[Music] what if I is to tell you that each and
what if I is to tell you that each and
what if I is to tell you that each and every one of you have the power to
every one of you have the power to
every one of you have the power to suppress and minimize teen pregnancy
suppress and minimize teen pregnancy
suppress and minimize teen pregnancy teen drug use poverty mass incarceration
teen drug use poverty mass incarceration
teen drug use poverty mass incarceration and so much more by simply promoting
and so much more by simply promoting
and so much more by simply promoting something that each and every one of you
something that each and every one of you
something that each and every one of you do every single day and that thing is
do every single day and that thing is
do every single day and that thing is reading assuming that you all read I
reading assuming that you all read I
reading assuming that you all read I mean this is Ted so you guys I think are
mean this is Ted so you guys I think are
mean this is Ted so you guys I think are pretty smart right so Wow okay so my
pretty smart right so Wow okay so my
pretty smart right so Wow okay so my name is silent Jackson I am a children’s
name is silent Jackson I am a children’s
name is silent Jackson I am a children’s book author literacy advocate and the
book author literacy advocate and the
book author literacy advocate and the world’s largest self-proclaimed mama’s
world’s largest self-proclaimed mama’s
world’s largest self-proclaimed mama’s boy
boy
boy the mama’s boy part has nothing to do
the mama’s boy part has nothing to do
the mama’s boy part has nothing to do with this talk I just like to inject my
with this talk I just like to inject my
with this talk I just like to inject my mother in every single thing I do she’s
mother in every single thing I do she’s
mother in every single thing I do she’s my hero hi mom
my path to becoming an author and
my path to becoming an author and literacy advocate started with her when
literacy advocate started with her when
literacy advocate started with her when I was about five years old she would
I was about five years old she would
I was about five years old she would take my brother and I to the library and
take my brother and I to the library and
take my brother and I to the library and we would go and we would bring back as
we would go and we would bring back as
we would go and we would bring back as many books as we could possibly carry
many books as we could possibly carry
many books as we could possibly carry and we would bring him home to her bed
and we would bring him home to her bed
and we would bring him home to her bed which when you’re a kid your mother’s
which when you’re a kid your mother’s
which when you’re a kid your mother’s bed seems like a throne not like a bed
bed seems like a throne not like a bed
bed seems like a throne not like a bed and we would sit on that throne and she
and we would sit on that throne and she
and we would sit on that throne and she would spread out all the books that we
would spread out all the books that we
would spread out all the books that we had right along her bed and she would
had right along her bed and she would
had right along her bed and she would then read the books in sight with such
then read the books in sight with such
then read the books in sight with such enthusiasm and animation that it was
enthusiasm and animation that it was
enthusiasm and animation that it was like having Theodore right in front of
like having Theodore right in front of
like having Theodore right in front of you it was the thing that was the
you it was the thing that was the
you it was the thing that was the foundation that laid down for me to
foundation that laid down for me to
foundation that laid down for me to become the reader and they also that I
become the reader and they also that I
become the reader and they also that I am today
am today
am today fast forward to about ten years ago ten
fast forward to about ten years ago ten
fast forward to about ten years ago ten years ago my son asked me a question and
years ago my son asked me a question and
years ago my son asked me a question and this question would change my life and
this question would change my life and
this question would change my life and he very simply said hey Dad can we open
he very simply said hey Dad can we open
he very simply said hey Dad can we open up a lemonade stand sure son so we get a
up a lemonade stand sure son so we get a
up a lemonade stand sure son so we get a cardboard box we sit it right on top of
cardboard box we sit it right on top of
cardboard box we sit it right on top of on the corner of our street tablecloth a
on the corner of our street tablecloth a
on the corner of our street tablecloth a pitcher of lemonade little umbrellas you
pitcher of lemonade little umbrellas you
pitcher of lemonade little umbrellas you got to have two little umbrellas and in
got to have two little umbrellas and in
got to have two little umbrellas and in three hours this cute little kid made
three hours this cute little kid made
three hours this cute little kid made $50 selling lemonade that’s what I said
$50 selling lemonade that’s what I said
$50 selling lemonade that’s what I said and then it prompted him to ask another
and then it prompted him to ask another
and then it prompted him to ask another question he said dad what am I gonna do
question he said dad what am I gonna do
question he said dad what am I gonna do with all this money and the reality is I
with all this money and the reality is I
with all this money and the reality is I said in my great big authority fatherly
said in my great big authority fatherly
said in my great big authority fatherly voice I don’t know what is the
voice I don’t know what is the
voice I don’t know what is the seven-year-old kid do with 50 bucks so
seven-year-old kid do with 50 bucks so
seven-year-old kid do with 50 bucks so when I don’t know the answer to a
when I don’t know the answer to a
when I don’t know the answer to a question I go to the book store and I
question I go to the book store and I
question I go to the book store and I try to find a book to help me answer
try to find a book to help me answer
try to find a book to help me answer that question so I go to the local book
that question so I go to the local book
that question so I go to the local book store and out of the thousands of books
store and out of the thousands of books
store and out of the thousands of books that are on the Shelf I could not find
that are on the Shelf I could not find
that are on the Shelf I could not find one book to teach my son about finance
one book to teach my son about finance
one book to teach my son about finance and entrepreneurship long story short I
and entrepreneurship long story short I
and entrepreneurship long story short I decided to create and publish that book
decided to create and publish that book
decided to create and publish that book that book is titled Danny Dollar this
that book is titled Danny Dollar this
that book is titled Danny Dollar this book has inspired tens of thousands of
book has inspired tens of thousands of
book has inspired tens of thousands of children across the country to learn
children across the country to learn
children across the country to learn about finance and entrepreneurship
about finance and entrepreneurship
about finance and entrepreneurship I’m remarkably proud of this book and in
I’m remarkably proud of this book and in
I’m remarkably proud of this book and in fact this year I am piloting with an
fact this year I am piloting with an
fact this year I am piloting with an economics professor in Northern Kentucky
economics professor in Northern Kentucky
economics professor in Northern Kentucky University Danny Dollar Academy to help
University Danny Dollar Academy to help
University Danny Dollar Academy to help teach inner-city low-income kids about
teach inner-city low-income kids about
teach inner-city low-income kids about the importance of finance and
so this is my first book and as my first
so this is my first book and as my first book as any first author would do I went
book as any first author would do I went
book as any first author would do I went out and heavily promoted this book so I
out and heavily promoted this book so I
out and heavily promoted this book so I would go to schools in my community and
would go to schools in my community and
would go to schools in my community and I noticed something immediate upon me
I noticed something immediate upon me
I noticed something immediate upon me promoting this book a lot of kids simply
promoting this book a lot of kids simply
promoting this book a lot of kids simply did not like to read now that I can’t
did not like to read now that I can’t
did not like to read now that I can’t even fathom that as a kid I’d love to
even fathom that as a kid I’d love to
even fathom that as a kid I’d love to read and I instill this within my family
read and I instill this within my family
read and I instill this within my family so prominently my children love to read
so prominently my children love to read
so prominently my children love to read so I’m constantly surrounded by children
so I’m constantly surrounded by children
so I’m constantly surrounded by children who love to read but lo and behold as
who love to read but lo and behold as
who love to read but lo and behold as I’m promoting this book children telling
I’m promoting this book children telling
I’m promoting this book children telling me they’re not interested because they
me they’re not interested because they
me they’re not interested because they don’t like reading so I just decided to
don’t like reading so I just decided to
don’t like reading so I just decided to discover why is it that children don’t
discover why is it that children don’t
discover why is it that children don’t like to read so as I’m making this
like to read so as I’m making this
like to read so as I’m making this discovery I discovered something else
discovery I discovered something else
discovery I discovered something else that was incredibly incredibly damaging
that was incredibly incredibly damaging
that was incredibly incredibly damaging and what it is is that there are several
and what it is is that there are several
and what it is is that there are several statistics and these statistics change
statistics and these statistics change
statistics and these statistics change the way that I promote literacy two out
the way that I promote literacy two out
the way that I promote literacy two out of three children who cannot read
of three children who cannot read
of three children who cannot read proficiently by the fourth grade will
proficiently by the fourth grade will
proficiently by the fourth grade will end up incarcerated or on welfare
end up incarcerated or on welfare
end up incarcerated or on welfare whenever I say that quote I get
whenever I say that quote I get
whenever I say that quote I get goosebumps like I have right now to
goosebumps like I have right now to
goosebumps like I have right now to compound that 85% of all teens who go
compound that 85% of all teens who go
compound that 85% of all teens who go through the judicial system are
through the judicial system are
through the judicial system are functionally illiterate to coincide with
functionally illiterate to coincide with
functionally illiterate to coincide with that 70% of all inmates today cannot
that 70% of all inmates today cannot
that 70% of all inmates today cannot read above a fourth-grade level there is
read above a fourth-grade level there is
read above a fourth-grade level there is a direct connection between illiteracy
a direct connection between illiteracy
a direct connection between illiteracy and incarceration in this country it
and incarceration in this country it
and incarceration in this country it totally changed the way that I no longer
totally changed the way that I no longer
totally changed the way that I no longer wanted to promote just books I wanted to
wanted to promote just books I wanted to
wanted to promote just books I wanted to promote the importance of reading so but
promote the importance of reading so but
promote the importance of reading so but instead of just promoting it to children
instead of just promoting it to children
instead of just promoting it to children I wanted it to promote it to the people
I wanted it to promote it to the people
I wanted it to promote it to the people that it impacts the most people who are
that it impacts the most people who are
that it impacts the most people who are already in jail so myself or my business
already in jail so myself or my business
already in jail so myself or my business partner Eddie Taylor created this
partner Eddie Taylor created this
partner Eddie Taylor created this program and this program is is titled
program and this program is is titled
program and this program is is titled full full stands for families United
full full stands for families United
full full stands for families United through the love of literacy it is a
through the love of literacy it is a
through the love of literacy it is a three-step program that we’ve done with
three-step program that we’ve done with
three-step program that we’ve done with several jails here in Massachusetts and
several jails here in Massachusetts and
several jails here in Massachusetts and we promote the importance of reading the
we promote the importance of reading the
we promote the importance of reading the power of reading and we help instill
power of reading and we help instill
power of reading and we help instill into the side and into these
into the side and into these
into the side and into these participants we don’t like to call them
participants we don’t like to call them
participants we don’t like to call them inmates we like to call them
inmates we like to call them
inmates we like to call them participants
participants
participants that they still have the power to
that they still have the power to
that they still have the power to promote the importance of reading to
promote the importance of reading to
promote the importance of reading to their children despite them being
their children despite them being
their children despite them being incarcerated at the end of the step at
incarcerated at the end of the step at
incarcerated at the end of the step at the end of this program they all have an
the end of this program they all have an
the end of this program they all have an opportunity to read my picture book
opportunity to read my picture book
opportunity to read my picture book title when I close my eyes and be
title when I close my eyes and be
title when I close my eyes and be recorded we take that recording we put
recorded we take that recording we put
recorded we take that recording we put it in a DVD and along with that book we
it in a DVD and along with that book we
it in a DVD and along with that book we send it to their children so that they
send it to their children so that they
send it to their children so that they can have their mom or dad reading them a
can have their mom or dad reading them a
can have their mom or dad reading them a story whenever they want I like to show
story whenever they want I like to show
story whenever they want I like to show you a brief example of what that looks
you a brief example of what that looks
you a brief example of what that looks like hey miss you man about to get into
like hey miss you man about to get into
like hey miss you man about to get into the story it’s a very good story it’s a
the story it’s a very good story it’s a
the story it’s a very good story it’s a story about Alan Jackson illustrated by
story about Alan Jackson illustrated by
story about Alan Jackson illustrated by Jonathan shears called when I close my
Jonathan shears called when I close my
Jonathan shears called when I close my eyes good morning to me it’s a beautiful
eyes good morning to me it’s a beautiful
eyes good morning to me it’s a beautiful day time to get dressed and go out and
day time to get dressed and go out and
day time to get dressed and go out and play want to go play job have a little
play want to go play job have a little
play want to go play job have a little bit of fun Oh daughter love my world
bit of fun Oh daughter love my world
bit of fun Oh daughter love my world outside it’s so much fun when I close my
outside it’s so much fun when I close my
outside it’s so much fun when I close my eyes you miss going to the park with me
eyes you miss going to the park with me
eyes you miss going to the park with me don’t you don’t worry we’d be back at
don’t you don’t worry we’d be back at
don’t you don’t worry we’d be back at the park soon when I close my eyes I’m
the park soon when I close my eyes I’m
the park soon when I close my eyes I’m so far away in the middle of the jungle
so far away in the middle of the jungle
so far away in the middle of the jungle is where I love to play see the monkeys
is where I love to play see the monkeys
is where I love to play see the monkeys job you like the monkeys don’t you I
job you like the monkeys don’t you I
job you like the monkeys don’t you I could hang around with a monkey and play
could hang around with a monkey and play
could hang around with a monkey and play cards with a cheetah break dance with a
cards with a cheetah break dance with a
cards with a cheetah break dance with a gorilla or put spots on the zebra you
gorilla or put spots on the zebra you
gorilla or put spots on the zebra you like to paint quite sure you do
like to paint quite sure you do
like to paint quite sure you do I miss paint with you to play house with
I miss paint with you to play house with
I miss paint with you to play house with a elephant while making fajitas have a
a elephant while making fajitas have a
a elephant while making fajitas have a tea party with a Rando whose name is
tea party with a Rando whose name is
tea party with a Rando whose name is Juanita I’m having so much fun oh how
Juanita I’m having so much fun oh how
Juanita I’m having so much fun oh how time flies to be back at the pop I just
time flies to be back at the pop I just
time flies to be back at the pop I just opened my eyes I had to cut the video
opened my eyes I had to cut the video
opened my eyes I had to cut the video off short for two reasons one I don’t
off short for two reasons one I don’t
off short for two reasons one I don’t have that much time to most of you would
have that much time to most of you would
have that much time to most of you would be crying at the end of this video
be crying at the end of this video
be crying at the end of this video aren’t there’s people already crying at
aren’t there’s people already crying at
aren’t there’s people already crying at the end of this video this program has
the end of this video this program has
the end of this video this program has been remarkably and powerful pretty much
been remarkably and powerful pretty much
been remarkably and powerful pretty much every single participant that we have
every single participant that we have
every single participant that we have has gone through that’s gone through
has gone through that’s gone through
has gone through that’s gone through this program is
this program is
this program is vote such amazing emotion at the end of
vote such amazing emotion at the end of
vote such amazing emotion at the end of the program at the end of reading this
the program at the end of reading this
the program at the end of reading this video they all get an opportunity to sit
video they all get an opportunity to sit
video they all get an opportunity to sit down close the book and talk to their
down close the book and talk to their
down close the book and talk to their family specifically their children and
family specifically their children and
family specifically their children and most of them of course express great
most of them of course express great
most of them of course express great sorrow and remorse for being away from
sorrow and remorse for being away from
sorrow and remorse for being away from them and they all say that they’re sorry
them and they all say that they’re sorry
them and they all say that they’re sorry when they’re done with this program when
when they’re done with this program when
when they’re done with this program when they’re done that with that particular
they’re done that with that particular
they’re done that with that particular segment many of them are in tears and I
segment many of them are in tears and I
segment many of them are in tears and I always ask each and every one of them
always ask each and every one of them
always ask each and every one of them why are they crying and the responses I
why are they crying and the responses I
why are they crying and the responses I get are amazing some of them say I’ve
get are amazing some of them say I’ve
get are amazing some of them say I’ve never read a book to my child before
never read a book to my child before
never read a book to my child before many of them have said I’ve never read a
many of them have said I’ve never read a
many of them have said I’ve never read a book before and one in particular stands
book before and one in particular stands
book before and one in particular stands out that this one participant had said I
out that this one participant had said I
out that this one participant had said I just feel like I just did something
just feel like I just did something
just feel like I just did something incredibly important for my child and it
incredibly important for my child and it
incredibly important for my child and it may be the first time I’ve done so this
may be the first time I’ve done so this
may be the first time I’ve done so this program is unbelievably special but it
program is unbelievably special but it
program is unbelievably special but it also forced us to do a little bit more
also forced us to do a little bit more
also forced us to do a little bit more research and in doing so we came across
research and in doing so we came across
research and in doing so we came across this statement from the Department of
this statement from the Department of
this statement from the Department of Justice the link between academic
Justice the link between academic
Justice the link between academic failure and delinquency violence and
failure and delinquency violence and
failure and delinquency violence and crime is wielding – reading failure in
crime is wielding – reading failure in
crime is wielding – reading failure in other words if we are not promoting the
other words if we are not promoting the
other words if we are not promoting the importance of reading we are welcoming
importance of reading we are welcoming
importance of reading we are welcoming into our our lives incarceration poor
into our our lives incarceration poor
into our our lives incarceration poor health in just a number of issues so I
health in just a number of issues so I
health in just a number of issues so I thought to myself this basically is
thought to myself this basically is
thought to myself this basically is saying read or else that sounds like
saying read or else that sounds like
saying read or else that sounds like something you should put on a t-shirt
something you should put on a t-shirt
something you should put on a t-shirt oh so that’s exactly what we did we took
oh so that’s exactly what we did we took
oh so that’s exactly what we did we took this slogan and we put it on a t-shirt
this slogan and we put it on a t-shirt
this slogan and we put it on a t-shirt and the results from wearing his
and the results from wearing his
and the results from wearing his t-shirts were immediate and profound we
t-shirts were immediate and profound we
t-shirts were immediate and profound we could not walk a block without someone
could not walk a block without someone
could not walk a block without someone going that’s a great shirt and I’d say
going that’s a great shirt and I’d say
going that’s a great shirt and I’d say yeah I know read or else I get it we get
yeah I know read or else I get it we get
yeah I know read or else I get it we get it – and then the question I was waiting
it – and then the question I was waiting
it – and then the question I was waiting for once I had these hence we had these
for once I had these hence we had these
for once I had these hence we had these shirts established I knew I was going to
shirts established I knew I was going to
shirts established I knew I was going to get this question and I could not wait
get this question and I could not wait
get this question and I could not wait for this question and the question is or
for this question and the question is or
for this question and the question is or else what
else what
else what and I would say six six one your teenage
and I would say six six one your teenage
and I would say six six one your teenage daughter is six times more likely to
daughter is six times more likely to
daughter is six times more likely to become pregnant if her reading level is
become pregnant if her reading level is
become pregnant if her reading level is below the fourth grade
below the fourth grade
below the fourth grade so read or else I would go another block
so read or else I would go another block
so read or else I would go another block and someone would say or else what and I
and someone would say or else what and I
and someone would say or else what and I say seventy five seventy five of all
say seventy five seventy five of all
say seventy five seventy five of all recipients of welfare are functionally
recipients of welfare are functionally
recipients of welfare are functionally illiterate and someone again would say
illiterate and someone again would say
illiterate and someone again would say or what
or what
or what and I would say ninety ninety percent of
and I would say ninety ninety percent of
and I would say ninety ninety percent of all dropouts are on welfare and also
all dropouts are on welfare and also
all dropouts are on welfare and also when you are dropout and are
when you are dropout and are
when you are dropout and are functionally illiterate you no longer
functionally illiterate you no longer
functionally illiterate you no longer qualify for ninety percent of the jobs
qualify for ninety percent of the jobs
qualify for ninety percent of the jobs in this country there is a direct
in this country there is a direct
in this country there is a direct connection to illiteracy and poverty and
connection to illiteracy and poverty and
connection to illiteracy and poverty and incarceration and you name it so we went
incarceration and you name it so we went
incarceration and you name it so we went on a spree Gaede to go out and promote
on a spree Gaede to go out and promote
on a spree Gaede to go out and promote this t-shirt and lo and behold it
this t-shirt and lo and behold it
this t-shirt and lo and behold it started selling like crazy and people
started selling like crazy and people
started selling like crazy and people all across the world were starting to
all across the world were starting to
all across the world were starting to buy these shirts and as great as it was
buy these shirts and as great as it was
buy these shirts and as great as it was to have this walking talking billboard
to have this walking talking billboard
to have this walking talking billboard all across the world promoting read or
all across the world promoting read or
all across the world promoting read or else we wanted it to have an even more
else we wanted it to have an even more
else we wanted it to have an even more profound impact so we decided that with
profound impact so we decided that with
profound impact so we decided that with every single purchase of a t-shirt or a
every single purchase of a t-shirt or a
every single purchase of a t-shirt or a hoodie that has the read Oros logo that
hoodie that has the read Oros logo that
hoodie that has the read Oros logo that we would send a book to a child in a
we would send a book to a child in a
we would send a book to a child in a homeless shelter to help sever the cycle
homeless shelter to help sever the cycle
homeless shelter to help sever the cycle of poverty that obviously exists inside
of poverty that obviously exists inside
of poverty that obviously exists inside their lives and what book did we decide
their lives and what book did we decide
their lives and what book did we decide to send them well duh Danny dollar what
to send them well duh Danny dollar what
to send them well duh Danny dollar what better book to send a child that is
better book to send a child that is
better book to send a child that is struggling economically than to teach
struggling economically than to teach
struggling economically than to teach them about the importance of finance and
them about the importance of finance and
them about the importance of finance and entrepreneurship product prompt programs
entrepreneurship product prompt programs
entrepreneurship product prompt programs like the full program or read or else
like the full program or read or else
like the full program or read or else are our little way for us to put a dent
are our little way for us to put a dent
are our little way for us to put a dent in illiteracy but each and every one of
in illiteracy but each and every one of
in illiteracy but each and every one of you have the power to do the exact same
you have the power to do the exact same
you have the power to do the exact same thing in your world and when I say your
thing in your world and when I say your
thing in your world and when I say your world I mean the world that’s most
world I mean the world that’s most
world I mean the world that’s most important to you your home so I’d like
important to you your home so I’d like
important to you your home so I’d like to offer a couple of things that you can
to offer a couple of things that you can
to offer a couple of things that you can to incite your little reader if he or
to incite your little reader if he or
to incite your little reader if he or she isn’t one already to help that to
she isn’t one already to help that to
she isn’t one already to help that to help them establish them to be a reader
help them establish them to be a reader
help them establish them to be a reader one of the things that we can do is go
one of the things that we can do is go
one of the things that we can do is go to the movies I’m a huge fan of the
to the movies I’m a huge fan of the
to the movies I’m a huge fan of the movies and chances are when my little
movies and chances are when my little
movies and chances are when my little kids are telling me they want to go to a
kids are telling me they want to go to a
kids are telling me they want to go to a movie more than likely that movie has
movie more than likely that movie has
movie more than likely that movie has already been a book so we’ll go to the
already been a book so we’ll go to the
already been a book so we’ll go to the book store and get the book and read it
book store and get the book and read it
book store and get the book and read it first and I’m talking current movies
first and I’m talking current movies
first and I’m talking current movies from Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Captain
from Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Captain
from Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Captain Underpants that are in the theaters but
Underpants that are in the theaters but
Underpants that are in the theaters but have all read about war first books or
have all read about war first books or
have all read about war first books or even movies like Shrek which was first a
even movies like Shrek which was first a
even movies like Shrek which was first a book before it was before it was a movie
book before it was before it was a movie
book before it was before it was a movie even The Wizard of Oz has it was one of
even The Wizard of Oz has it was one of
even The Wizard of Oz has it was one of the most amazing books if you have not
the most amazing books if you have not
the most amazing books if you have not read The Wizard of Oz and I know you’ve
read The Wizard of Oz and I know you’ve
read The Wizard of Oz and I know you’ve all seen it you need to read that book
all seen it you need to read that book
all seen it you need to read that book that book is crazy so if you want to
that book is crazy so if you want to
that book is crazy so if you want to help encourage little readers at home
help encourage little readers at home
help encourage little readers at home take them to the movies the other place
take them to the movies the other place
take them to the movies the other place that you really need to take them is the
that you really need to take them is the
that you really need to take them is the library in my opinion the library is the
library in my opinion the library is the
library in my opinion the library is the most powerful important yet underused
most powerful important yet underused
most powerful important yet underused resource in the country if knowledge is
resource in the country if knowledge is
resource in the country if knowledge is power and books are where you get
power and books are where you get
power and books are where you get knowledge the library is the ideal place
knowledge the library is the ideal place
knowledge the library is the ideal place to go and get them not to mention the
to go and get them not to mention the
to go and get them not to mention the purchase a book is pretty darn expensive
purchase a book is pretty darn expensive
purchase a book is pretty darn expensive and at the library you can take out
and at the library you can take out
and at the library you can take out almost as many books as you want for
almost as many books as you want for
almost as many books as you want for free 99 so it is essential for you to go
free 99 so it is essential for you to go
free 99 so it is essential for you to go to the library not to mention that the
to the library not to mention that the
to the library not to mention that the library has found new and creative ways
library has found new and creative ways
library has found new and creative ways to get you in from having movie nights
to get you in from having movie nights
to get you in from having movie nights and author readings even my local
and author readings even my local
and author readings even my local library has Lego nights every other week
library has Lego nights every other week
library has Lego nights every other week to get families inside which i think is
to get families inside which i think is
to get families inside which i think is pretty awesome
pretty awesome
pretty awesome but the most important and powerful
but the most important and powerful
but the most important and powerful thing that you can do to help establish
thing that you can do to help establish
thing that you can do to help establish a little reader is to lead by example
a little reader is to lead by example
a little reader is to lead by example my favorite poet James Baldwin once said
my favorite poet James Baldwin once said
my favorite poet James Baldwin once said that our children resist listening to
that our children resist listening to
that our children resist listening to their parents but they never fail to
their parents but they never fail to
their parents but they never fail to emulate them it is essential that for
emulate them it is essential that for
emulate them it is essential that for you as the primary teacher of your child
you as the primary teacher of your child
you as the primary teacher of your child for you to set the example and read with
for you to set the example and read with
for you to set the example and read with and to and around your children as well
and to and around your children as well
and to and around your children as well as all the people that your child
as all the people that your child
as all the people that your child gravitates to
gravitates to
gravitates to and I don’t just mean inside the home I
and I don’t just mean inside the home I
and I don’t just mean inside the home I want to show you a share with you a
want to show you a share with you a
want to show you a share with you a little trick if you really want to
little trick if you really want to
little trick if you really want to create a little reader in the home don’t
create a little reader in the home don’t
create a little reader in the home don’t promote it to your child promote it to
promote it to your child promote it to
promote it to your child promote it to your child’s best friend because if you
your child’s best friend because if you
your child’s best friend because if you think that your child listens to you
think that your child listens to you
think that your child listens to you more than they listen to their best
more than they listen to their best
more than they listen to their best friend I got some news for you so the
friend I got some news for you so the
friend I got some news for you so the next time that you really want to
next time that you really want to
next time that you really want to encourage your child to read take your
encourage your child to read take your
encourage your child to read take your child and their friend to the bookstore
child and their friend to the bookstore
child and their friend to the bookstore and buy them the same book and then do
and buy them the same book and then do
and buy them the same book and then do something I love to do challenge them
something I love to do challenge them
something I love to do challenge them hey Little Billy I bet you can’t read
hey Little Billy I bet you can’t read
hey Little Billy I bet you can’t read that book in a week
that book in a week
that book in a week oh yeah mr. Jackson I could read that
oh yeah mr. Jackson I could read that
oh yeah mr. Jackson I could read that book in five days and I guarantee you
book in five days and I guarantee you
book in five days and I guarantee you that your child will jump in and want to
that your child will jump in and want to
that your child will jump in and want to do the same thing if not beat his little
do the same thing if not beat his little
do the same thing if not beat his little friend so it’s important for us to have
friend so it’s important for us to have
friend so it’s important for us to have this creativity for us to encourage our
this creativity for us to encourage our
this creativity for us to encourage our children to read the things that that
children to read the things that that
children to read the things that that all three of these suggestions have in
all three of these suggestions have in
all three of these suggestions have in common is you you are the catalyst for
common is you you are the catalyst for
common is you you are the catalyst for changing this world by changing your
changing this world by changing your
changing this world by changing your children to make them more literate if
children to make them more literate if
children to make them more literate if the first time that your child has a
the first time that your child has a
the first time that your child has a book read to them is within a circle in
book read to them is within a circle in
book read to them is within a circle in kindergarten then you are failing as a
kindergarten then you are failing as a
kindergarten then you are failing as a parent I have one more number for you
parent I have one more number for you
parent I have one more number for you actually technically – it’s this one and
actually technically – it’s this one and
actually technically – it’s this one and it’s pretty darn large 32 million and
it’s pretty darn large 32 million and
it’s pretty darn large 32 million and those are the amount of adults that
those are the amount of adults that
those are the amount of adults that cannot read in this country today that
cannot read in this country today that
cannot read in this country today that is absolutely positively devastating and
is absolutely positively devastating and
is absolutely positively devastating and if you don’t think that affects you you
if you don’t think that affects you you
if you don’t think that affects you you are absolutely wrong because it’s these
are absolutely wrong because it’s these
are absolutely wrong because it’s these 32 million people that are going to be
32 million people that are going to be
32 million people that are going to be dependent upon our welfare system there
dependent upon our welfare system there
dependent upon our welfare system there are going to be victims of our
are going to be victims of our
are going to be victims of our incarceration system and who’s flipping
incarceration system and who’s flipping
incarceration system and who’s flipping the bill for these things
the bill for these things
the bill for these things you are so illiteracy impacts every
you are so illiteracy impacts every
you are so illiteracy impacts every single one of us every single day so it
single one of us every single day so it
single one of us every single day so it is our obligation to promote their
is our obligation to promote their
is our obligation to promote their importance and the joy and the power of
importance and the joy and the power of
importance and the joy and the power of reading and we can all do that with one
reading and we can all do that with one
reading and we can all do that with one final number and that is one all it
final number and that is one all it
final number and that is one all it takes is one book and one child to
takes is one book and one child to
takes is one book and one child to change a life if you are all readers and
change a life if you are all readers and
change a life if you are all readers and no you are you all had one book that
no you are you all had one book that
no you are you all had one book that shifted everything and it did it for me
shifted everything and it did it for me
shifted everything and it did it for me as well and it is up to us as parents
as well and it is up to us as parents
as well and it is up to us as parents and guardians and loved ones and
and guardians and loved ones and
and guardians and loved ones and grandparents to expose our children to
grandparents to expose our children to
grandparents to expose our children to that one book and it may take dozens it
that one book and it may take dozens it
that one book and it may take dozens it may even take hundreds of books for you
may even take hundreds of books for you
may even take hundreds of books for you to get to that point but it is an
to get to that point but it is an
to get to that point but it is an investment worth making for you to do
investment worth making for you to do
investment worth making for you to do that and impact our lives I beg you I
that and impact our lives I beg you I
that and impact our lives I beg you I plead with you for behalf of the welfare
plead with you for behalf of the welfare
plead with you for behalf of the welfare of our country and our world to read and
of our country and our world to read and
of our country and our world to read and promote reading or else thank you
promote reading or else thank you
promote reading or else thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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