Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack today launched her project to increase literacy.Under the “Iowa Stories 2000” project, an advisory panel will evaluate the literacy programs in seven pilot cities. The panel will then advise the communities on how to improve their programs. Vilsack says they want to create and atmosphere where everyone is talking about reading and kids are excited about reading.Mrs. Vilsack says everyone in the state can help by telling stories to children.The pilot communities in the project are: Algona, Cherokee, Bayard, Bell Plaine, Oskaloosa, Ames and Independence.