Turning the Page Uses Ballou Books in AmeriCorps VISTA Training
Jennifer Parisi and Vvdaul Holloway are two AmeriCorps VISTA fellows who read the Ballou Story Project collection as part of their training for Turning the Page.
The best thing about getting our authors' stories out into the world is hearing about all the ways that their voices can be used to educate, activate, and open hearts and minds. Recently we sat down with the good folks at Turning the Page, a DC-based organization that works to improve public school education, and we discovered a brand new use for one of our books: as a training resource for new community educators.
As part of their new staff orientation, the Americorps VISTA members of Turning the Page read Ballou High School's memoir collections, How to Grow Up Like Me and Our Lives Matter, to learn first-hand about the community they'd be serving.
Turning the Page’s Ellie Canter says:
“We wanted to equip our AmeriCorps VISTA members with an insider look at the experiences of students and families in the community where we work. Our Lives Matter created the vehicle for connecting our incoming staff to voices from the Ward 8 community – a critical element of our training process and a reminder of the power that exists within every students’ story.”
Two VISTA members also shared their experiences reading the book.
“After reading How to Grow Up Like Me and the Our Lives Matter by the Ballou student authors, it sparks conversation on how black youth are portrayed in the media and treated in the community, both in DC and nationwide. It takes a powerful person to be able to tell their story, and someone even stronger to write it down and share it with the world. The books written by the students at Ballou HS should be used as a platform for discussion, and incorporated into conversations at both local DC organizations, but also for students and schools throughout the country. This book and the students of the Ballou Story Project shows courage and greatness, and supports the quote by Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
“The OLM text allows the experience of Ward 8 students to be brought to forefront of the minds of its readers. While bringing in written expressions of daily life, hardships, and successes, this book is a great example of Black excellence.
The work’s impact reaches to the core of the awareness of issues in many communities that face marginalization. Through systems like public education, the platform is typically reserved for the elite and privileged. However, this OLM book is different – it is a story of a community of students risen from a place of disadvantage to showcase how the community may shape, but not restrict the lives of the residents. It showcases why our lives (black lives) truly do matter.”
We are thrilled to see how far the voices of our authors can carry. And most importantly, we're proud of the way that these authors can use this platform of publication to become educators for other people dedicated to change and community building. Thank you, Turning the Page, for listening to these voices, and for sharing this story!