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Bessie's Front Porch Series

The "Bessie's Front Porch" Series began in 2020 as a way for children to hear inspiring stories of African Americans from their own home. These stories, and their books, can now be found on exhibit in our Kids Corner!

Bessie's Front Porch - Louis Contreras Reads "All Are Welcome"
04:54
Bessie Smith Cultural Center

Bessie's Front Porch - Louis Contreras Reads "All Are Welcome"

"All Are Welcome" by Alexandra Penfold is read by Luis Contreras. Mr. Contreras is the owner of the Local Juicery + Kitchen. He wants children to know that they are always welcome and always loved. PURCHASE THE BOOK https://smile.amazon.com/All-Are-Welcome-Alexandra-Penfold/dp/0525579648/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=all+are+welcome&qid=1612754478&sr=8-1 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-are-welcome-alexandra-penfold/1127620730?ean=9780525579649 READER INFORMATION https://thelocaljuicery.com/pages/our-juicery BESSIE INFO http://www.bessiesmithcc.org/​ https://www.facebook.com/bessiesmithculturalcenter https://www.instagram.com/bessiesmithculturalcenter https://twitter.com/thebessie​ Copyright Bessie Smith Cultural Center 2020
Bessie's Front Porch - Kaiya Moore Reads "Be Kind"
04:43
Bessie Smith Cultural Center

Bessie's Front Porch - Kaiya Moore Reads "Be Kind"

"Be Kind" by Pat Zietlow Miller is read by Kaiya Moore. Ms. Moore is the 2018 Ms. Bessie Smith Scholarship Pageant winner and student at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. PURCHASE THE BOOK https://smile.amazon.com/Be-Kind-Pat-Zietlow-Miller/dp/1626723214/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=be+kind&qid=1614297260&sr=8-3 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/be-kind-pat-zietlow-miller/1129827913?ean=9781626723214 READER INFORMATION http://www.bessiesmithcc.org/​ https://www.utk.edu/ BESSIE INFO http://www.bessiesmithcc.org/​ https://www.facebook.com/bessiesmithculturalcenter https://www.instagram.com/bessiesmithculturalcenter https://twitter.com/thebessie​ Copyright Bessie Smith Cultural Center 2021
Bessie's Front Porch - Monty Bruell Reads "The World Needs More Purple People"
14:05
Bessie Smith Cultural Center

Bessie's Front Porch - Monty Bruell Reads "The World Needs More Purple People"

"The World Needs More Purple People" by Kristen Bell is read by Monty Bruell. Mr. Bruell is a Business Consultant. He wants everyone to know what it means to be a "purple person" and how you can be one too. PURCHASE THE BOOK https://smile.amazon.com/World-Needs-More-Purple-People/dp/0593121961/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UBDYP8PHCI1C&dchild=1&keywords=the+world+needs+more+purple+people&qid=1612494137&sprefix=the+world+need%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-1 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-world-needs-more-purple-people-kristen-bell/1136156059?ean=9780593121962 READER INFORMATION https://montybruell.com/ BESSIE INFO http://www.bessiesmithcc.org/ https://www.facebook.com/bessiesmithculturalcenter https://www.instagram.com/bessiesmithculturalcenter https://twitter.com/thebessie Copyright Bessie Smith Cultural Center 2021
Bessie's Front Porch - Christy Rashed reads "A Sweet Smell of Roses"
06:05
Bessie Smith Cultural Center

Bessie's Front Porch - Christy Rashed reads "A Sweet Smell of Roses"

Bessie's Front Porch - Anijah Norman Reads "Sulwe"
09:35
Bessie Smith Cultural Center

Bessie's Front Porch - Anijah Norman Reads "Sulwe"

"Sulwe" by Lupita Nyong'o is read by Anijah Norman. Ms. Norman is the 2020 Ms. Bessie Smith Scholarship Pageant winner and student at Chattanooga State Community College. PURCHASE THE BOOK https://smile.amazon.com/Sulwe-Lupita-Nyongo/dp/1534425365/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=sulwe&qid=1614297398&sr=8-1 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sulwe-lupita-nyongo/1130508272?ean=9781534425361 READER INFORMATION http://www.bessiesmithcc.org/​ https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/ BESSIE INFO http://www.bessiesmithcc.org/​ https://www.facebook.com/bessiesmithculturalcenter https://www.instagram.com/bessiesmithculturalcenter https://twitter.com/thebessie​ Copyright Bessie Smith Cultural Center 2021
Bessie's Front Porch - Gwyn Crutcher Reads "I Believe I Can"
05:02
Bessie Smith Cultural Center

Bessie's Front Porch - Gwyn Crutcher Reads "I Believe I Can"

From the #1 New York Times bestselling creators of I Am Enough comes an empowering follow-up that celebrates every child’s limitless potential. I Believe I Can is an affirmation for boys and girls of every background to love and believe in themselves. Actress and activist Grace Byers and artist Keturah A. Bobo return with another gorgeously illustrated new classic that’s the perfect gift for baby showers, birthdays, or just for reading at home again and again. My presence matters in this world. I know I can do anything, if only I believe I can.
Bessie's Front Porch- Nicole Brown reading "I Am Enough"
04:53
Bessie Smith Cultural Center

Bessie's Front Porch- Nicole Brown reading "I Am Enough"

"I Am Enough" by Grace Byers is read by Nicole Brown. Ms. Brown is the Academic Advisor/Adjunct Faculty/Co-Internship Director at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She wants all children to love themselves no matter what and know that they "are enough." ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eZTNGHuWrxWefl8imV3orLiZ2VM5ezgY?usp=sharing PURCHASE THE BOOK https://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Enough-Grace-Byers/dp/0062667122/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=i+am+enough&qid=1593546277&sr=8-1 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-am-enough-grace-byers/1126536277?ean=9780062667120 READER INFORMATION https://www.utc.edu/ BESSIE INFO http://www.bessiesmithcc.org/ https://www.facebook.com/bessiesmithc... https://www.instagram.com/bessiesmith... https://twitter.com/thebessie Copyright Bessie Smith Cultural Center 2020
Bessie's Front Porch- Ariel Anthony Reading "Of Thee I Sing"
07:46
Bessie Smith Cultural Center

Bessie's Front Porch- Ariel Anthony Reading "Of Thee I Sing"

"Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters" by Barack Obama and Loren Long is read by Ariel Anthony. Ms. Anthony is an attorney with Husch Blackwell Law Firm. She wants people to pull together to know they have special gifts that can make our country great and we need to use them to make everyone united. ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/125NoHo2_BoR2R2JChWS3mYLYY6YMPdex?usp=sharing PURCHASE THE BOOK https://www.amazon.com/Thee-Sing-Letter-My-Daughters/dp/037583527X/ref=sr_1_2?crid=35OQ0111FSMAB&dchild=1&keywords=of+thee+i+sing+barack+obama&qid=1595263358&sprefix=of+thee+si%2Caps%2C184&sr=8-2 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/of-thee-i-sing-barack-obama/1100167598?ean=9780375835278 READER INFORMATION https://www.huschblackwell.com/offices/Chattanooga_TN BESSIE INFO http://www.bessiesmithcc.org/ https://www.facebook.com/bessiesmithc... https://www.instagram.com/bessiesmith... https://twitter.com/thebessie Copyright Bessie Smith Cultural Center 2020
Bessie's Front Porch- Ron Harris Reading "One Vote, Two Votes, I Vote, You Vote"
07:53
Bessie Smith Cultural Center

Bessie's Front Porch- Ron Harris Reading "One Vote, Two Votes, I Vote, You Vote"

"One Vote, Two Votes, I Vote, You Vote" by Bonnie Worth is read by Ron Harris. Mr. Harris is the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee. He wants everyone to learn the democratic process of voting we have in this country and to exercise your right to vote. ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AeyKjOHMNXtSbe9zEPmoYaF3kvGTw6wT?usp=sharing PURCHASE THE BOOK https://www.amazon.com/Vote-Votes-Hats-Learning-Library/dp/0399555986/ref=sr_1_1?crid=BVWY4RKCH50&dchild=1&keywords=one+vote+two+votes+i+vote+you+vote&qid=1597114422&sprefix=one+vote+%2Caps%2C216&sr=8-1 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-vote-two-votes-i-vote-you-vote-bonnie-worth/1123022749?ean=9780399555985 READER INFORMATION https://www.bcbst.com/ BESSIE INFO http://www.bessiesmithcc.org/ https://www.facebook.com/bessiesmithculturalcenter https://www.instagram.com/bessiesmithculturalcenter https://twitter.com/thebessie Copyright Bessie Smith Cultural Center 2020
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