I can’t do things for myself. I cannot get myself something to eat. I need a tutor to help me study. Other people can walk—I need a wheelchair. I wish I could draw – I’d draw a sunset. I would like to drive a car, a green car-- to San Francisco and see the Giants play the Dodgers. When I drop something-- someone else has to pick it up for me. It would be great to play professional baseball!! But I can’t because I can’t walk and you have to walk out there— That’s why I play Ch

On May 4, 2017, Hayward Literacy Plus will be participating in East Bay Gives, a 24-hour-online giving blitz celebrating the generosity of the Bay Area. Last year, East Bay Gives successfully rallied over 8,000 donors to raise more than $1 million for nonprofits like ours that make the East Bay region a special place to live, work and thrive. This year, Hayward Literacy Plus is raising funds for our next volume of Our Words, Our Voices. This book series is a collection of wri

A little girl in her earlier years is playing on the shore of the lake, running all over the place, jumping and climbing among the roots of the willow trees. Under, under the water of the lake, she is learning how to swim, catch fish, and grab turtles. She is looking for crabs, under, under the rocks, shouting and dancing, enjoying the sun. She is breathing the clean and fresh air; she is full of life and full of joy. There is nothing like being a kid and enjoying life, free

Africa I was 25 years old when I came to live in San Francisco with plans to sell clothes and buy some clothes to take back to Africa. Within a month the civil war started in Liberia so I decided to stay here. I was lucky to stay in this country because without me being here I would not know what I know now. I couldn’t write my name or read but I knew how to do business that’s why I came here. Then I realized for me to live here I have to be able to read and write. When I w

Last weekend, I went to the Main Library to meet with my English tutor. When I got there, I remembered my childhood when I was 7 years old. I used to go to the library in my hometown. Every day after school I enjoyed doing my homework and reading many different kinds of books. One day, the library had a reading competition. I won the first place. The prize was a book. I was very happy, because now I had my first own book. I remember the title was ‘The Pied Piper of Hamelin.’