Usha Vance Joins Olympian Adeline Gray To Promote Literacy

WASHINGTON, DC -Second Lady Usha Vance visited the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to promote childhood literacy, using a stop at one of Team USA’s premier training facilities to encourage children to read during the summer break.

The Second Lady joined two-time Olympian and six-time World Champion wrestler Adeline Gray in reading ‘If You Can Dream It, Be It’ by Team USA bobsled pilot Riley Tejcek to a group of local students.

“What an honor it was to visit such an incredible space and meet the Team USA athletes who are representing our country so well. Team USA fosters excellence and inspires children to fulfill their potential – something I also hope to cultivate by encouraging childhood literacy,” Vance said.

The event was part of the Second Lady’s Summer Reading Challenge; an initiative aimed at combating summer learning loss among students.

Gray said the visit combined two important influences in children’s lives and highlighted the importance of encouraging children to develop a love for both reading and sports.

The Second Lady has made literacy a key focus of her public engagement efforts. Earlier this year, she visited AcadeMir Academy Charter School West in Doral, Florida, where she read to students and worked with educators on ways to address summer learning loss.

She has also launched the podcast “Storytime with the Second Lady,” featuring celebrities and public figures reading children’s books. Recent guests have included Paralympic medalist Brent Poppen, NASCAR driver Danica Patrick, actor Cheryl Hines, Inter Miami CF player Ian Fray, and Vance’s mother, Dr. Lakshmi Chilukuri. (IANS)