The Full Story
About Us
Reading and writing is essential to navigating the world in which we live. Yet according to a 2019 report from the National Center for Education Statistics, 21 percent of adults in the United States have “low level English literacy” skills, including 4.1 percent who are considered as being “functionally illiterate.” And while these numbers are troubling nationwide, one Michigan woman is doing something about it.
What is Books 4 Life
Books 4 Life is a youth-oriented literacy non-profit program, which seeks to empower and encourage young people to become authors, as well as help them with literacy issues such as reading and vocabulary skills.
Books 4 Life is a 12-week summer program that consists of building a child’s self-esteem and confidence, enhancing social skills, and combating illiteracy by improving reading skills, creating and publishing an anthology, and teaching entrepreneurship as an author.
Written by: Tammy Jae:
As far back as I can remember, spelling bees, talent shows, and the love for library days in school seemed to be my morning inspiration. I’ve always been fascinated with books, not just the outer covers, but how the words were compiled together to create a story.
As time evolved, my choice of careers shifted me to the medical field and accounting, but I quickly learned that it’s hard to escape your true passion. After countless years of not pursing the obvious, I eventually turned my passion for books into creative writing, and after several book seminars and book publishing conferences, I was able to author and publish seven books of my own.
Fast forward… all my love for books and writing produced One Faith Publishing. A publishing company that not only allows me to enjoy my passion, but it also offers other creative writers the freedom to pursue their dreams of becoming an author without the strict guidelines of traditional/major publishing. But the train doesn’t stop there.
One day as I was driving, I had a thought: “How can I give back to the community?”
My answer: By mentoring and developing aspiring young authors.
Books 4 Life is my way of sharing my gift with the community by helping to develop creative writing skills in our youth.
Community Book Signing
With the help from a gracious grant, we had our annual celebration- where we not only were able to publish/print soft copies and purchase laptops for the program, but we were also able to put a smile on the faces of many children in our community with cotton candy, popcorn, snow cones, a petting farm, horseback riding, bounce houses, carnival games & prizes, chips, juice, nachos, and some good ole’ hot dogs by our very own Carter’s Concessions.
Books 4 Life young authors were able to showcase and autograph their first published book, A Child’s Story. Aspiring young authors were able to experience the making of an author, and the purpose of giving back to their community.
“Oh my, I’m still in awe as I think back on that day, I never could have imaged that pursing my passion would bring so much joy to others.”
