Associate Professor Todd Fletcher began Resplandor in Guanajuato, Mexico, in 2009 to promote education and health in nearby rural communities, and thereby, improve social and economic development. The nonprofit center offers health and sex education, nutrition, and early childhood education.
During the summer, the Helena Todd Library was dedicated at Resplandor. Linda Shaw, head of the college's Department of Disability and Psychoeducational Studies represented Dean Marx and the College of Education. Dignitaries included representatives from the Guanajuato mayor's office, the governor's office, and the state ministry of education. The library serves four rural communities that surround Resplandor. One of the ways literacy is promoted in the community is through themed backpacks, an idea developed by the college's Worlds of Words. Children and parents check out backpacks from the library at Resplandor and take them home to their families. The books are shared and read by different family members and discussed. An interactive journal is provided in the backpack for family members to write about their experiences after reading or listening to the books in the backpacks.

Linda Valdez of the Arizona Republic wrote an opinion piece about Resplandor here.

And graduate student Jessica Dennes produced a digital story about her experience, which you can watch below:

Jessica Dennes