Featured Readers

We are truly excited to have a growing list of notable leaders and individuals from around the New Hampshire area to be supporting CY Reads as Featured Readers.

Mayor Joyce Craig

Mayor Joyce Craig | Mayor of Manchester
Mayor Joyce Craig | Mayor of Manchester

“I’m joining the CY Reads Initiative because it’s important for all of us to work together and solve complex issues like literacy and investing in the future of our students. By making books and reading accessible to children across Manchester, we are able to continue promoting early literacy to our young learners.”- Mayor Joyce Craig

Resume Slideshow

Senator Jeanne Shaheen

Senator Jeanne Shaheen | United States Senator
Senator Jeanne Shaheen | United States Senator

"I’m thrilled to participate in City Year’s “CY Reads” to share one of my favorite stories with Granite State students. CY Reads is an important initiative that not only encourages our kids to pick up more books, but it has helped them stay connected during these challenging times. CY Reads enhances our kids’ learning experiences by allowing them to engage with friends, classmates, teachers and community members they otherwise would not be able to connect with during the pandemic. I applaud City Year for undertaking this effort and for all it does on behalf of New Hampshire children and families." - Senator Jeanne Shaheen

Resume Slideshow

Senator Maggie Hassan

Senator Maggie Hasson | United States Senator
Senator Maggie Hasson | United States Senator

“I am inspired by the work that City Year does to improve the lives of students across Manchester and I am glad to support these efforts by participating in the CY Reads initiative. CY Reads will help more students learn and thrive as they engage with new stories and it will deepen their connection with their communities too. This focus on literacy is critical, and is yet another way in which City Year makes a difference for our children.” – Senator Maggie Hassan

Resume Slideshow

Congressman Chris Pappas

Congressman Chris Pappas | United States Representative
Congressman Chris Pappas | United States Representative

"I am very pleased to join this year's 'City Year Reads' event as a Featured Reader. While the annual City Year events that we all enjoy look much different than years past due to COVID-19, I'm glad City Year and Americorps are finding safe ways to stay connected with the communities they serve. It's important that we instill a lifelong love of reading in New Hampshire's young people, and I hope these virtual events help encourage everyone to pick up a book and keep reading." - Congressman Chris Pappas

Resume Slideshow

Chief Justice John Broderick

Chief Justice John Broderick | Former Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
Chief Justice John Broderick | Former Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court.

“ I am proud to be a featured reader for City Year in Manchester. Reading was important to me beginning in my grade school days . It always made think and learn and challenged my imagination. It took me places and introduced me to people and ideas that helped me grow.” - Chief Justice John Broderick

Resume Slideshow

Support Chief Justice John Broderick

Irene A. Buchine

Irene A. Buchine | Local Author
Irene A. Buchine | Local Author

"When City Year invited me to be a featured reader for their fundraiser, I responded with an immediate “Yes”. City Year is at work 24/7 helping children struggling with the unimaginable challenges of today to become happy, successful and fulfilled. I struggled to learn as a child. Handicapped by an undiagnosed learning disability, I faltered through school feeling helpless and alone. While my friends graduated high school and went on to fulfill their visions of the future, I was left feeling lost by the weight and humiliation of failure. Yet, here I am today. I am proud to be an example of what belief in one’s self, hope and determination can achieve, even when the way forward seems insurmountable. My book, Celia and the Little Boy, tells a story of darkness, struggle and hope. I’m honored to be a part of City Year’s pursuit."- Irene Buchine

Resume Slideshow

Support Irene Buchine

Dean Kamen & Naoka Gunawardena

Dean Kamen | Founder of DEKA & Naoka Gunawardena | Mechanical Engineer at DEKA
Dean Kamen | Founder of DEKA & Naoka Gunawardena | Mechanical Engineer at DEKA

"I am happy to support City Year and participate in the CY Reads event. We need to do all that we can for the future generation of leaders and provide them the tools necessary to succeed. City Year, like FIRST, works through mentor based programs to inspire youth to become innovators." - Dean Kamen "I strongly believe that the power of education is what empowered me to pursue a career in STEM, despite the lack of exposure I had to other female engineers growing up. As a result, I am passionate about supporting educational opportunities that will similarly empower students to create futures full of their wildest dreams and ambitions. It is why I love mentoring the next generation of innovators through FIRST Robotics and volunteering as an English language tutor for my immigrant and refugee neighbors in Manchester. I am so excited to partner with CY Reads to help the students of New Hampshire explore new worlds and discover their passions through the magic of reading."- Naoka Gunawardena

Resume Slideshow

Support Dean Kamen & Naoka Gunawardena

Jennifer Vaughn

Jennifer Vaughn | News Anchor at WMUR-TV
Jennifer Vaughn | News Anchor at WMUR-TV

"Reading is a gateway to an enriched and joyful life. I've been devouring books since I was a little kid, and now writing my own. The sooner we can introduce books to a child's developing imagination, the better chance we will have to instill a lifelong appreciation of their contents: history, magic, fantasy, and the art of creativity. It's a pleasure to join in on this effort."- Jennifer Vaughn

Resume Slideshow

Support Jennifer Vaughn

Russell Muirhead

Russell Muirhead | Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics at Dartmouth College
Russell Muirhead | Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics at Dartmouth College

“Excited to read a book called Whoosh, about the inventor and scientist Lonnie Johnson. Lonnie invented all sorts of things as a kid and went to college at the Tuskegee Institute, the famous, historically-black university in Alabama, the state Lonnie was from. After school, he became a rocket scientist for NASA. And among the things he invented is the “super soaker,” the most powerful water gun on the planet. His is an inspiring story. And it’s real. It makes you think differently about your own life, which is why I’m excited to share it with City Year Reads.”- Russell Muirhead

Resume Slideshow

Support Russell Muirhead

Benjamin Pasley

Benjamin Pasley | Bookery General Manager
Benjamin Pasley | Bookery General Manager

"I said yes to being a featured reader because I believe in giving back and that literature and literacy is huge and to be able to give back by reading would mean the world to me."-Benjamin Pasley

Resume Slideshow

Support Benjamin Pasley

Jim Morhard

Jim Morhard | Former Deputy NASA Administrator
Jim Morhard | Former Deputy NASA Administrator

"As the former Deputy NASA Administrator, it became clear that the future of the United States lies in the hands of each student today. To get to the Moon and then on to Mars, we need astronauts, scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technical people. Reading is the basic element of each person's education. That includes my own. So, it is my honor to participate in this program and hope that it will have the desired impact on our future leaders in space." - Jim Morhard

Resume Slideshow

Support Jim Morhard