Courtesy of Jill Fritzo Public Relations
Terry's Crew-Terry crews
Terry Crews is a bit of a Renaissance man. He’s acted in popular television programs including Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Everybody Hates Chris, is the current host of America’s Got Talent, and formerly played professional football. Now, he’s also the author of a graphic novel for middle grade readers—and he’s bringing his book to kids in the St. Louis community.
On November 11, Crews will visit Marion Elementary, Buder Elementary in Ritenour School District, and Halls Ferry Elementary to introduce his new book, Terry’s Crew. Over the course of the tour, 650 kids will meet Crews and take home a free copy of his book. The story encourages young readers to embrace their individual skill sets with the help of their friends.
“I wrote Terry’s Crew to convince young men and women to never abandon your dreams,” Crews said in an email to SLM. “Middle school is a time where some kids give in to peer pressure to fit in, and look at their aspirations as ‘not cool’ or unrealistic, when in fact your personal ambitions are the very thing that makes you authentic. You should never have to trade in to fit in. You have to find your crew who supports your endeavors.”
Crews’ stop in St. Louis comes in partnership with local nonprofit The Noble Neighbor, an organization whose mission is to “bring authors to underserved schools across St. Louis and donate copies of the author’s books to every child.” According to Andrea Scarpino, executive director of The Noble Neighbor, meeting an author can dramatically improve students’ reading skills. Historically, however, a large population of students attending systemically underserved schools have not been given that opportunity.
Research from the national initiative USA Reads indicates that low-income children have fewer books at home than their higher-income peers, and that this discrepancy puts low-income students at a major academic disadvantage. Jane Peacock, president of The Noble Neighbor board of directors, says the organization wants to help address that gap in access.
“Regardless of socioeconomic status or zip code, all kids deserve access to books and to the authors who wrote them, because they’re inspiring to the kids,” Peacock says.
The Noble Neighbor’s mission of educational equity is one that Crews supports. The actor believes that no child–or adult–should be restricted from gaining knowledge or inspiration because of lack of resources.
“I was very young when I developed my love of reading, and I can truly say books stimulated my imagination and expanded my creativity,” says Crews.
Within the next school year, The Noble Neighbor aims to welcome its 50th author to St. Louis schools and to donate its 10,000th book. Distributing 650 copies of Terry’s Crew to local students will bring the organization one step closer to that goal.
In the meantime, Crews hopes that the graphic novel will help young readers adopt a positive outlook on the world around them.
“The theme I hope to convey in this book is to have a ‘rebellious optimism for life,’” Crews says. “It’s the only way progress is made. It’s impossible to create in a pessimistic state of mind.”
