One time, I walked from Washington DC to Boston in 30 days to spotlight hunger in America – 1 million steps. It was a daunting idea cooked up at a breakfast cafe after one too many cups of coffee. How did I do it? By taking a first step – then another – then 999,998, or so, more. The point is that every idea is a journey – and an idea can only begin by starting – by putting one foot in front of the other – by taking a first step and then following that with more. The first step is the hardest and an extremely valuable indicator for success – but you need that first one.
I’m telling you this to illustrate that everything we do at MagazineLiteracy.org starts with an idea and then a first step or person or team – followed by others. Ours is the first ever global magazine industry-wide literacy celebration. Our first magazine delivery was sponsored by a software company in Columbus, Ohio. Tens of thousands of magazines followed. Our first magazine recycling project was organized by a classroom of kindergarten children in San Francisco who collected magazines from their families and classmates for delivery to a nearby homeless shelter. Now people and teams in hundreds of communities recycle magazines for literacy. Our first magazine drive at a supermarket newsstand – like a food drive – but sharing our favorite magazines to feed children and families hungry to read – was organized by a New Jersey Boy Scout to earn his Eagle Rank. One newsstand down – 45,000 to go.
Join us to light the MagazineLiteracy.org fire in your community – helping to get the magazines we love into the hands and homes of kindred readers – to change the world – one magazine, one child, one family, one community at a time.