Our team

Pamela is the founder of Reading to the Rescue, an innovative literacy program that brings together rescue dogs and elementary age children to foster a love for reading and a compassion for animal welfare.

She and her daughter, Zoe, began volunteering for dog rescues in late 2015, where they fell in love with pitbulls, and in particular, Coco. The Brodsky family adopted Coco in 2016 and soon Coco began visiting libraries to help improve children's literacy.  The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 presented new challenges and opportunities. Recognizing the increased need for support in both literacy and animal rescue, Pamela decided to establish her own organization, Reading to the Rescue. This initiative seamlessly combined her love for rescue animals and her dedication to children's education 

Reading didn't always come easy to me, when I was younger, reading aloud terrified me. However, something that did come easy to me was loving animals (especially dogs!). I started volunteering with rescues and at shelters at 8 years old through volunteering, I became more and more comfortable speaking up and finding myself. When my mom and I founded RTTR, I was excited because not only would I be helping kids like me find their voices and become more comfortable with reading, it was also a learning experience for me. After 3 years with the program, I've learned so much because each child has something special to share, not only with me, but with the world.

Monica Monsivais is a dedicated and experienced dog trainer, with a strong focus on helping shelter dogs stay in their first homes, behavior modification, and addressing leash reactivity. She volunteers her time with Los Angeles animal services and various rescues, working tirelessly to improve the lives of dogs in need. Monica is committed to not only improving the physical health of dogs, but also their mental well-being, ensuring they lead happy and fulfilling lives.

Monica is excited to be a part of Reading to the Rescue and lends her talent to testing our pack members to ensure they are suitable for the program.

Raised in the Midwest by two public school teachers who embraced and encouraged

fostering a larger sense of community, Rhonda is privileged to support

Reading to the Rescue’s mission of Children’s Literacy and Animal Welfare. Rhonda also

currently serves as Board Member Emeritus of the Echo Park Chamber of

Commerce and is a member of the Rampart CPAB. In 2023 Rhonda was honored as a

Woman of the Year by Representative Adam Schiff for the 30th Congressional District.

Rhonda and her husband are longtime residents of Echo Park where they own and operate the restaurant Masa of Echo Park. They are also doting pet

parents to rescue dogs Mimi & Marty & Ella.