LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - s4story -- Rebecca FrancoMartin has been selected as the new Executive Director of People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos. This announcement concludes an extensive search process led by P&S/GyC board of trustees to find the ideal candidate to lead the organization into the future.

P&S/GyC Board co-chair Andrea Honore commented that she "knew Rebecca was the one the minute we saw her application. We are all very happy and feel confident in her leadership abilities to move this important organization forward."

Rebecca FrancoMartin brings to P&S/GyC her wealth of experience in overseeing operations, collaborating with multiple stakeholders, managing budgets, and excellence in grant writing & management.

Rebecca recently remarked: "It is with excitement I begin this new chapter in my life where my passion for literature may be used to further the mission of People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos, to 'open doors to literature for new audiences' and 'invite participants to find fresh understandings of themselves, of others, and of the world'. Literature is the bridge that connects us to the vast tapestry of human experience, perspectives unexplored, and the key that unlocks the doors of the mind."

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Formerly the Library Director for the Trenton Free Public Library (TFPL), Rebecca managed a $2 million budget, oversaw all facets of facilities, operations, and services. Her astute observation led to the identification of improvement opportunities and avenues for growth, and she effortlessly orchestrated key stakeholders to develop creative solutions and secure necessary resources.  Prior to her role at TFPL, Rebecca held various leadership positions at New York Public Library (NYPL) branches, where she prioritized enhancing patron satisfaction, public engagement, and policy implementation. Her contributions directly led to the development and expansion of library programs, increased partnerships with stakeholders, and increased revenue.

Rebecca is an alumna of Drexel University iSchool, holding a Master of Library and Information Science degree, and Rutgers University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science. Her commitment to academia and community involvement is evident through her service as a former member on the Executive Board for the Brookdale Center for World War II Studies.  She resides in Allentown, New Jersey.

ABOUT PEOPLE & STORIES/GENTE Y CUENTOS:

People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos (P&S/GyC) is dedicated to opening doors to literature for new audiences. Through oral readings and rigorous discussions of enduring short stories, we invite participants to find fresh understandings of themselves, of others, and of the world.

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Our programs, offered in English and Spanish, use oral readings and structured dialogues of complex short stories to invite participants to connect their own varied life experiences to the universal themes found in great literature. For over 50 years our program methodology has been effectively removing obstacles to the rewards of reading, especially for adults and young adults who identify as not having the skill, confidence, or motivation to read independently.

Our participants include men and women who are incarcerated or engaged in re-entry, residents in halfway houses and homeless shelters, recent immigrants, and low-income seniors in residential settings. By and large, the individuals we serve are reading at or below a 5th grade level, have not completed high-school, or are economically disadvantaged. A critical bridge, People & Stories /Gente y Cuentos provides hope and skills for moving forward.

People and Stories/Gente y Cuentos is located at 295 Eggerts Crossing Road, Lawrenceville, NJ and is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. by appointment.  Most programs are held at partner sites and other locations.  For more information, call 609-882-4926 or visit www.peopleandstories.org