When it comes to literacy, our understanding begins and ends with reading "preferred" or "prescribed" books. In this talk, Sam O'Bryant speaks to the ways that Memphis (or any city) can become a literacy-informed community and offers an understanding and definition of literacy that goes beyond reading text. Literacy has the ability to correct and redress the societal ills that keep our community from being its best possible self. Sam O’Bryant serves as Executive Director of Literacy Mid-South. Over the last 10 years, all in the Memphis area, Sam has been a sought-after community partner and thought leader in the non-profit sector. In meeting Literacy Mid-South’s vision of 100% literacy for the greater Memphis area, Sam looks to focus on the ways that literacy lives in every sector. His vision includes examining and acting on how literacy lives in public education, how literacy exists in economic development, and pushes the ways that literacy can empower historically underrepresented populations. Since being in this role, Sam has led Literacy Mid-South toward record-breaking success. Sam’s proudest accomplishment, to date, is distributing more than 100,000 brand new, culturally responsive books to children, families, schools, and community partners within their fiscal year. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at [ Ссылка ]
