hello hello hello good afternoon everyone I’m so excited to be here with
everyone I’m so excited to be here with
everyone I’m so excited to be here with you well books have been my passion for
you well books have been my passion for
you well books have been my passion for as far back as I can remember after my
as far back as I can remember after my
as far back as I can remember after my husband Rodney and I you can see him
husband Rodney and I you can see him
husband Rodney and I you can see him here in the photo after we got married
here in the photo after we got married
here in the photo after we got married he said he thought there was something
he said he thought there was something
he said he thought there was something wrong with me because he had never been
wrong with me because he had never been
wrong with me because he had never been around someone who read so much well
around someone who read so much well
around someone who read so much well motherhood and marring have limited the
motherhood and marring have limited the
motherhood and marring have limited the time and energy that i have for reading
time and energy that i have for reading
time and energy that i have for reading but book still inspire me so much in
but book still inspire me so much in
but book still inspire me so much in fact I would say that books have shaped
fact I would say that books have shaped
fact I would say that books have shaped me you know as we all grow and change
me you know as we all grow and change
me you know as we all grow and change and explore asked questions about
and explore asked questions about
and explore asked questions about ourselves who we are what it means to be
ourselves who we are what it means to be
ourselves who we are what it means to be a woman an American black person or even
a woman an American black person or even
a woman an American black person or even a human being you know I think I have
a human being you know I think I have
a human being you know I think I have been exploring the answers to all those
been exploring the answers to all those
been exploring the answers to all those questions throughout my life through
questions throughout my life through
questions throughout my life through reading books german historian ralph
reading books german historian ralph
reading books german historian ralph engelstad popularized the notion that
engelstad popularized the notion that
engelstad popularized the notion that there was a reading revolution in 18th
there was a reading revolution in 18th
there was a reading revolution in 18th century europe and then Steven Pinker
century europe and then Steven Pinker
century europe and then Steven Pinker followed up on that idea and said that
followed up on that idea and said that
followed up on that idea and said that really he linked that revolution to the
really he linked that revolution to the
really he linked that revolution to the rise of the novel which really expanded
rise of the novel which really expanded
rise of the novel which really expanded humanitarian ideals because people were
humanitarian ideals because people were
humanitarian ideals because people were able to read about other humans
able to read about other humans
able to read about other humans experiences and then political scientist
experiences and then political scientist
experiences and then political scientist Benedict Anderson followed up on those
Benedict Anderson followed up on those
Benedict Anderson followed up on those ideas and said that he thinks that the
ideas and said that he thinks that the
ideas and said that he thinks that the words on paper and thoughts express
words on paper and thoughts express
words on paper and thoughts express actually helped to build and create
actually helped to build and create
actually helped to build and create communities so let’s start at the
communities so let’s start at the
communities so let’s start at the beginning mr. pines purple house was my
beginning mr. pines purple house was my
beginning mr. pines purple house was my favorite book when I started reading
favorite book when I started reading
favorite book when I started reading when I learned to read in about nineteen
when I learned to read in about nineteen
when I learned to read in about nineteen seventy five mr. pines purple house by
seventy five mr. pines purple house by
seventy five mr. pines purple house by Leonard Kessler is the story of a man
Leonard Kessler is the story of a man
Leonard Kessler is the story of a man who lived in a neighborhood full of
who lived in a neighborhood full of
who lived in a neighborhood full of endless white houses and he decided to
endless white houses and he decided to
endless white houses and he decided to paint his house purple
paint his house purple
paint his house purple so of course that is a great lesson for
so of course that is a great lesson for
so of course that is a great lesson for young people to learn that it’s okay to
young people to learn that it’s okay to
young people to learn that it’s okay to be different and that it’s great to
be different and that it’s great to
be different and that it’s great to express yourself fast-forward 40 years
express yourself fast-forward 40 years
express yourself fast-forward 40 years when I was contemplating the idea of
when I was contemplating the idea of
when I was contemplating the idea of running for mayor I had several
running for mayor I had several
running for mayor I had several consultants to tell me that I needed to
consultants to tell me that I needed to
consultants to tell me that I needed to fit into a certain mold in order to be
fit into a certain mold in order to be
fit into a certain mold in order to be successful well by that point the
successful well by that point the
successful well by that point the lessons of mr. pine had been ingrained
lessons of mr. pine had been ingrained
lessons of mr. pine had been ingrained in me for many years I did my own thing
in me for many years I did my own thing
in me for many years I did my own thing and after I was sworn in after a
and after I was sworn in after a
and after I was sworn in after a hard-fought election I wore this purple
hard-fought election I wore this purple
hard-fought election I wore this purple suit to my swearing-in but before I ever
suit to my swearing-in but before I ever
suit to my swearing-in but before I ever had a notion of being mayor of a major
had a notion of being mayor of a major
had a notion of being mayor of a major American city I was just a shy quiet
American city I was just a shy quiet
American city I was just a shy quiet teenager growing up in a household and
teenager growing up in a household and
teenager growing up in a household and where my parents were involved with a
where my parents were involved with a
where my parents were involved with a Pentecostal Holiness Church their
Pentecostal Holiness Church their
Pentecostal Holiness Church their involvement there made me feel as if I
involvement there made me feel as if I
involvement there made me feel as if I was wearing purple paint every day I
was wearing purple paint every day I
was wearing purple paint every day I stood out from the other young people
stood out from the other young people
stood out from the other young people because I wasn’t allowed to wear pants
because I wasn’t allowed to wear pants
because I wasn’t allowed to wear pants or makeup or jewelry or go to the movies
or makeup or jewelry or go to the movies
or makeup or jewelry or go to the movies or dance or listen to secular music or
or dance or listen to secular music or
or dance or listen to secular music or really do anything fun so I lost myself
really do anything fun so I lost myself
really do anything fun so I lost myself in the world of books and during that
in the world of books and during that
in the world of books and during that time period in my life there were a
time period in my life there were a
time period in my life there were a couple of books that i read that really
couple of books that i read that really
couple of books that i read that really had a huge impact on me you can see them
had a huge impact on me you can see them
had a huge impact on me you can see them here gone with the wind and roots I know
here gone with the wind and roots I know
here gone with the wind and roots I know you’re thinking that is a really strange
you’re thinking that is a really strange
you’re thinking that is a really strange combination but made sense to me I
combination but made sense to me I
combination but made sense to me I really was captivated by the historical
really was captivated by the historical
really was captivated by the historical drama and of and the backdrop of Gone
drama and of and the backdrop of Gone
drama and of and the backdrop of Gone with the Wind even though it really was
with the Wind even though it really was
with the Wind even though it really was a painful period in American history I
a painful period in American history I
a painful period in American history I first read it I think when I was in
first read it I think when I was in
first read it I think when I was in Middle School but then I followed up and
Middle School but then I followed up and
Middle School but then I followed up and kind of balanced out the shame of those
kind of balanced out the shame of those
kind of balanced out the shame of those slavery days with roots the story of one
slavery days with roots the story of one
slavery days with roots the story of one man’s insistence on maintaining his
man’s insistence on maintaining his
man’s insistence on maintaining his identity which was carried through
identity which was carried through
identity which was carried through generations of his family and eventually
generations of his family and eventually
generations of his family and eventually brought Alex Haley to Africa and brought
brought Alex Haley to Africa and brought
brought Alex Haley to Africa and brought millions of Americans along with him
millions of Americans along with him
millions of Americans along with him through both the book and the mini
through both the book and the mini
through both the book and the mini series I read both of these books at
series I read both of these books at
series I read both of these books at least five times before I graduated from
least five times before I graduated from
least five times before I graduated from high school and I now consider them to
high school and I now consider them to
high school and I now consider them to be part of my DNA so I arrived at Yale
be part of my DNA so I arrived at Yale
be part of my DNA so I arrived at Yale that’s me in the Hat there in the
that’s me in the Hat there in the
that’s me in the Hat there in the background i arrived at Yale in the fall
background i arrived at Yale in the fall
background i arrived at Yale in the fall of nineteen eighty-eight very excited to
of nineteen eighty-eight very excited to
of nineteen eighty-eight very excited to be in such an intellectual Center but it
be in such an intellectual Center but it
be in such an intellectual Center but it was an experience that could have been
was an experience that could have been
was an experience that could have been overwhelming so I tried to stay focused
overwhelming so I tried to stay focused
overwhelming so I tried to stay focused and grounded on what was comfortable for
and grounded on what was comfortable for
and grounded on what was comfortable for me continuing to explore my roots and so
me continuing to explore my roots and so
me continuing to explore my roots and so I joined the Yale gospel choir and I
I joined the Yale gospel choir and I
I joined the Yale gospel choir and I first read native son by Richard Wright
first read native son by Richard Wright
first read native son by Richard Wright for a class at Yale this book has
for a class at Yale this book has
for a class at Yale this book has protagonist is a young man named bigger
protagonist is a young man named bigger
protagonist is a young man named bigger Thomas who is a poor Negro growing up on
Thomas who is a poor Negro growing up on
Thomas who is a poor Negro growing up on the south side of Chicago in the 1930s
the south side of Chicago in the 1930s
the south side of Chicago in the 1930s now you may be asking why you know what
now you may be asking why you know what
now you may be asking why you know what does a 19 year old at Yale have in
does a 19 year old at Yale have in
does a 19 year old at Yale have in common with a young young urban mail for
common with a young young urban mail for
common with a young young urban mail for whom life seems to be a series of closed
whom life seems to be a series of closed
whom life seems to be a series of closed doors well I can’t exactly explain why
doors well I can’t exactly explain why
doors well I can’t exactly explain why that story resonated with me so much but
that story resonated with me so much but
that story resonated with me so much but I do recall a few years after college
I do recall a few years after college
I do recall a few years after college being extremely depressed for several
being extremely depressed for several
being extremely depressed for several months after Tupac Shakur was shot to me
months after Tupac Shakur was shot to me
months after Tupac Shakur was shot to me he represented the kind of potential
he represented the kind of potential
he represented the kind of potential loss that bigger Thomas did as well and
loss that bigger Thomas did as well and
loss that bigger Thomas did as well and it’s so amazing that in 2016 looking
it’s so amazing that in 2016 looking
it’s so amazing that in 2016 looking back on native son it still speaks so
back on native son it still speaks so
back on native son it still speaks so eloquently to issues that we are
eloquently to issues that we are
eloquently to issues that we are grappling with today and it’s part of
grappling with today and it’s part of
grappling with today and it’s part of the reason why it was so important for
the reason why it was so important for
the reason why it was so important for me to accept the president’s my
me to accept the president’s my
me to accept the president’s my brother’s keepers challenge which is an
brother’s keepers challenge which is an
brother’s keepers challenge which is an effort to improve life outcomes for
effort to improve life outcomes for
effort to improve life outcomes for minority males as a majority minority
minority males as a majority minority
minority males as a majority minority city the the outcomes and the the
city the the outcomes and the the
city the the outcomes and the the trajectory of
trajectory of
trajectory of our minority males here will impact our
our minority males here will impact our
our minority males here will impact our city’s future and so it that effort was
city’s future and so it that effort was
city’s future and so it that effort was extremely important for me god forbid
extremely important for me god forbid
extremely important for me god forbid that any young people in San Antonio
that any young people in San Antonio
that any young people in San Antonio would actually feel the kind of
would actually feel the kind of
would actually feel the kind of hopelessness that a bigger Thomas
hopelessness that a bigger Thomas
hopelessness that a bigger Thomas articulated or that Richard Wright
articulated or that Richard Wright
articulated or that Richard Wright articulated through bigger Thomas in
articulated through bigger Thomas in
articulated through bigger Thomas in native son with all the discussions that
native son with all the discussions that
native son with all the discussions that we’re having on issues like unconscious
we’re having on issues like unconscious
we’re having on issues like unconscious bias police community relations and the
bias police community relations and the
bias police community relations and the criminal justice system native son
criminal justice system native son
criminal justice system native son remains and extremely still an extremely
remains and extremely still an extremely
remains and extremely still an extremely relevant read now the other book that i
relevant read now the other book that i
relevant read now the other book that i read in college is really in contrast to
read in college is really in contrast to
read in college is really in contrast to that that had a big impact on me pride
that that had a big impact on me pride
that that had a big impact on me pride and prejudice now you know it absolutely
and prejudice now you know it absolutely
and prejudice now you know it absolutely has no there’s you know no correlation
has no there’s you know no correlation
has no there’s you know no correlation between the life that I had at that
between the life that I had at that
between the life that I had at that point or even now but I’ve read Pride
point or even now but I’ve read Pride
point or even now but I’ve read Pride and Prejudice for a class at Yale and
and Prejudice for a class at Yale and
and Prejudice for a class at Yale and I’ve been reading it ever since I think
I’ve been reading it ever since I think
I’ve been reading it ever since I think part of it is the romantic in me is
part of it is the romantic in me is
part of it is the romantic in me is drawn to the love story I’m also kind of
drawn to the love story I’m also kind of
drawn to the love story I’m also kind of fascinated by the social conventions
fascinated by the social conventions
fascinated by the social conventions even though when I was reading it I was
even though when I was reading it I was
even though when I was reading it I was forming into a modern educated woman I
forming into a modern educated woman I
forming into a modern educated woman I still was fascinated by some of those
still was fascinated by some of those
still was fascinated by some of those social conventions and rituals though
social conventions and rituals though
social conventions and rituals though not the part where woman’s fate is
not the part where woman’s fate is
not the part where woman’s fate is determined based on who she marries but
determined based on who she marries but
determined based on who she marries but i will say that as a woman working in a
i will say that as a woman working in a
i will say that as a woman working in a non-traditional role i am asking myself
non-traditional role i am asking myself
non-traditional role i am asking myself questions all the time about how my
questions all the time about how my
questions all the time about how my gender impacts my ability to be
gender impacts my ability to be
gender impacts my ability to be effective in my job certainly being
effective in my job certainly being
effective in my job certainly being small of stature and often soft-spoken
small of stature and often soft-spoken
small of stature and often soft-spoken doesn’t always engender the kind of
doesn’t always engender the kind of
doesn’t always engender the kind of confidence people you know look for in
confidence people you know look for in
confidence people you know look for in this role but i will say that not being
this role but i will say that not being
this role but i will say that not being ego driven and being willing to reach
ego driven and being willing to reach
ego driven and being willing to reach out to folks who might be naturally
out to folks who might be naturally
out to folks who might be naturally inclined to dismiss me often helps me to
inclined to dismiss me often helps me to
inclined to dismiss me often helps me to get the job done
get the job done
get the job done pride and prejudice Pride and Prejudice
pride and prejudice Pride and Prejudice
pride and prejudice Pride and Prejudice I think part of what’s so extraordinary
I think part of what’s so extraordinary
I think part of what’s so extraordinary about it is that it allows us to root
about it is that it allows us to root
about it is that it allows us to root for the underdog and it teaches that
for the underdog and it teaches that
for the underdog and it teaches that lesson that our outcome in life our life
lesson that our outcome in life our life
lesson that our outcome in life our life trajectory doesn’t have to be dictated
trajectory doesn’t have to be dictated
trajectory doesn’t have to be dictated by our parents are social stature okay
by our parents are social stature okay
by our parents are social stature okay so after college I went through the
so after college I went through the
so after college I went through the terry mcmillan years so as a young black
terry mcmillan years so as a young black
terry mcmillan years so as a young black woman uh looking for love and trying to
woman uh looking for love and trying to
woman uh looking for love and trying to figure out my career Terry McMillan
figure out my career Terry McMillan
figure out my career Terry McMillan spoke to me now I know for many of you
spoke to me now I know for many of you
spoke to me now I know for many of you you think of waiting to exhale and how
you think of waiting to exhale and how
you think of waiting to exhale and how Stella got her groove back as movies
Stella got her groove back as movies
Stella got her groove back as movies only but they started out as novels
only but they started out as novels
only but they started out as novels novels that had black women protagonists
novels that had black women protagonists
novels that had black women protagonists who were asking themselves the same kind
who were asking themselves the same kind
who were asking themselves the same kind of questions that I was asking myself at
of questions that I was asking myself at
of questions that I was asking myself at that stage in my life and mainstream
that stage in my life and mainstream
that stage in my life and mainstream America was taking note of those stories
America was taking note of those stories
America was taking note of those stories and those voices well since I’ve been a
and those voices well since I’ve been a
and those voices well since I’ve been a public servant I haven’t had as much
public servant I haven’t had as much
public servant I haven’t had as much time to read novels I’ve been more drawn
time to read novels I’ve been more drawn
time to read novels I’ve been more drawn to books about urban planning city’s
to books about urban planning city’s
to books about urban planning city’s public policy neighborhood
public policy neighborhood
public policy neighborhood revitalization I’ve gotten to be pretty
revitalization I’ve gotten to be pretty
revitalization I’ve gotten to be pretty nerdy since I’ve been on the City
nerdy since I’ve been on the City
nerdy since I’ve been on the City Council but in the last five years I
Council but in the last five years I
Council but in the last five years I read two books that really really spoke
read two books that really really spoke
read two books that really really spoke to me the triumph of the city by edward
to me the triumph of the city by edward
to me the triumph of the city by edward glaeser and the warmth of other Suns by
glaeser and the warmth of other Suns by
glaeser and the warmth of other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson the triumph of the city
Isabel Wilkerson the triumph of the city
Isabel Wilkerson the triumph of the city I would really describe as a new urban
I would really describe as a new urban
I would really describe as a new urban planning classic you know a lot Jane
planning classic you know a lot Jane
planning classic you know a lot Jane Jacobs I mean it is an amazing analysis
Jacobs I mean it is an amazing analysis
Jacobs I mean it is an amazing analysis of what makes city’s vibrant and vital
of what makes city’s vibrant and vital
of what makes city’s vibrant and vital it’s a dissection of the social and
it’s a dissection of the social and
it’s a dissection of the social and physical characteristics of various
physical characteristics of various
physical characteristics of various cities and it just includes so many
cities and it just includes so many
cities and it just includes so many wonderful ideas about how we can improve
wonderful ideas about how we can improve
wonderful ideas about how we can improve our communities you can see the quote
our communities you can see the quote
our communities you can see the quote here from glazier
here from glazier
here from glazier our culture our prosperity and our
our culture our prosperity and our
our culture our prosperity and our freedom are all ultimately the gift of
freedom are all ultimately the gift of
freedom are all ultimately the gift of people living working and thinking
people living working and thinking
people living working and thinking together the ultimate triumph of the
together the ultimate triumph of the
together the ultimate triumph of the city and so I reflect back on many of
city and so I reflect back on many of
city and so I reflect back on many of the ideas that I’ve read about in
the ideas that I’ve read about in
the ideas that I’ve read about in glazier as we developed our city’s first
glazier as we developed our city’s first
glazier as we developed our city’s first modern comprehensive plan which is
modern comprehensive plan which is
modern comprehensive plan which is called essay tomorrow and I am really
called essay tomorrow and I am really
called essay tomorrow and I am really looking forward to us being able to
looking forward to us being able to
looking forward to us being able to execute some of the ideas related to
execute some of the ideas related to
execute some of the ideas related to sustainability that Glazer proposes in
sustainability that Glazer proposes in
sustainability that Glazer proposes in that book while San Antonio is on an
that book while San Antonio is on an
that book while San Antonio is on an extraordinarily positive trajectory low
extraordinarily positive trajectory low
extraordinarily positive trajectory low unemployment and great job growth low
unemployment and great job growth low
unemployment and great job growth low cost of living in general I am troubled
cost of living in general I am troubled
cost of living in general I am troubled by the fact that there are many san
by the fact that there are many san
by the fact that there are many san antonio’s that are disconnected from
antonio’s that are disconnected from
antonio’s that are disconnected from that prosperity which brings me to the
that prosperity which brings me to the
that prosperity which brings me to the other book that I read in the last few
other book that I read in the last few
other book that I read in the last few years and had a major impact on me the
years and had a major impact on me the
years and had a major impact on me the warmth of other Suns which is an amazing
warmth of other Suns which is an amazing
warmth of other Suns which is an amazing historical demographical and a group of
historical demographical and a group of
historical demographical and a group of personal stories of the great migration
personal stories of the great migration
personal stories of the great migration which for those of you that have
which for those of you that have
which for those of you that have forgotten a little bit of your American
forgotten a little bit of your American
forgotten a little bit of your American history great migration refers to that
history great migration refers to that
history great migration refers to that time period between World War one and
time period between World War one and
time period between World War one and 1970 where millions of African Americans
1970 where millions of African Americans
1970 where millions of African Americans left the dangerous and oppressive south
left the dangerous and oppressive south
left the dangerous and oppressive south and relocated to the northeast the
and relocated to the northeast the
and relocated to the northeast the Midwest and the west coast in search of
Midwest and the west coast in search of
Midwest and the west coast in search of better lives and opportunities and my
better lives and opportunities and my
better lives and opportunities and my family were part of that movement my my
family were part of that movement my my
family were part of that movement my my parents both left North Carolina and
parents both left North Carolina and
parents both left North Carolina and moved to new york city where I was born
moved to new york city where I was born
moved to new york city where I was born so that they can have better
so that they can have better
so that they can have better opportunities wilkerson talks about the
opportunities wilkerson talks about the
opportunities wilkerson talks about the impact of the arrival of all those
impact of the arrival of all those
impact of the arrival of all those millions of people to the cities at that
millions of people to the cities at that
millions of people to the cities at that time and how we’re still grappling with
time and how we’re still grappling with
time and how we’re still grappling with the aftermath when I reflect back on my
the aftermath when I reflect back on my
the aftermath when I reflect back on my own family’s history I think god forbid
own family’s history I think god forbid
own family’s history I think god forbid that young san antonio’s what think they
that young san antonio’s what think they
that young san antonio’s what think they have to move somewhere else purse
have to move somewhere else purse
have to move somewhere else purse permanently in order to
permanently in order to
permanently in order to i connect to prosperity and have better
i connect to prosperity and have better
i connect to prosperity and have better opportunities and so I really do work
opportunities and so I really do work
opportunities and so I really do work really hard to ensure that we can
really hard to ensure that we can
really hard to ensure that we can reclaim any to any talent that we’ve
reclaim any to any talent that we’ve
reclaim any to any talent that we’ve nurtured here going off to college for a
nurtured here going off to college for a
nurtured here going off to college for a few years is fine but we want our young
few years is fine but we want our young
few years is fine but we want our young people to come back here wilkerson
people to come back here wilkerson
people to come back here wilkerson reflects on the migrants and she says
reflects on the migrants and she says
reflects on the migrants and she says that those who left were probably on the
that those who left were probably on the
that those who left were probably on the whole more ambitious than those that
whole more ambitious than those that
whole more ambitious than those that they left behind and a great quote here
they left behind and a great quote here
they left behind and a great quote here from this wonderful book aalto perhaps
from this wonderful book aalto perhaps
from this wonderful book aalto perhaps the most significant measure of the
the most significant measure of the
the most significant measure of the great migration was the act of leaving
great migration was the act of leaving
great migration was the act of leaving itself regardless of the individual
itself regardless of the individual
itself regardless of the individual outcome the achievement was in making
outcome the achievement was in making
outcome the achievement was in making the decision to be free and acting on
the decision to be free and acting on
the decision to be free and acting on that decision wherever that journey led
that decision wherever that journey led
that decision wherever that journey led them now i would say that yes we can
them now i would say that yes we can
them now i would say that yes we can have that type of freedom connection to
have that type of freedom connection to
have that type of freedom connection to prosperity and opportunity here in san
prosperity and opportunity here in san
prosperity and opportunity here in san antonio but there is still work for us
antonio but there is still work for us
antonio but there is still work for us to do and books can help us to do that
to do and books can help us to do that
to do and books can help us to do that books can help us in finding common
books can help us in finding common
books can help us in finding common ground in common understanding they can
ground in common understanding they can
ground in common understanding they can help to shape us they can provide new
help to shape us they can provide new
help to shape us they can provide new ideas and allow us to connect to those
ideas and allow us to connect to those
ideas and allow us to connect to those whose perspectives we’ve never had the
whose perspectives we’ve never had the
whose perspectives we’ve never had the chance to encounter firsthand Glaser
chance to encounter firsthand Glaser
chance to encounter firsthand Glaser says memorably that our ability to
says memorably that our ability to
says memorably that our ability to connect with one another is the defining
connect with one another is the defining
connect with one another is the defining characteristic of our species he says
characteristic of our species he says
characteristic of our species he says that in the context of talking about
that in the context of talking about
that in the context of talking about cities but I deeply believe that this
cities but I deeply believe that this
cities but I deeply believe that this applies to books as well that books make
applies to books as well that books make
applies to books as well that books make us human the stories that I share it a
us human the stories that I share it a
us human the stories that I share it a little bit with you books that had an
little bit with you books that had an
little bit with you books that had an impact on me today sharing those types
impact on me today sharing those types
impact on me today sharing those types of stories with each other are what
of stories with each other are what
of stories with each other are what allow us to have meaningful connections
allow us to have meaningful connections
allow us to have meaningful connections and so I truly believe that books can
and so I truly believe that books can
and so I truly believe that books can help can
help can
help can act us to each other in a deeper way and
act us to each other in a deeper way and
act us to each other in a deeper way and in conclusion I want to present a call
in conclusion I want to present a call
in conclusion I want to present a call to action not just a reflection on how
to action not just a reflection on how
to action not just a reflection on how books have impacted me but I think books
books have impacted me but I think books
books have impacted me but I think books can help us to shape our future here in
can help us to shape our future here in
can help us to shape our future here in San Antonio so here’s what you can do
San Antonio so here’s what you can do
San Antonio so here’s what you can do you can volunteer at our local public
you can volunteer at our local public
you can volunteer at our local public libraries or with organizations like
libraries or with organizations like
libraries or with organizations like each one teach one which is a nonprofit
each one teach one which is a nonprofit
each one teach one which is a nonprofit that assists adults who are illiterate
that assists adults who are illiterate
that assists adults who are illiterate you can donate books you can mentor
you can donate books you can mentor
you can donate books you can mentor through groups like San Antonio youth
through groups like San Antonio youth
through groups like San Antonio youth literacy of course you can buy read and
literacy of course you can buy read and
literacy of course you can buy read and talk about books I was so excited to see
talk about books I was so excited to see
talk about books I was so excited to see all the books out on the table when i
all the books out on the table when i
all the books out on the table when i walked in i wanted to pause and look
walked in i wanted to pause and look
walked in i wanted to pause and look through them all you can join the
through them all you can join the
through them all you can join the mayor’s book club you can attend our San
mayor’s book club you can attend our San
mayor’s book club you can attend our San Antonio Book Festival be a part of
Antonio Book Festival be a part of
Antonio Book Festival be a part of making San Antonio a city that reads a
making San Antonio a city that reads a
making San Antonio a city that reads a city that connects to each other through
city that connects to each other through
city that connects to each other through books and connects to our bright future
books and connects to our bright future
books and connects to our bright future thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment