For the first time in her life, Emily Moberly found herself living in a city with no access to books. As an avid reader from childhood, this was a devastating environment for her. She was living in Honduras teaching English and Sociology at a local high school. She recognized how the lack of books also had a negative impact on her students. Although teenagers, most had never fallen in love with reading.

On Wednesday, January 13, Emily will share with students how her experience in Honduras inspired her to start Traveling Stories, a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids fall in love with reading. Since 2010 Emily and her team have established eight international libraries and nine literacy programs in Southern California, including one in Imperial Beach. More than 3,000 children improve their reading skills through Traveling Stories programs each year.

For her work with Traveling Stories, Emily was named one of the “Top 10 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch in San Diego” by Forbes Magazine; Microsoft featured her in their Do More campaign; 10 News and LEAD San Diego awarded her a Leadership Award and this year San Diego Magazine named her a finalist for the San Diego Woman of the Year award.

Traveling Stories sponsors a StoryTent at the Imperial Beach Farmers Market every Friday from 3:30pm to 5pm. It is a free program designed to motivate kids to read. All Juarez-Lincoln students are invited to check it out!

To learn more about Traveling Stories, visit www.travelingstories.org!