It’s July 5th, and I’m back in Nashville, refreshed and ready to start planning for the upcoming school year! First, however, I wanted to take some time to reflect on our inaugural Project LIT Summit. Over the next week, I plan to share highlights from the unforgettable day as well as some the post-summit reflections from our attendees.
Let’s start with two of our student leaders and Project LIT founders. Below you will find the transcript of Kiara’s welcome address and David’s introduction of Kwame Alexander. Both are rising seniors at Maplewood High School. (Video clips to come soon!)
KIARA’S WELCOME ADDRESS
Good morning and welcome to the first ever Project LIT Summit. My name is Kiara and I am a senior at Maplewood High School.
I am a student-athlete and one of the founders of Project LIT Community. In 2016, all of this was just an idea. I remember making the first Project LIT video with Lauren in our library, and it’s crazy to see how far we’ve come in such a short time.
Project LIT has helped me grow as a person and genuinely changed my perspective on reading. And I have a feeling that many of you feel the same way.
Before we get started, on behalf of Project LIT Community, we want to thank a bunch of people who have helped make this day possible. To our sponsors, Book Source, the Nashville Chamber, Parnassus Books, and Perma-Bound.
To our amazing authors, Kwame Alexander, Tiffany Jackson, Nic Stone, and Jeff Zentner. To our community volunteers, especially my dad for hooking us up with lunch today, and to everyone who donated books, supplies, merchandise and your time.
And lastly, to all of you in this room. THANK YOU!
When we started Project LIT, we dreamed that our movement would spread globally, but we had no idea it would happen this soon.
Now, let’s kick this day off with a roll call.
When we call your state, please stand.
Tennessee. Alabama. Arkansas. California. Colorado. DC. Florida. Georgia. Illinois. Indiana. Kansas. Kentucky. Louisiana. Michigan. Mississippi. Missouri. New Jersey. New York. North Carolina. Ohio. Oregon. Pennsylvania. Texas. Virginia. Washington. Wisconsin. And any state we missed.
It’s an honor to have you all here for this incredible moment. And now that we’re all standing, let’s give it up again for another Project LIT founder, David, who will be introducing our first guest!
DAVID’S INTRODUCTION OF KWAME ALEXANDER
I heard about this guy
Off of some HE SAID, SHE SAID
But I didn’t know if I should give him a try
Everyone else was reading but me
And Mr. Amato asked why?
I tried to ignore him
So I put my headphones in and started to sing
He put a book on my desk and said
DO THE WRITE THING
Do the right thing AND THEN YOU’LL KNOW
I was bored so OUT OF WONDER, I opened it up
and it was LIT from the go
My CRUSH for this man’s books started to grow
When it comes to authors, he’s the GOAT
Yeah, it’s okay Kwame, you can gloat
I just wanted to read more and if I didn’t
I would be DANCING NAKED ON THE FLOOR
After I read his books, he passed the test
So for me it’s an honor to welcome the best …..
U
P next
is the New York Times’ selling best
He’s an author of 25 books
to read them all you’ll have to cancel your plans
And tell all your fans
That you’re BOOKED
You can read it with a friend or SOLO
Few more seconds in this close game
And I got the crowd on their tiptoes
Coach and I discuss THE PLAYBOOK over
People roaring loud and waving the banners
I get the REBOUND and, like Filthy McNasty, I CROSS it OVER
To Kwame Alexander
DR. JARRED AMATO 