Usha Vance Promotes Childhood Literacy at Team USA Training Center
WASHINGTON — Second Lady Usha Vance visited the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to promote childhood literacy and encourage students to keep reading during summer break.
Vance joined two-time Olympian and six-time world champion wrestler Adeline Gray in reading If You Can Dream it, Be It by Team USA bobsled pilot Riley Tejcek to a group of local students.
“What an honor it was to visit such an incredible space and meet the Team USA athletes who are representing our country so well. Team USA fosters excellence and inspires children to fulfill their potential – something I also hope to cultivate by encouraging childhood literacy,” Usha Vance said.
The event was part of Vance’s Summer Reading Challenge, an initiative aimed at reducing summer learning loss among students.
Gray said the visit brought together two important influences in children’s lives.
“It was great to welcome the Second Lady and a group of local children for their first experience at the Olympic & Paralympic Training Center. As a mother myself, inspiring kids to be curious, dream big and develop a love for both sport and reading is incredibly important,” she said.
The Colorado Springs facility serves as a training base for many of the country’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
Vance has made literacy a central focus of her public engagement efforts. Earlier this year, she visited AcadeMir Academy Charter School West in Doral, Florida, where she read to students and worked with faculty on ways to address summer learning loss.
She also launched a podcast, “Storytime with the Second Lady,” featuring celebrities and public figures reading children’s books. Recent guests have included Paralympic medalist Brent Poppen, NASCAR driver Danica Patrick, actor Cheryl Hines, Inter Miami CF player Ian Fray and Vance’s mother, Dr. Lakshmi Chilukuri.
The visit also reflected Vance’s support for Team USA athletes. She traveled to Milan with Vice President JD Vance in February for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
Summer learning loss remains a concern for educators across the United States, who warn that students can lose academic ground during extended school breaks. Reading programs are widely used by schools, libraries and community organizations to help children maintain literacy skills during the summer months.
Colorado Springs is home to several major U.S. Olympic and Paralympic facilities and has long been a center of American elite sport. The training center hosts athletes preparing for international competitions, including future Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Source: IANS)
