Every Book a Seed, Every Child a garden
We are mothers, educators, and friends united by a lifelong love of reading and a belief in its power to open doors. Each of us has seen firsthand how books can spark imagination, build confidence, and create opportunities. Through Books to Bloom, we are proud to bring our shared passion and experience together to help children and families grow their own love of reading and expand literacy access in our community and beyond.
Lizette Daniel
Lizette, co-founder of Books to Bloom, is an educator with over 15 years of experience and a parent passionate about helping children thrive. Reading was instrumental to her as a young child, and she has loved building her own personal library ever since. She combines vision with hands-on leadership and is dedicated to sharing the joy of reading to create meaningful opportunities for kids and families.
Vanessa Linares
Vanessa is an Arizona native with over 20 years of nonprofit experience and a strong passion for building community connections. She credits her love of reading with shaping her own success and is proud to serve as co-founder of Books to Bloom, helping expand literacy opportunities in Mesa and beyond.
Valicia Burke
Valicia is a mom, tech specialist, writer, and lifelong book lover. Captivated by stories from an early age, she credits reading with fueling her creativity, supporting her growth, and bringing joy throughout her life. As a board member of Books to Bloom, she is passionate about sharing that same gift of reading with every child.
Gale Stein
Gale has over 25 years of experience in education and leadership, working in both nonprofit and corporate settings. From the classroom to the executive level, she is passionate about building strong relationships and helping create opportunities that make a difference in the community. Gale is happy to be part of Books to Bloom and to support its mission of expanding literacy access for children and families.
