RIP. Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. 

One day in college, my journalism professor asked for volunteers to help the press corps visiting the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus during the Carter-Mondale campaign. I raised my hand.

To make a long story short, that volunteer experience led to my becoming an advance press person for First Lady Rosalynn Carter when she campaigned for her husband, former President Jimmy Carter. When I moved to Washington DC after college, I was resourceful and pursued the connections I had previously made on campus. 

Mrs. Carter was delightful. I remember her as a kind, soft-spoken lady. We may have said no more than 12 words to each other, but she always acknowledged me with a smile. Being an advance person was a unique and heady experience. I had to become a big girl real fast. I traveled to a lot of places I never imagined I would go. I worked with the Secret Service and even rode in a presidential motorcade. 

Rest in peace, Mrs. Carter. I honor her for her commitment to mental health.

This experience taught me a great lesson about the value of volunteering. You never know the people you’ll meet when you volunteer and where the path may lead you. 

The Metro East Literacy Project sends these short Freedom Friday messages to families that receive a bag of 25 books. Families opt in to receive messages to encourage them along their literacy journey. Will you consider becoming an Encouragement Team Volunteer (ETV)? You can encourage remotely. Visit the link to learn more. Thank you. https://www.metroeastliteracyproject.org/join-the-encouragement-team.html

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