TED Talk #13: Why Lunch Ladies are Heroes

Think about it...

Who's Your Hero?

Who are the people that you look up to?  The people that inspire you?  The people that you want to be like?



The people that may reside in your head... that you think sometimes, "What would _________ do?"

We all have them.  They may be super heroes, filling comic books with epic adventures, saving cities and fighting against evil.  They may be civil servants like firemen and police officers who put their lives on the line for strangers every day.  They may be professional heroes: doctors, writers, educators, artists, victorious in a specific line of work that we are a part of or hope to be one day.

They may be in the forefront, captivating everyone's attention.

But,
Maybe
They are the ones who smile, who notice, who care- annnnnnd maybe do a kung-fu-punch while serving up both justice and lunch.




To children's book author, Jarrett Kroscoczka, the lunch ladies he grew up with, became those heroes.   Their superpowers might be hidden and undercover, but quiet, unsung heroes have the power to change lives.



Check out Jarrett's TED talk as he shares the origins of the Lunch Lady graphic novel series, in which undercover school heroes serve lunch... and justice!  His new project, School Lunch Hero Day, reveals how cafeteria lunch staff provide more than food and illustrates how powerful a thank you can be.

Celebrate National Lunch Lady Appreciation Day this May 6th!

TED Talk 12: Be the Coffee Bean: Lessons on Adversity from a Super Bowl Champion | Malcolm Mitchell

In this talk, Malcolm Mitchell shares his challenges with football and literacy to explore a new perspective on adversity.

Malcolm Mitchell is a former University of Georgia football player and one of the top ten all-time receivers. After graduating with a Communications major in 2015, Mitchell was drafted by the New England Patriots and went on to become a Super Bowl Champion as a wide receiver.

Among Mitchell’s numerous awards and accomplishments both on and off the field, he considers discovering a love of reading one of his greatest achievements. Initially, reading was a challenge; however, through perseverance, books became an avenue for expanding his curiosity, creativity, and learning. Mitchell has authored and published a children’s book, The Magician’s Hat, created a youth literacy initiative called Read with Malcolm, and established the Share the Magic Foundation to transform children’s lives through literacy.

Check out his talk here!