At a time when acting on matters of conscience often takes a back seat to complacency, Elona Vaisnys has chosen the more difficult path. Driven by her desire to, as she says, "see more Connecticut children mature into capable adults," Vaisnys last year established Read 3 CT. The goal of the statewide civic effort is to ensure that by the year 2000 all Connecticut residents, first of all, are aware of the importance of healthy neurological development early in life and, then, act on that knowledge. "We can 'smart-wire' children by encouraging caregivers -- including siblings and babysitters -- to use books for joyful interaction during the first three years of life," says Vaisnys, editor of publications for the Faculty of Engineering. "That's the message we want to take into the millennium." Vaisnys' campaign is based on scientific research showing that 80 percent of the brain's architecture, or "wiring," is formed during the first three years of life. She became aware of this neuro-networking process when working with neuroscientists in her department. "I saw computer simulations of the brain architecture and became very interested in learning more about brain research," she recalls. "What stopped me in my tracks was that the body works on a schedule and does not backtrack. You can rewire a house when you need more energy, but not a brain. The brain must be wired right during the first three years of life." Studies show that when infants are read to, their brain cells (or neurons) fire multiple electrical impulses that leave neural pathways in the brain. Brains with a greater number of pathways show every indication of being more developed. Vaisnys points to one longitudinal study, begun in England in 1992, which shows that children who had books in the home when they were babies acquired significantly better verbal and mathematical skills than those without books in the home. At the same time, studies indicate that neural activity significantly decreases when toddlers are placed in a passive situation, such as when they are left alone to watch television, she notes. "It is joyous interaction that smart-wires the brain," Vaisnys says. "Giving a toddler a cookie and telling him to sit and watch television doesn't do it." Vaisnys is working to spread the word about how early cognitive development can set the tone for a child's entire life through the twofold goals of Read 3 CT: awareness and action. "Our strategy is top-down, bottom-up and sideways," she says. The "top-down" strategy targets "anyone in touch with many people. They're asked to get the word out," says Vaisnys. These include leaders of faith and ethnic communities and civic organizations, and administrators at large organizations such as hospitals, manufacturing facilities, educational institutions, unions and municipal offices. "We ask them to develop their own ways to raise the awareness of all their employees and members and encourage them to become involved in spreading that awareness in the towns where they live," says Vaisnys. The "bottom-up" aspect involves establishing Read 3 CT "constellations" in all of Connecticut's 169 towns and six congressional districts. "We need a few stellar individuals to bring the message to their fellow townspeople," she says. These contacts also would spearhead awareness about events and projects in the area -- such as public library programs or poster displays -- that support Read 3 CT goals. "In Trumbull, the Junior League gives a book to the library in honor of each new baby's birth," Viasnys notes. "What a wonderful way for a small child to bond with the library." Vaisnys' "sideways" strategy involves interpersonal and interorganizational communication on every level. Within state government, for example, she already has received bipartisan legislative support for her mission. "A Republican state senator and Democratic state representative have jointly signed a letter that went out to every member of the legislature, inviting their peers to join them in endorsing Read 3 CT," she says. A copy of the letter is on the Read 3 CT web site, which details the drive's goals and strategies and informs towns about projects in their areas. The server space for the site has been provided by Yale's departments of engineering. Edward Zigler, professor at the Child Study Center and director of the Bush Center in Child Development & Social Policy, is adviser for the site. Zigler, initiator of the nation's Head Start Program, chose to become involved with Read 3 CT because of its "potential benefits to Connecticut's children," he says. "The effort looks to be a promising and cost-effective initiative. I am very pleased to see that so many of Connecticut's companies are participating in the drive to educate parents on the importance of interactive reading with their children the first three years of life." In addition, the School of Art also is helping to publicize Read 3 CT. Paul Elliman, assistant professor and acting director of studies in graphic design at the school, has included the creation of Read 3 CT posters in one of his classes. The art students' posters will be displayed at this year's International Festival of Arts and Ideas, as well as throughout the state. Vaisnys also has received support from such organizations as Connecticut Voices for Children, one of the initiative's earliest supporters; Foxwoods Casino, which shows a Read 3 CT video to all of its 13,000 employees via its internal Foxwoods News Network; Friends of the Connecticut Public Libraries; and the United Way, which has included information about Read 3 CT in its certification training of parent educators. Pfizer has expressed interest in the drive, and several organizations have invited Vaisnys to speak about her initiative. Funds also have been donated anonymously, which has allowed Vaisnys to hire a part-time intern: Kristin Schubert, a first-year student in the department of epidemiology and public health who is concentrating in health policy and administration. Much of Schubert's work involves researching information and following up on the contacts Vaisnys has made. "I've learned from Ms. Vaisnys that getting the word out is just that -- physically getting the word out," says Schubert. "She basically knocked on the door of Foxwoods and said, 'Hi.' It really takes one person, then it catches on like wildfire." Activism and working on behalf of the public interest is nothing new for Vaisnys. Before joining the engineering department in 1985, the Lithuanian-born mother of two was involved with health promotion and disease prevention as manager of the Regional Health Information Center at the Hospital of Saint Raphael. She also was a consultant for the Connecticut Humanities Council, and project manager for the Governor's Office of Policy and Management. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter appointed Vaisnys -- who holds a Ph.D. in French from Yale -- to the President's Commission on Foreign Language and International Studies. In 1973, after she took a trip to the Soviet Union and saw how volunteer activities were discouraged there, she began writing a by-lined New Haven Register column, "On Your Own Time," devoted to the many ways people change their community through volunteerism. She wrote the column regularly for the next four years. Vaisnys now is turning that determination and enthusiasm toward her work with Read 3 CT. She plans to continue the effort through December of this year, when she anticipates meeting the goals she has set for Read 3 CT. "In the first three years of life, the brain can be wired for limitlessness or for limits," she says. "We're trying to reach everybody -- not just the caretakers of infants and toddlers -- because everybody needs to know. Everyone can participate. All of us can find ways to inform our families, relatives, friends and coworkers. And when a critical mass of the population in our state has grasped the absolute importance of the first three years of life, then in-depth and long-term changes will begin to happen in Connecticut." At the end of the year, the knowledge and action generated by Read 3 CT "will be our gift," she says. "A gift from the people of the 20th century to the people of the 21st century. We can get everyone involved in something extraordinary." To obtain additional information, visit the Read 3 CT web site at www.eng.yale.edu/ read3ct. -- By Felicia Hunter T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S Dwight Hall appoints a new leader McClatchy among alumni elected to Academy of Arts and Letters British Art Center pays tribute to its founder with Stubbs exhibit Grant will support multifaceted research on human skeleton 'Please Be Seated': Yale Art Gallery show invites public to rest a spell Classic comedy by Noel Coward will top off the season at the Yale Rep New degree program to prepare oncology nurse practitioners Susan Cook returns to Yale to head Cambodian Genocide Program Two Yale College juniors receive prestigious Truman Scholarships Alumna Jackson Lee recalls days when 'We had to change the world' Staff member leads campaign to 'smart-wire' children in first years of life Poets Ashbery and Hollander to read from their works Drama School to present 'Life is a Dream' Merger creates Council of European Studies Visiting professor to discuss varying concepts of Europe Symposium to consider future of broadcast, cable and net technologies Longtime Yale Press editor-in-chief Edward Tripp dies at age 79 Forestry School to honor late librarian Campus Notes Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus|Calendar of Events| Bulletin Board Classified Ads|Search Archives|Production Schedule|Bulletin Staff Public Affairs Home|News Releases|E-Mail Us|Yale Home Page

 Elona Vaisnys holds a poster designed to help publicize Read 3 CT, an effort she developed to make Connecticut citizens aware of the importance of reading to children under age 3.