Tag: kwame alexander

Why Reading Matters

During my childhood summers in Arkansas, my older sister Sandra would take my nieces and me to the public library every two weeks to check out books, and I would excitedly borrow as many as possible and finish them all before the next visit.

Books stretched my imagination and took me around the world back then, and for many years I’ve supported adult and youth literacy programs in Richmond and nationwide. (Shoutout to The Read Center and to Reach Out and Read.)

Yet, it felt like a full circle moment this past summer to help champion reading on the other side of the globe with a likeminded tribe of friends.

Thank you to my journalist friend Shelby Brown with WTVR CBS 6 for sharing my experience in Kenya with viewers on #NationalReadABookDay.

Click image above to view Stacy’s interview with WTVR CBS 6.

Writing Their Way to Joy

May These Authors Making Moves Offer Inspiration for the Purpose You Want to Pursue

One of the participants in the writing workshop I hosted at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden yesterday shared a profound revelation that she received after attending my inaugural Writing @ The Garden seminar at Lewis Ginter two weeks ago.

While her comment gave me chills, I won’t share it verbatim, because I’m expecting it to show up in the book she’s writing. In essence, however, she challenged herself after that workshop to get off the sidelines of life and claim all the good she possibly can.

I celebrate her courage and the courage of all of you who are loosing the shackles of “Why me?” and celebrating where your “Why not me?” attitude is taking you – in particular my literary friends who are touching the lives of others with their words and deeds as they live their dreams: authorwritingcco

Congrats to Kwame Alexander for opening a library in Ghana in his mother’s honor.

Congrats to Robin Farmer for securing an important platform at the 2019 Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference.

Congrats to Sadeqa Johnson for being named National Book Club Conference Author of the Year.

Congrats to Bonnie Newman Davis for launching and leading a successful media camp for RIchmond-area teens – filling them with wisdom and ideas that will help shape their future.

Congrats to A’Lelia Bundles for landing a Netflix series for the story of her great-great grandmother Madame C.J. Walker, America’s first African American female millionaire, in the early 20th century.

And this is just in the past week and just in my writer community!

I celebrate their wins and cheer you on, too. Look around you and dance with those in your circle who deserve it. As you applaud their steps forward you’re also moving in the right direction. 😘