About Talia Whyte

Posts by Talia Whyte:

Five Ways To Promote Literacy

Literacy is an important skill to have to promote both personal and professional growth.  However, according to a 2013 study by the U.S. Department of Education and National Institute of Literacy, 32 million adults in America, or 14 percent, cannot read. Twenty-one percent of adults read below a 5th-grade level, and 19 percent of high school graduates can’t read at all.  For children, a lack of books in the home is also linked to lower reading scores and less success in school.  In an Annie E. Casey Foundation report, students who can’t read proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to leave school without a diploma than proficient readers.

This is why it is important for everyone to promote literacy in their community and among their friends and family members.  Here are five simple ways to do it:

  1. Set an example and make a routine: I committed myself to reading for at least one hour a day, preferably before I go to bed when it is most relaxing. Even on days when I can’t get to read for that one hour, I find times in other ways.  I always have a book on hand, whether it is a physical book or an ebook on my mobile or tablet ready to read anywhere I go.  If I am on the bus or train or waiting in line, I use the time to read even if it is just one or two pages at a time.  It is especially important to set a reading routine with your children like a story time.  When your kids see you reading, you are setting an example for them.
  2. Discuss books with others: Being around other people who like reading supports literacy.  A book club allows you to socialize with other like-minded people while discussing the same book.  Also, sharing your book reviews on a blog or on an online forum like GoodReads or Amazon opens you up to the shared wisdom and thoughts of others around the world!
  3. Give the gift of literacy: I love giving books as gifts.  I try to find out what types of books the recipient might like and get them the book or at least a gift card for an independent bookshop or Barnes and Noble.
  4. Give away books: Every year I go through my extensive library and give away some books to either my local public library, thrift shop, or schools in need of books.  You should also consider donating to organizations that specialize in giving away free or low-cost books to marginalized populations, like prison book programs, literacy programs for people with disabilities and low-income or rural communities, or international NGOs that send books to developing countries.
  5. Support literacy causes: Whenever possible, donate your time or money to support literacy programs, campaigns, and fundraisers.  Theses causes go back into your community to help someone else in need.

 

Spring Cleaning Your Marketing Strategy

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Content Strategy

It really doesn’t matter how fabulous your website looks or how many social media tools you use. If you don’t have great content on your sites, most people will not only not care about your web presence, but they will also not care to learn more about you or your organization. Having high-quality content on your web presence is a top priority for establishing both your credibility and your brand. Global Wire Associates can write and edit persuasive copy, as well as provide suggestions on how to best use digital photos, graphics, and video for marketing your cause, service or product.

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Media Development

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Why I Still Use An iPod

I was waiting for the bus the other day and a young, Millennial-ish woman standing next to me notice that I was shuffling songs on my iPod nano.  She asked me what the small contraption was, and I told her it was an MP3 player with an FM radio.

“Interesting,” she said.  “I have never seen anything like that before.  Did you get that in Japan or China or something?”

“No, this is an Apple product that was discontinued a couple of years, unfortunately,” I said.  “But it is still a great product.  It is quite possibly Apple’s best product in my opinion!”

The iPod nano and shuffle were discontinued, but the iPod touch, which is basically an iPhone without data, is still available.  It is the norm today to stream music on your phone with one of the many music subscriptions, so it is not a surprise that MP3 players are going into an old technology grave.  However, after talking to the young lady about my reasons for still being an iPod fan, I may have convinced her that maybe using the mobile phone isn’t really the way to go depending on your music listening lifestyle.  Here are the reasons I gave her:

Battery life: Streaming music on a mobile phone can drain your battery really quickly, rendering you to always having to charge your phone.  Even if you download music onto your phone, listening to music in addition to reading social media and emails, gaming, using other apps, and making and taking phone calls will force you to have to use a phone charger at all times.  I know I’m an “old,” but I still need to use my phone to make calls and not worry about having a dead phone! Batteries on iPods and other MP3 players are specially designed for low power consumption for the single purpose of playing music.  The same is true for other single-purpose devices on the market like Kindle e-readers (not the Fire tablets) for people who only want to read books. I can play my iPod’s downloaded MP3s, podcasts or audiobooks for 30 hours straight or listen to the FM radio for seven hours before having to charge it again. It only takes about 10-15 minutes to recharge.  This allows my iPhone to have enough battery juice to power through the day for other purposes.

It’s Simple: I love listening to music and I don’t need an overly complicated device to do this.  I only need to press shuffle or select a specific playlist, artist or song to start listening.  Sometimes less is more and single-purpose devices are the way to go.

Compatible with a pedestrian lifestyle: I don’t have a car, so I do a lot of walking and taking public transit every day.  The iPod is lightweight and I bought a clip holder to put on my clothes or in my pocket and not worry about it.  I don’t like taking my phone out of my purse unless I really need to because I fear that it will get lost, stolen or even worse, break or crack the screen.  Apple products, especially mobile phones, are not cheap to replace, Y’all!

Play all the music I want without paying a subscription:  I digitized my whole CD collection many years ago, and I have over 3,000 songs on my external hard drive.  I have not purchased any new music in YEARS.  I don’t see the point of a music subscription since most of today’s music is trash.  I’m not a fan of the mumble rap/autotune/trap music craze going on right now.  I can just press play on my iPod and listen to an eclectic music selection ranging from Sade, Lauryn Hill, Bob Marley, Frank Sinatra, Erykah Badu, U2, Miles Davis, A Tribe Called Quest or other REAL music.

No need for an Internet connection: You need to always have an internet connection to stream music.  This doesn’t work if you are on an airplane, taking Amtrak or in an area with limited cell towers.  Yes, you could download the music, but why pay the money for a subscription?  I can play my iPod without disruption anywhere at any time.

Nike + and active lifestyles: If you have a later version of the iPod nano, it should have the Nike+ app, which tracks your running and walking.  I can clip the iPod onto my clothes when I go for my morning jogs.  It is a lot more efficient and lightweight than wearing an armband for the iPhone.  As a bonus, I don’t have to listen to Kevin Hart on the iPhone Nike+ app, but you still have to listen to Tiger Woods on the iPod app.  I guess that depends on who you have a lower tolerance for…

I will always be about that iPod life!

The Relationship Between Disability and Handicap

I got into this really interesting conversation the other day with a colleague about her struggles living with a disability. Much of it has more to do with how society views her disability than anything else, and especially the language used to describe her. Many people don’t realize that it isn’t okay to use the word ‘handicap’ and it is preferred to use people with disabilities. I went online and found a lot of discussions just on the differences between disability and handicap. This video does a good job of explaining the issue.

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