Project Promise Student Releases First Children's Book

NEW YORK, Nov. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Project Promise is excited to announce the release of "Dream A Dream," a children's book written by Vianca Medina, one of the program's Caterpillar students. The book was written in 2016 and is the story of a shy young girl who has big dreams, but is too shy to pursue them. Writing the book was the brainchild of Medina and her Project Promise mentor, Gladys Gonzalez, who began writing the story as a way to bond, and a project Ms. Gonzalez could use to help Vianca improve her reading and writing. Both being shy in nature, it was easy for the two to agree on the premise of the story. 

"I am so excited for Vianca, and very proud of her. The book is really about the two of us, in our own individual ways," remarked Gonzalez. "We are thrilled to release this book, it is our hopes that it inspires countless children to dare to dream, as we have inspired Vianca," said Resa O'Reilly, founder and president.

The story, while not published previously, received early recognition and attention. Vianca read her book to a kindergarten class at Lew Muckle Elementary school, and also read the story to former judge and gubernatorial candidate Soraya Diase Coffelt, who is a writer of children's books. Vianca was honored during her sixth grade promotional ceremony in 2016 and asked to sign copies for U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth Mapp, and officials from the V.I. Department of Education. 

"Never in a million years would I have thought that our book which started out as a small Mentor-Mentee project, would get to this magnitude," said Gonzalez. "My initial hope was to continue to help Vianca with reading and to enhance her writing skills. But to be an author at 12 years old, to dedicate and sign copies of her book for government officials, and have her book offered in stores locally and nationwide, is surreal. I am extremely proud of Vianca, and I know she will go far," concluded Gonzalez. 

The illustrator of Dream A Dream's main character Annie, is Iyana Cariño, a young artist, and St. Croix Central High School graduate. Dream A Dream is now available in print and was published by Project Promise and funded in part by a grant from the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. The book release party will be held at the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts on December 14, 2018, and one hundred fifth and sixth graders will be invited to participate. Copies of the book will be available at Undercover Books and the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts.  E-copies can also be purchased on Amazon. 

Project Promise is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of at-risk youth on St. Croix by providing empowerment initiatives, cultural programs and family services.  To learn more about Project Promise, please visit the website at www.projectpromisevi.com.

CONTACT:
Raymond Casas
[email protected]

SOURCE Project Promise