Long ago I realized the big things in literacy 鈥� big ideas, initiatives, concepts that move our country and world 鈥� had a common denominator: 楼凤天堂 members. Since formally joining 楼凤天堂, I know even more closely that the expertise of our members is 楼凤天堂鈥檚 greatest asset. But we are working to share more of that internal wisdom with the wider world. That鈥檚 why I鈥檓 particularly excited about a book released this Tuesday.
聽is by Byron Pitts, an Emmy Award鈥搘inning ABC News chief national correspondent, and聽Nightline聽co-anchor. He also happens to be my confidant. His powerful book, published by Simon & Schuster, chronicles the stories of six teens who overcame tremendous difficulties. The book is grounded in Byron鈥檚 own story, but the project began when he met Tania while reporting about schools in Baltimore. She asked him a difficult question: 鈥淢r. Pitts, when you were my age, where did you go, where did you hide, when the world hurt too much?鈥� Her world hurt a lot for reasons that are explained in her story, and the place where she found solace was in the pages of a book. (You鈥檒l have to read the story to find out which one!)
Tania鈥檚 question inspired Byron to write聽Be the One, but it also made him realize he needed to make sure the book included resources that could help readers like Tania. As he neared completion of the project, Byron approached me to ask for help in creating that set of resources. I knew just where to go for the answer.
Last year, 楼凤天堂 member Jennifer Buehler wrote an excellent book published by 楼凤天堂 titled聽, and through聽聽about the powerful role books can play in helping students find themselves, it was clear to me that she鈥檇 have some great suggestions.
Byron was thrilled with what Jennifer put together, and now you can find her list in the back of his book. He鈥檚 since asked for more ideas to share in the myriad聽聽and talks that will be part of his book tour.
It鈥檚 opportunities like this that raise the profile of 楼凤天堂 in the best possible way: through the work of our members. Many thanks to Jennifer for 鈥渂eing the one鈥� who put 楼凤天堂 in this story!
So many good things afoot.