Books, Beats & Bloom: What a Way to Wrap Up Our Final Weekend!

We just wrapped up our last Books, Beats & Bloom weekend, and our hearts are honestly so full.

A huge shoutout to Raleigh Egypt Middle School and Principal Dr. Curry for letting us use the school space. You made it possible for our kids to learn, grow, and create in a space where they already feel seen.

This weekend, our students dove into the world of Stax Records, and they were all in. We talked about how Stax shaped music and the arts for people of color during the Civil Rights Movement. One part that really stuck with them was how, inside the Stax studio, color didn’t exist as a barrier. Musicians from different backgrounds worked side by side, using music to unite people during a time when so much was trying to tear them apart. That message hit home in a big way.

And our kids didn’t just listen, they created. We focused on character building by having students perform in front of their peers to boost their confidence and help them find their voice. Performing is never easy, especially on a Saturday morning, but they did it with courage, pride, and a lot of heart.

We also introduced a fun competition: students designed their own album covers, inspired by classic Stax designs. Since this was before the days of social media, album covers were how artists expressed themselves and shared their message with the world. Our students got the chance to step into that creative role, and they took it seriously. They competed for gift cards, and their creativity was incredible.

We’re so proud of these students for choosing to spend their Saturdays learning, reading, and making something new. Their dedication shows why programs like this matter so much. We’re working hard to secure more funding so we can keep offering powerful experiences like this to students across Memphis.

A big thank-you to Literacy Mid-South and their Raleigh Neighborhood Initiative for supporting this program from start to finish. Because of your generosity, 30 bright and eager students got to mix literacy with the arts and work with music producer Bobby V. and HOT 107.1’s DJ Shon Teezy to turn stories into original tracks they created themselves.

And thanks to the amazing support from St. Mary’s School, every student went home with a set of books to grow their personal library, just in time for Christmas break. Nothing beats sending students into the holidays with new stories to explore.

Our students learned. They created. They grew. And we couldn’t be prouder.

Here’s to more weekends filled with reading, music, creativity, and community. Memphis students deserve it, and we’re just getting started.