Jill Gonzales

The Women’s Storybook Project connects children to their incarcerated mother’s through the joy of literature. We invite moms to read to their children and then send the recorded books (on cd) and actual books to the children.

I’ve always been interested in this work. I started my career as a teacher and then became a reading specialist. After leaving the field, I entered nonprofit work connecting kids to books through Reading is Fundamental at BookSpring.

I truly believe that sharing stories and making connections through books can change lives. I believe that hearing your mother’s voice is as strong as an embrace.

I’ve been blessed to have many mentors and role models in the many iterations of my career(s). There are too many to name, really. I think it’s of utmost importance to learn from those around you.

My biggest challenge is the newness of my position and the amount of infrastructure yet to be put into place. While this is a challenge, it is also extremely exciting to be here at the beginning!

Keep learning! When you stop learning, it’s time to stop leading.

Listen. Listen. Listen. (It’s that important.)
Don’t make snap decisions, sleep on it. It CAN wait.
Schedule a “no appointments” day at least once every two weeks.