Podcast Production
Students learn how to organize ideas, conduct interviews, and share their voice.
Beyond Literacy
Every Child Has A Story.
Every Story Has A Future.
Your child enters with ideas, curiosity, and potential. They leave with stronger communication skills, greater confidence, a published book, and proof they can accomplish something most adults never do.
Happening Now
2026 Cohort
2026 Blooksy × Beyond Literacy Cohort Details
Our newest cohort is publishing, public speaking, and presenting all summer long at SLAM Atlanta. Here's everything families, partners, and press need to know.
Graduation Ceremony
Register for 2026 Blooksy: Beyond Literacy Graduation
Celebrate our students as they cross the stage with their published books in hand.
- Thursday, July 9, 2026
- 1:00 PM
- SLAM Atlanta · 3184 Greenbriar Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30331
Highlights from 2026
Moments from the cohort
Weekly Schedule
| Week | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | June 8 In Person | June 9 In Person | June 10 In Person | June 11 In Person |
| Week 2 | June 15 Virtual (Zoom) | June 16 In Person | June 17 In Person | June 18 In Person |
| Week 3 | June 22 Virtual (Zoom) | June 23 In Person | June 24 In Person | June 25 In Person |
| Week 4 | June 29 In Person | June 30 In Person | July 1 In Person | July 2 In Person |
The Mission
Tomorrow Has A Voice
The future belongs to people who can communicate ideas clearly, solve problems, and work well with others.
Beyond Literacy helps students build those skills through projects that feel meaningful, creative, and fun.
Students leave with skills they will use for the rest of their lives.
The Library
Read Our Students' Books.
Every book on this shelf started with a student who had something to say. Search by name, or click on a cover to see what the next generation is thinking about, dreaming about, and writing about.
Why Parents Love This Program
The book gets the attention.
The confidence changes everything.
01
Communicate With Confidence
Students learn how to express ideas clearly and speak with confidence in front of others.
02
Think Critically
Students learn how to ask better questions, evaluate information, and make thoughtful decisions.
03
Use Technology Responsibly
Students learn how to use artificial intelligence and digital tools with purpose and good judgment.
04
Finish What They Start
Students complete meaningful projects they can proudly share with family, schools, colleges, and future employers.
Future Ready
Building tomorrow's workforce today.
The jobs may change and new technology is always just around the corner.\u00a0
But you know what will never, ever change? Communicating ideas.
The people who succeed will still need to communicate, solve problems, work well with others, and adapt.
That is exactly what students learn practice here.\u00a0
01
Technology
Great ideas only matter when people understand them.
02
Healthcare
Patients trust professionals who communicate with confidence and compassion.
03
Business & Entrepreneurship
Every opportunity begins with an idea somebody knows how to share.
04
Media & Entertainment
Content creators, broadcasters, and storytellers build audiences through communication.
05
Education
Great teachers help people understand complicated ideas.
06
Public Service
Strong leaders know how to listen, communicate, and bring people together.
Experiences
Learning that feels like creating.
Artificial Intelligence
Students learn how to use emerging technology responsibly and creatively.
Debate & Public Speaking
Students learn how to defend ideas and communicate with confidence.
Newsroom Experience
Students learn how to research, write, and present information clearly.
Music & Songwriting
Students turn life experiences into creative projects that strengthen communication skills.
Book Publishing
Students become published authors and leave with something tangible they can hold for life.
Essay & Narrative Writing
Students develop their voice through essays and narratives that turn insight into powerful prose.
Presentation
Students walk into any room ready to make people lean in and listen.
Praise
On the portrait →
“When your friends asked what makes you special, you can say, ‘I wrote a book.’”
On the video →
“This published book is a testament to all the various disciplines that were nurtured during this Summer Youth Employment Program.”
Testimonials
Hear it from the students.
The people who know this program best are the students and families who experienced it.
In Their Own Words: A Student Demo
A Beyond Literacy student shares what the program meant to them.
Students Share Feedback After Graduation
Hear another Beyond Literacy student share their experience.
In the News
When you drive results, people notice.
National and local newsrooms have followed Beyond Literacy into classrooms, studios, and book launches to see what happens when students are trusted to create something real.
CBS Atlanta
Young authors share what it felt like to hold their first book.
WUSA9
A look inside the workshops, productions, and celebrations.
Partners
Trusted by schools, cities, and community organizations.
City of Atlanta
Morehouse
Clark Atlanta
SLAM Atlanta Charter School
Carver Early College High School
City of DC
Harlem Children's Zone
Google
Guest Speakers & Mentors
If You Can See It, You Can Become It.
The people who spend time with our students are living proof that big dreams do not require perfect beginnings. They are entrepreneurs, filmmakers, actors, executives, broadcasters, athletes, and community leaders who started with a story and built a future around it. Their journeys help students see that success is not something they watch from a distance. It is something they can grow into themselves.
Jai Ferrell
Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta
A global executive advancing opportunity, representation, and community impact for girls and families.
Myron "Magic" Giggua
Radio Veteran and Founder, MVP Magic Voice Productions
A media veteran and youth advocate who teaches students to tell their stories with confidence.
Van Jakes
Former NFL Cornerback and Business Executive
A former pro athlete turned executive who mentors young people on character, focus, and excellence.
Dr. Lealon Martin
Dean, College of Sciences and Engineering, Southern University and A&M College
A chemical engineer, attorney, and academic leader advancing STEM education and student achievement.
Alma Davis
Founder and CEO, Alma Domestic Violence Foundation
A world-renowned entrepreneur and motivational speaker dedicated to serving women and youth.
Tammie Harris-Roach
Retired Educator and Douglas County School Board Member
A lifelong educator and school-board leader championing student success and educational leadership.
Dawn Montgomery
National Correspondent, Culture Critic, and Media Strategist
A journalist and entrepreneur who helps others build meaningful careers through storytelling and leadership.
Christal Jordan
Founder and CEO, Enchanted Branding & Public Relations
An award-winning author, journalist, and PR strategist empowering others through media and storytelling.
Anashay Murphy
Founder, Disruptive Partners
An education leader equipping students and educators to succeed through innovation and literacy.
Corey "Mr. Hanky" Dennard
CEO, Cultural Resources and In-Game Producer, Atlanta Hawks
An award-winning music producer helping young creatives turn their passion into successful careers.
Valerie Boucher
Real Estate Developer
A developer creating affordable housing and homeownership opportunities that build generational wealth.
LA Williams
Real Estate Developer and Environmental Justice Advocate
A community-focused developer revitalizing neighborhoods through equitable, sustainable projects.
Richard Randolph
Public Servant, Community Leader, and Mentor
A public servant and mentor dedicated to helping others reach their full potential through service.
Longee Carter
Dancer and Founder, Make Room Dance Academy
A dance artist and youth-arts entrepreneur who uses movement to build confidence and community.
D'Carius Clark
Entrepreneur and HBCU Partnerships Leader, Rap Snacks
An entrepreneur and partnership leader who encourages young people to win beyond their circumstances.
Dr. Jasmine Burke
Actress, Filmmaker, Author, Tech Entrepreneur, and Youth Mentor
A multi-hyphenate storyteller who pairs a screen career with mentorship for emerging talent.
Tyrrell Harrell
Director, Producer, and Studio Director, TYDEF Studios
An award-winning media maker who helps people turn stories into sound, image, and lasting work.
Christine Horn
Actress, Acting Coach, and Founder, Hollywood Bound Actors
A working actor and coach who helps performers pursue TV and film careers with clarity and confidence.
Tionna Skipper
Community Development Representative, Delta Community Credit Union
A financial-literacy educator helping students and families feel capable with money and life decisions.
Nine Examples of What Is Possible
From television studios and NFL stadiums to boardrooms, classrooms, radio stations, and entrepreneurial ventures, these professionals show our students that communication skills open doors everywhere. Every guest represents a different path, but they all share one thing in common: they learned how to use their voice.
The Team — Coaches & Educators
Growth Requires Leadership Invested in It.
Behind every published student is a coach who decided that showing up was not optional, stayed late when everyone else went home, and made the kind of sacrifices that do not show up on any job description. These educators invested their time, their craft, their whole heart, and their unshakeable belief so that young authors could find their voice on the page and finally trust the world enough to let it listen.
The Leader
Program Coordinator · Director of Operations & Student Experience
Amiya J. Crockrom
The One Who Gets It Done.
There are people who show up to work — and then there are people who show up and quietly become the reason the whole thing works. Amiya is the second kind.
A two-time graduate of Clark Atlanta University and the 32nd Miss Clark Atlanta University, she has been with Beyond Literacy since the actual beginning — hiring coaches, managing payroll, coordinating with partners, and already knowing what was next.
The heartbeat of this program lives wherever Amiya is standing.
The Coaches & Educators
The team beside her.
Dr. Marcy Thurmond
Lead Coach, Educator & Creative Consultant
An award-winning arts educator who equips students and teachers to create, lead, and learn boldly.
Ejike Uzoije
Writing Coach & Storyteller
A multidisciplinary storyteller whose work links creativity, entrepreneurship, community, and youth empowerment.
Nichole McLeod
Curriculum Development and Lead Instructor
A dynamic storyteller, illustrator, educator, and poet whose characters and words deliver meaning far beyond the page.
Joshua Peacock
Writing Coach
A creative writing coach whose love of sports and science brings focus, resilience, and curiosity to young writers.
Nia King
Writing Coach
A purpose-driven mentor who brings determination, faith, and a love of learning to the writing space.
Shakira Jackson
Writing Coach & Aspiring Elementary Educator
An aspiring elementary educator whose resilience and care for young people shape her work with students.
Tochi Uzoije
Writing Coach
A creative, driven coach whose curiosity, cultural pride, and commitment to growth encourage young writers.
Caleb Davy
Writing Coach
A DC-based storyteller who guided students to see creative writing as a way to change the world.
Jiahnna Phillips
Writing Coach
A lifelong learner and mother who helped DC student authors develop voice, skill, and pride in their work.
Brittany Jenkins
Writing Coach & Clinical Mental Health Counselor
A counselor and coach who brought care, encouragement, and emotional insight to the 2024 student cohort.
Kyobe Cooper
Writing Coach
An educator and public-service leader whose mentorship is rooted in teamwork, perseverance, and community impact.
Ziya Moore
Writing Coach
A politically minded creative whose spoken-word sensibility and commitment to growth supported the 2024 cohort.
The Founder
Meet Anthony “AJ” Joiner
Anthony “AJ” Joiner founded Beyond Literacy after years of helping writers share their voices in published books. Learn more about AJ by visiting: www.anthonyjoiner.com
- 600+ students published
- 1,400+ authors published
- Founder of Blooksy — the writing software students use to write their books
Get Started
Give your child a head start
on the future.
The future belongs to people who can communicate ideas, solve problems, adapt to change, and work well with others. Beyond Literacy helps students build those skills while creating something they will remember for the rest of their lives.