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​As part of the Summer of Awesome Reading literacy initiative co-sponsored by Young Women of Promise and ENC Voices of Youth, Kieanna Bruinton, our Program Director for A Promise to Read,  hosted a Zoom session with Lauryn Jones aka Sumer Strawbree, the author/illustrator of Black, Brown and Beautiful  on Wednesday, June 29, 2022. The girls were very excited to see Sumer Strawbree on the television screen and really enjoyed listening to her inspiring and encouraging message.

The Black, Brown and Beautiful coloring book by Lauryn Jones (Sumer Strawbree) has become a favorite with our girls. Sumer is a dynamic 12 year old digital illustrator and author. The book features 27 pages with inspirational  quotes.

Black, Brown, and Beautiful reminds girls and women of all ages that their body, hair, size, shape & melanin are fabulous! Powerful affirmations are sprinkled on each coloring page meant to reinforce positive self-esteem.

Each of the girls received a copy of Black, Brown and Beautiful and My Career Glow Up coloring book which features an illustration of  Ketanji Brown Jackson the first black woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court on the cover, to keep them inspired throughout the summer.

Funding for the Summer of Awesome Reading project has been provided by The Fund for Southern Communities and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.

For additional information on the Black, Brown and Beautiful collection by Sumer Strawbree please visit their website at www.sumerstrawbree.com. 

The Black, Brown and Beautiful coloring book by Lauryn Jones (Sumer Strawbree) has become a favorite with our girls. Sumer is a dynamic 12 year old digital illustrator and author. The book features 27 pages with inspirational  quotes.

Black, Brown, and Beautiful reminds girls and women of all ages that their body, hair, size, shape & melanin are fabulous! Powerful affirmations are sprinkled on each coloring page meant to reinforce positive self-esteem.

As part of the Summer of Awesome Reading literacy initiative co-sponsored by YWOP and ENC Voices of Youth, our community  partner, DNA Community Youth Center in Warsaw, NC, hosted a Zoom session with the author on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. The girls were very excited to see Sumer Strawbree on the television screen and really enjoyed listening to her inspiring and encouraging message.

Each of the girls received a copy of Black, Brown and Beautiful to keep them inspired throughout the summer.

Funding for the Summer of Awesome Reading project has been provided by The Fund for Southern Communities and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.

Kieanna Bruinton, YWOP summer intern and Program Director for A Promise to Read presented each girl with their own copy of Black Brown and Beautiful and My Career Glow Up coloring books.

You can find out more information about Sumer Strawbree and her other publications by visiting www.Sumerstrawbree.com.

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Young Women in grades 4-8 will receive a five-book collection and program support that will include reading and discussing books as well as building their home reading collections.  Initial book selections include:  The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones; I am Enough by Grace Byers: Dancing in the Wings by Debbie Allen; The Truths We Told by Kamala Harris and Change Sings by Amanda Gorman.  Additional book distributions will include the Bluford Series and Townsend Press classics.  

Young Women of Promise, Inc. will launch, Promise to Read, a literacy initiative in January of 2021.

It is our goal to create a culture of reading for children by providing inspiring books for them to read and own.  Our efforts will be designed to boost children's early reading, social emotional growth and school readiness.

We will work with schools throughout our eastern North Carolina region.  Teachers will host "Promise Book Clubs," at their respective school or agency. Students will receive monthly book selections at little or no cost at all.

Congratulations to Brenda Griffin, a fourth grade teacher at Pink Hill Elementary School.  Her students are our first Promises Book Club.  Her students will each receive a copy of The Amazing Harry Houdini. 

Congratulations to Earlean Rivers, Executive Director of Diversity Nurtures Achievement (DNA) Community Youth Center in Warsaw, North Carolina.  Her students will receive a copy of the book, Martin Luther King, Jr. Warrior for Peace. ​