Buy A Book for a Teen Program, 2014 Sponsored by AfriWare

(left to right)
Picture 1: Mr. Harries, Principal Irving Middle School and Nzingha Nommo, Owner AfriWare
Picture 2: Wall at AfriWare with Africas on it
Picture 3: Ms. Barbara Cole, Maywood Youth Mentoring Directory and Nzingha Nommo, Owner AfriWare

In July of this year, business associate Deshanda Curtain-Rodney of HBCU Accessories approached AfriWare with a
great idea called, Buy a Book for a Teen. The Program was to be launched for 30 days starting in the month of
August. While AfriWare had done a different form of the program called, Buy a Book for a Child several years ago, we
werent sure how it would be received this time around. The first time out we partnered with not-for-profit child and
family services agencies. This time, the customer would select the teen to donate to or ask AfriWare to do so on their
behalf. Ms. Curtain-Rodney mentioned that after hearing yet another news story about violence in the Maywood area,
the program came to her with the expressed purpose of providing an outlet for our teens. When she connected the
inspiration behind the cause, it clicked, and the rest is history.
After adding the Program to our email blast, people started coming in to make sure to be a part of it. Though AfriWare
provided a set of suggested books to choose from, many customers decided to pick the book that was most impactful in
their lives. One customer picked Miseducation of the Negro because it just changed everything for him. Another
picked Contributions to Nile Valley Civilization so that teens would learn what he hadnt learned until in his 30s. Some
of the customers inscribed a note in the books and others didnt even want their name mentioned as a donor, they just
wanted to take part. Every time someone would donate, wed place another cut-out picture of Africa on the wall with
the customers first name on it.
On September 18
th
and 20
th
, AfriWare delivered on behalf of our beloved customers a total of 31 books to teens in the
Maywood area. The two groups that received the donations were the Irving Middle School, Mr. Adrian Harries,
principal, and, The Maywood Youth Mentoring Program founded by Ms. Barbara Cole. They were both most gracious in
accepting the donations and expressed excitement in finding out the caliber of the titles. The titles provided are
provided below. For those of you who may still be interested in participating, we are willing to partner with you at any
time and give the books to your favorite community organization or we can select one for you.
It is quite humbling when customers come in so eager to support. We realize it is because there is a high level of trust
that they have in AfriWare in providing other programs like this in the community for years. We are thankful for this
support and do not take it lightly. Our customer base has been a joy to serve. Special thanks to Ms. Deshanda Curtain-
Rodney for sharing the idea and Tamika, Ray, John, Joseph, Arbrett, Eric, Tkeyah, Zig Zag, Cameron, Lawrence Avivah,
Cynthia, Allan, Armel, Dawan, Daryl, Susan, Brenda, Frank and the others who know who you are. The titles are below:
"Frederick Douglass on Slavery and the Civil War"
"Poetry From the Masters" by Useni Eugene Perkins
"Zahrah the Windseeker" by Nnedi Okorafor
Letters to a Young Brother: MANifest Your Destiny by Hill Harper
100 amazing facts about the Negro by J. A. Rogers
42 the official movie about Jackie Robinson
African History for Beginners by Herb Boyd
Christopher Columbus and the Afrikan Holocaust by Dr. John Henrik Clarke
Don't Give it Away by Iyanla Vanzant
"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
Minion by L. A. Banks
Mis-education of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson
Nile Valley Contributions to Civilization by Anthony Browder
The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore
Wednesday's Child by Frank Dodson

The success of this program has inspired us to roll out another in the upcoming months. Thank you again one and all for
taking such an interest and adding the financial backing needed to make this a success.