When Vice Mayor Ceasor Johnson walked into Bass’s second grade classroom last week he had a story to read but, more importantly, a lesson to teach – treat everyone with kindness, no matter where they live. All forty sets of second grade eyes were on Reverend Johnson as he sat in the wooden rocking chair reading “Saily’s Journey” by Ralph da Costa Nunez.
The book is about a snail who loses his shell in a storm and searches for a new home. Saily encounters dangers, meets new friends, doubles up with another family and eventually finds a new home.
Underneath the simplicity of the story about a snail losing his shell was a deeper message – one that unfortunately many children know all too well. As Reverend Johnson read the book to students during National Homelessness and Hunger Awareness week, he was also bringing to their attention the reality that homeless people, even children, face. Nationally, children are the fasting growing segment of the homeless population. “Saily’s Journey” is an effort to bring awareness to this issue, as well as support our local Homeless and Housing Coalition and homeless children in our community.