Telegram - Serving Metropolitan Detroit Since 1944

It's the American way to be compensated for your skill, output, or quality of work. Professional Athletes are paid millions. High school and college athletes are also starting to receive benefits for their work. Where is the incentive for the arts? Individuals who write, read, and draw work just as hard as the athletes to perfect their craft. Yet they always come up short. Most of us are aware of the phrase, "starving artist".

Shelly Books and More, is how Miss Shelly Echols rewards students whose interest lean towards the arts. Shelly works in tandem with the Coloring Station, and the Art for Kids non-profit organization to promote the Family of Children Contest. The contest rewards participants for entries of short stories, art, and coloring. Any student under the age of eighteen is eligible to submit their work. Shelly is also implementing a program that honors readers with cash and prizes.

The contest allows students to earn different rewards monthly, with an extra jackpot to be earned at the end. Giving them a reason to read, write, and create as much as possible. This drives students to be comfortable being rewarded for their art, while learning new things about themselves. Shelly is working to spread the word in the Metro Detroit area. But the program is open to schools across the country.

Shelly is just at the beginning phases of her master plan to inspire the youth with the love of reading, writing, and art. The reading incentive program is keeping Shelly busy. Right now she's tasked with moderating a bout between two middle school classes. The winner will be graced with a luxurious pizza party. She's executed the program at Academy of Business and Technology, Bagley Elementary, Clarenceville, and has worked with River Rouge in the past.

Shelly will always be on the hunt to expand her reach and resources for the kids. Her goal is to incentivize art and education. Shelly Echols is working to build a new system that would bring new kids into the world. Students who have their literacy and art muscles so trained, they can move mountains. The Telegram Would like to celebrate her for Women's and Reading month.

For more information and contact with Shelly please visit: https://www.shellybooksandmore.com/

Xavier Jones - What roots do you have that influence the contest?

Shelly Echols - I was raised with books all around me. There was a library upstairs and downstairs. There were more books than television screens around. Even at my friends' houses, there were books everywhere. I started writing very early on, I remember myself as a little girl with a journal! I entered contest myself, and always wanted to host some of my own. I held on to that dream and let it bring me here!

Xavier Jones - What have you learned through this journey?

Shelly Echols - To not rush, and enjoy the slower moments. Every move doesn't have to be a big move. I learned to take advantage of the small things that can be done. Appreciating the steady moments, and accepting my small victories. Because they definitely add up!

Xavier Jones - Where do the small victories add up?

Shelly Echols - They helped me add and build to the pizza party, and that entire process moving forward. It was something that was simple, attainable, and ultimately pushed to vision forward. Those small things are helping to spread the word, and get more students and schools interested.

Xavier Jones - What are the biggest challenges you face with running the program?

Students stand tall in their winnings

Shelly Echols - We don't have a lot of help in the schools. The Principal is busy; everyone is so busy! It's hard to find a staff member who can dedicate the time. Sometimes the entries pile up because of it. That's not the end of the world, it just means I have to dedicate more of my own time to the schools.

Xavier Jones - What can be done to make things easier for you?

Shelly Echols - The school districts, and the parents need to work with us. So we can all work together. I need them to simply let us in. Listen to our presentation, and give them a chance to work with the kids. They can even mail the entries to us! I believe we can have an influence on how children start to read and write. Essentially the culture of how they feel about sitting down at the table and creating.