Kingdom Influence Spotlights Youth Talent and Children’s Books
Local Nonprofit Organization Brings Awareness of Culturally Affirming Books
Flint, Mich. — Non-profit organization, Kingdom Influence, is scheduled to host its first annual African American Children’s Book Festival (AACBF) at the Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village on Saturday, December 7, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Local children’s book authors will be signing books. Two incredible youth entrepreneurs, Tayler Williams (I Like My Lip Balm) and Ethan Woodyard (Ethan’s Talent Search) are highlighted literary youth guests. In addition, there will be local vendors, numerous free children activities and family photos, raffles and giveaways. There will be a book fair showcasing more than 100 titles of culturally affirming children’s books.
Children, ages 6-17, will have the opportunity to win a chance to be an independent “indie” author. The contest prize includes professional consultation services to draft, edit, publish, and distribute a children’s book of their choice, a package valued at $3,000. All royalties from book sales will belong to the prize winner.
This event will spotlight Razor Sharp Readers, a barbershop based reading program founded by Clever Communities In Action, a VA based non-profit organization. The program has expanded to Michigan and will launch in the spring of 2020 at MVP Cuts with owner, Cory Moore. Moore is also the founder of Urban Boys Scouts of Flint. CCIA has donated hundreds of culturally responsive books to local schools in Flint and is partnering with Kingdom Influence and MVP Cuts to bring its programs to the Flint community.
The mission of Kingdom Influence is to empower families. Children will be shown how to monetize their gifts. Parents will be trained in how to close the “word gap” that exists between children of wealth and children of poverty. When children enter school, it is estimated that a gap of one million words exists between the social economic levels. This word gap can lead to academic disparity. Strong reading skills and exposure to quality literature can help increase vocabulary and comprehension. This can also help eradicate the cycle of poverty. Kingdom Influence is welcoming local parents to contact Ubuntu Press if they are interested in their child being a part of Young Authors Club. Please email: bjackson@ubuntupress.org for more information.
The organizer of the book festival, Brigitte Brown Jackson, is a local businesswoman, educator, and indie author. She has published two children’s books: Panther in the Sky and Purple Heart Highway.
