Author Tina E. Grimes has delivered once again. Her latest project titled, “GRAND: 19 GRANDmothers Whose Influence Produced Transformational Women Leaders…Legacy” is a compelling collection of stories written to reach readers on a personal level so that they can think about the ‘Grands’ in their lives and how they can be honored.
“This book is a labor of love,” Grimes said. “We want you to think about whose shoulders you stand on, who paid it forward for you, who did something significant for you that helped you get to where you are today.”
On Saturday, Oct. 26, over 100 people gathered at Lumen in downtown St. Louis to celebrate this collaboration of 18 co-authors’ stories of how their grandmothers helped shape them into the leaders that they are.
The event included a discussion with some of the authors, a few of whom also read excerpts from the book. One author fondly remembered her grandmother at a party dancing, while another remembered how well put together her grandmother would be – no matter the occasion. The discussion was interactive with questions from the audience. After the panel, guests were able to get their books signed by the co-authors. The Grand Collaboration plans to hold discussions in several other cities as well.
The professional backgrounds of the co-authors make this collaboration even more unique. The careers represented include motivational speakers, business owners, lawyers, pharmacist, a renowned NPR host, physicians, and more. Since its debut, the book has been No. 1 in three categories – memoir, women in business, and self-help.
“It has been an honor to work with this beautiful talented woman to talk about my beloved grandmother,” Dr. Denise Hooks-Anderson said. Grimes said it didn’t matter if one ‘grand’ was in Chicago or another down south, each story shared a common thread and that thread was love.
Co-author Kimberly Thomas said as she was writing, she didn’t know some things about her grandmother and she had to ask other family members about her migration to Chicago from down south. Thomas interviewed her mom, aunt, and uncle to see if they knew why their mother moved to Chicago. “What I found was they all knew different information about why my grandmother moved to Chicago. They knew things that the other sibling didn’t know.” She implored the audience who still have older relatives around to ask them questions about their life. “There are so many stories they can share with us.”
“My grandmother sacrificed her retirement to raise me after my mother died when I was nine months old,” Sharelle Burns said while passionately talking about her grandmother. Her 60-plus-year-old grandmother dedicated her life to raising Burns. She often revisits how much her grandmother’s life shifted to raise her, and she realizes how rich she is, and how blessed she is to have a grandmother like hers.
Writing about her grandmother gave her a chance to recall the special moments they shared and she is filled with gratitude. Her grandmother had a third-grade education and preached to Burns how important a good education is.
“She would ask me at four years old what I wanted to be when I grow up, and then say you know you can go to college,” Burns said. She told the audience how her grandmother made sure her granddaughter got a ride to the library every weekend so that someone could tutor her. “Wow I had a spectacular woman in my life.”
GRAND co-authors include: Dr. Denise Hooks-Anderson, Tracie Brown, Shanelle Burns, Sonya Davis, Dr. Nia Haley, Dr. Jade James-Halbert, Fefe Handy, Kellie Johnson, Keisha Menears-Wilson, Angel P. McKay, Cheryl J. McNeil, Markeetia McKinnis, Keisha Menears-Wilson, Geri L. Mitchell, Summer Richarson, Aloise H. Shepherd, Colette Taylor-Moore, Kimberly Thomas, and Pat Upchurch.
Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American.