Hobby Farms Magazine and Urban Farm. 

I enjoy overseeing culinary, arts, fashion and live event coverage in my current roles and have previously contributed print, photography and video content to Madison Magazine, Entrepreneurial Chef, Hobby Farms Magazine and Urban Farm.

I joined the board because I want to help ensure this org continues to grow and have a positive impact on more local children and families for many years to come.

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I think MRP provides a needed service in Dane County: relatable books to children of all ages (plus, in some cases, their older family members too) for no cost via environments and programming which is approachable and respectful to all.

Jaclyn Vitela Jacqmin: Vice President

I am originally from the Madison area. I became an avid reader at a young age, primarily because I grew up in a multigenerational household where literacy was a priority. I was surrounded by books, but few of them represented my experiences as a multiracial girl. For the first part of my life, my mother was a single parent who struggled financially. She often spent the limited extra money that she had buying me books and comics at the grocery store, while taking me to the public library weekly because she recognized the importance of reading in my life. This, along with the encouragement of extended family members and dedicated teachers and librarians, created a passion for reading that has lasted a lifetime and laid an academic foundation that ultimately led to me becoming a professional educator.

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I have fifteen years of experience as an educator specializing in the area of literacy. I taught English and English as a second language (ESL) for seven years at the high school level. I then went on to earn my Master’s degree from UW Madison in Library and Information Studies. I continued my career for the next six years as a K-5 school librarian, bilingual teacher leader, and instructional coach for Dual Language and ESL programs in the Madison area. I have also served the Verona Area School District (VASD) as their Continuous Improvement and Title I Coordinator. Throughout my years of educational experience, I have grown in my understanding of effective literacy programming to serve our diverse Madison area. This fall I will continue this professional journey as a Curriculum and Learning Specialist at a VASD elementary school.

 

I joined the MRP Board because I believe in the meaningful work of our organization. I am honored to serve the mission of the Madison Reading Project in the role of Vice President of the Board.

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Madison Reading Project’s mission is one I am completely dedicated to. Both my personal and professional experiences have led me to recognize the importance of providing children with culturally and linguistically sustaining books. Access to these books foster the belief within all children, particularly those who are members of Madison's historically marginalized communities, that they belong in every room today and tomorrow. Madison Reading Project also offers high quality literary programming that gives children opportunities to develop the literacy skills needed to thrive both academically and professionally.

Steven Stack: Board Member

My time has a teacher has taken me from South Carolina to Wisconsin, teaching various ages, subject matters, and in a variety of atmospheres. During my time in South Carolina, I also completed my master’s degree in Divergent Learning, a program that opened my eyes to the complexities of working with the entire student population and providing me many tools that helped evolve my teaching. Marriage took me to Wisconsin, where I had the privilege of working at two phenomenal schools, Spring Harbor and JCW Middle School. A second child led to me working from home and focusing on creating and teaching online writing classes, creating instructional courses for teachers all over the world who work with students of all ages with Theatrefolk, an educational and play publishing company. I also focused on creating plays for students that are fun, challenging, appeal to their unique experiences, and teach essential lessons. I have written 24 published plays, and my first book came out last October.

 

I live in Mt. Horeb with my two wonderful daughters, and besides spending my time being goofy with them, I enjoy hiking, reading, watching cheesy movies, and teaching acting at Forte Studios. I’m excited to play a role with the Madison Reading Project. Besides adoring books myself, I’ve seen firsthand the joy that reading brings to my two children. I love seeing the excitement flow out of them whenever they are talking about what’s going on in whatever they’re reading, the elation when they find out a new fact, the emotion they feel when something happens that they weren’t expecting it to, the joy of watching them add new words to their vocabulary, and the peace that reading gives them when the world was a little too much that day. All because of a book. 

 

I joined the board because as a teacher, writer, and reader, I am incredibly passionate about the power of the written word and the thought of playing a role in making sure that students have access to a variety of comprehensive books makes me extremely happy. It’s easy to be passionate about something when you firmly believe in its mission.