The Day Hearts Got Louder Than Words: Our First Little Readers, Big Hearts Event

There are some days that shift something deep in your soul.

That remind you why you lead, why you serve, why you show up.

Today was that kind of day.

Our first Little Readers, Big Hearts event wasn’t just a service project. It was an intergenerational symphony—where laughter and storytelling danced with memory and healing. Where kids found their voice. And where elders, for a moment, weren’t forgotten.

T

hey were seen.

They were celebrated.

They were loved.

👵🏽 The Stories That Found Us

We met a woman who was a piano prodigy—graduated high school at 14, college by 18. Grew up in a deeply segregated Texas town, where she wasn’t even allowed to join the tennis team until 14… and then became one of the first Black athletes to ever play in her region.

We met a man who now lives in the home with his wife. He’s a scientist and published author—writing children's books for his grandchildren. Humble, warm, sharp. A quiet legacy in human form.

There was a math teacher who taught for 54 years. Fifty. Four.

She smiled as one of the children read to her with pride. That moment alone was a full circle only God could’ve orchestrated.

We met a woman from Michigan, a mother of 4 and grandmother of 6, who recently moved to be closer to family. She told us, "It’s too cold back home—but this warmth feels good." And she wasn’t just talking about the Texas sun.

🧒🏽 The Children Who Lit Up the Room

Two kids told their parents, “We don’t want to leave.”

One little girl read story after story—completely lit up from the inside out.

A mom told me her kids overcame their nervousness with new people. You could literally see them open up as the minutes passed. One of the kids who started off clinging to their parent’s side ended the event sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with a senior, asking questions and smiling like they’d known each other forever.

And then—there was one story that stopped me in my tracks.

A 7th grade girl who reads at a 2nd grade level.

Her mama told me she hadn’t seen her daughter smile that much while reading… ever.

She said, “She told me she loved that no one here knew she struggles. She didn’t feel judged.”

I had to take a moment. Because that is why this matters.

💛 The Power of Presence

What we witnessed today wasn’t just sweet — it was sacred.

We watched elders who typically have short attention spans stay engaged longer than usual.

We saw genuine joy.

We saw kids honored not just for their reading, but for their presence.

We didn’t come to “fix” anything.

We came to listen.

To read.

To be in the room.

And in doing that, we created something bigger than a service project.

We created connection.

And y’all… connection heals.

📣 Where We’re Headed Next

This is only the beginning.

We’ll be hosting more Little Readers, Big Hearts experiences—and expanding into service projects like:

• 🎨 Ice cream socials & painting events with seniors

• 🧤 Care kit drives + giving to the unhoused

• 🌿 Park cleanups & kid-led giving

• 🍲 Homeschool service field trips tied to food, culture, and leadership

And through it all, we’ll continue raising children who are emotionally intelligent, community-centered, and full of compassion.

If you want to be part of this work—there’s a seat at the table.

From Scratch is now enrolling.

Our M.I.A. Inner Circle is open.

And most importantly? The door to doing it differently… is always unlocked.

📸 Scroll through below for pictures and reflections from our first Little Readers event.

💌 Want to join the next one? Let us know.

And remember — sometimes the biggest shift comes from the smallest voice reading to the biggest heart.