Couldn’t relevant stories be used to inspire youth to enjoy reading?

by Leave a Comment

Romeo Academy Youth

ROMEO Preparatory Academy for Boys, Paris Texas

125sqMFTHbookWhile writing my memoir, Manhood From the Hood, I experienced emotions most memoir writers experience.  How will my story benefit others? Will others relate? There were a multitude of internal directed questions I had to face as a new writer.

One inspirational comment came from a youth I’m mentoring:

“Mr. Roddy, I enjoyed reading your book.  I learn so much more about you and how you were raised.  I was able to relate to all of your stories. I liked your honesty when you shared meeting your biological father for the first time. So many of us young men still struggle with this aspect of our lives. Why don’t you try to see if schools would consider using your book?”

 

Manhood From the Hood has received praise from ROMEO Preparatory Academy for Boys in Paris, Texas under the leadership of David DeWayne Barker, to inspire youth to the value of literacy, reading relevant stories that reflect their lives.

 

Couldn’t hundreds or thousands  more youth be inspired to value literacy while reading relevant life stories?

 

 

A Time To Reflect on the Past!

by Leave a Comment

Please read this wonderful the University of Chicago Magazine article.

Several months after I completed my memoir, Manhood From the Hood, I found out that Mike Fourcher’s dad in 1971 had taken many photos of my “hood” in inner city Chicago.  Back then the University of Illinois called it the “Valley” because they had setup a clinic in our neighborhood.  We never knew this is what they called our neighborhood.  We just lived our lives and this is the area where I learned my values.  So much of my book is dedicated to this area while living in the “Valley.”  This was our “village” and I am proud to have experienced growing in this area during the 60’s. Please view the photos after you read the article.

Please click on link to read full article.

http://magazine.uchicago.edu/1110/kelly_lost-and-found.shtml

Excerpts from Manhood from the Hood

by Leave a Comment

Webster’s II New College Dictionary defines “coach” as “one who gives private instruction…a private tutor.”

That kind of reminds us of the role of a parent. We give our children private instruction—we tutor them.

So even if you’ve never officially been a coach on the sports field, if you are a parent, you are a coach as well!

More from Coach Denny Welter and why he was so inspired by Bill’s stories of grandfather Roddy.

36. Don’t ask for something that you can do for yourself.

37. Never accept anything from anyone that you don’t earn.

38. How to refrain from getting young girls pregnant and should focus on going to college.

39. Make something out of yourself by going to college and getting an education.

40. My grandparents never talked to us about finances.

41. Study halls were temporary holding pens as far as I was concerned.  Respect education.

42. Obey the family values or there will be hell to pay.  Case closed.

43. Live under my grandparent’s strict, non-negotiable code of values.

44. Basketball is a chess game in motion.  You have to use your mind and intelligence to perform consistently and grow as a player.  First you have to master the fundamentals and then the sky is the limit.  Becoming a great basketball player is a long process.  It takes dedication and many hours of practice.

45. Use education to better yourself.

46. Ernest – What we talked about when we were together was more important than the amount of time we spent together.

Excerpts from Manhood from the Hood

by Leave a Comment

More from Coach Denny Welter and why he was so inspired by Bill’s stories of grandfather Roddy.

31.)  We bonded through class work and sports

32.) In younger days, we all got nickname given to us, usually by someone who was very respected in the community.  You never chose your own nickname.

33.)  Stay in school, stay out of trouble, and avoid drugs or alcohol.

34.)  It takes an entire village to raise a child.

35.)  Work hard on something you value.