Hello everyone! Just giving an update on the Entrepreneurial Young Author and Illustrator Project and the ARI Banner Project.

I’ve been traveling around working with the various schools participating in the banner project and things look great so far! Letcher Central High School blew me away, as did East Ridge High School as well. But don’t worry if I didn’t mention your school! All of the ideas and the planning behind them really made me feel proud to be working with such talented teachers and students. I think it’s going to be a GREAT showcase of the various assets our region and the counties that represent it.

As for the Young Authors / Illustrators Entrepreneurial Project… well… get ready is all I can say. The books are being finished at the printer and the students are all preparing for their big book release on April 27th at the expo center. They are coming up with their company names, logos, business cards, bios/summaries, etc .Table displays are really important for their signing, so students are working on getting their space on the table designed. It’s been, by far, one of the most enjoyable projects I’ve been a part of.

Students are working to develop a business plan for the selling of their books. If all goes well, this will turn into a batch of small businesses for our students who are participating. Even the students in elementary are participating! Their parents are getting involved in order to help them with the business side of their work.

So I can’t wait for the April 27th event for so many reasons… Please be sure to come by our table at the event so you can see what all we’ve been up to.

My best,

Christopher