The Power
of Presence
After reading Joy Thomas Moore’s
HE PWER F PRESECE, the
Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level
Reading felt that this “love letter” to
single mothers would have significant
resonance with a wide range of people
on Florida’s Suncoast. The book shares
Joy’s candid account of her life as a single
mother along with the inspirational and
informative stories of 22 other parents.
There is no more important or powerful
role in the life of a child than a parent,
and perhaps, no job that is more complex
and challenging. This book provides
affirmation, guidance, tips, and wisdom
in an easily digestible format. It also
provides numerous launching points for
substantive discussions.
So, how to best share this valuable tool
with parents, educators, grandparents,
and other individuals playing a significant
role in the lives of children?
Through the generosity of The Patterson
Foundation, a discussion guide was
created, and a book circle initiative was
born. Any group of eight people or more
who gather at least twice to read and
discuss the book is eligible for financial
support from The Patterson Foundation.
Elementary schools, church groups,
preschools, arts organizations, out-ofschool
time providers, neighborhood
groups, businesses, and other interested
individuals have come together forming
more than 90 groups. The feedback from
the book circles has been overwhelmingly
positive, affirming the power of connecting,
learning, and sharing with others.
Interestingly, many of the book circles have
reported tears at their first gatherings.
Tears of joy, relief, compassion, empathy,
and understanding have been shed as
book circle participants shared their
parenting challenges and hopes, dreams,
and aspirations for their children and all
children in our region.
Parenting can be challenging, rewarding,
isolating, and joyful, sometimes all
at the same time. HE PWER F
PRESECE book circles are providing
knowledge and support while building
and strengthening valuable relationships
between participants.
The initiative has a proven to be so
popular, that the Suncoast Campaign
for Grade-Level Reading has received
numerous requests to bring Joy Thomas
Moore back to the region and has
extended the support for THE POWER
OF PRESENCE book circles through the
summer months.
The Patterson Foundation will be
supporting new book circles in May,
June, and July. If you have not yet
participated in a book circle or would like
to gather a new group, you can register at
gradelevelreadingsuncoast.net/project/
the-power-of-presence-book-circles/
97
/the-power-of-presence-book-circles