The underpinnings of this work began in earnest 20+ years ago in Watts, a neighborhood in central Los Angeles. Working directly in the housing projects and under the auspices of a small local church, I and another team-member would work with area residents on whatever educational need they faced  - whether bare bones literacy struggles or handling the process of getting into trade school or college.  

At that time, I brought to the table a perhaps unique set of skills. Equipped with a background in Communications and a Master's in story structure (Film Producing) from USC's famed film school, the program developed into something more, digging further into fundamental ideas to empower residents to write their own story. That includes both the basic nuts & bolts of literacy, but also the inspiration to want to do so in the first place. 

Finding that balance is the key. Clear communication and realizing who we are, who we want to become, finding it within ourselves to write those next chapters ourselves, that is what this effort is about. And while it's been refined these last 20+ years, the fundamentals have remained the same.

 Let me tell you more. I really do see it as the key to education reforms we've struggled with for forever.