Böcker av Rebecca Dashiell-Mitchell

"Our Children Are Here," is a rich teachable moment to tell our children, "We see you. We hear you. We are listening to you! Most of all... we will protect you as you navigate this journey called life." It's my hope that the pages of this poem will encourage the telling of family experiences, explanations, and responses to our children's questions. Our children, our young she-roes and heroes, are society's passport to the future! We must move forward with words and actions that will empower, communicate our collective high expectations, and strengthen our children's voices about personal values, familial relationships, and social issues. It is my belief that our love and our advocacy will nurture and empower generations of children borne and yet to be borne.

As of May 2013, this poem of affirmation has been dedicated to each Horizons Atlanta Clark Atlanta University Young Scholar. During morning gatherings, mid-day, and in closing Excel-ebrations our Young Scholars enthusiastically participate in the "call response" recitation of "I Am Somebody Special!" These are the moments when we discuss and embrace personal experiences of gratitude, empathy, grit, and determination. Our "call response" recitation creates and confirms one's personal image as a 21st century scholar.