Celebrating Attallah Shepard with @kwamealexander in Soho

Last evening, Abu, Lossine, Alisha, Attallah, and her family traveled to the Yard at Soho Grande , NYC, to help Kwame Alexander kick off his release of He Said, She Said, a young adult novel. Over a week ago our party began when Kwame was brought to Fairfield University to be the keynote for the Writing Our Lives-Bridgeport conference. At the time, I  introduced him to Attallah Shephard - a recent graduate of Howard University, resident of New London, and cousin to Alisha.

The rest is history. Somehow we all ended up in the Big Apple kicking things off on a Friday night (even meeting Ishmael Beah).

Attallah did her thang at Alisha's recent graduation party in celebration of her degree at Fairfield University and, as a result, I used magic to open up the writing conference for Kwame. He, in return, asked us to come to NY where she performed a poem. Very proud to know this up and rising Diva and to be in her entourage last evening to celebrate the Rooster's work.

The twins and I are heading home to Syracuse this morning and will do some family time with the birthday boy Jacob and his friends. We are still shaking our heads while we reflect on everything we've experienced since their arrival on May 20th. As we headed home on the Metro we realized there's a lot we must accomplish to earn these incredible experiences. It really has been a memorable, irreplaceable time.

And finally, a shout out to the extraordinary Kwame Alexander and the barnyard of friends at the Yard last night. Normally, I spend time on the pond, but I sort of like the way Kwame struts with his talons and plume. Meeting his people was another unforgettable experience.