Today we’d like to introduce you to Kassi Kincaid
Hi Kassi, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
It all started when I graduated Concordia University Texas in 2016 with my business degree and went to work for the family preschool as the administrator. After about two years, I loved my job, but felt like I needed a creative outlet. So, I started pairing children’s books with theatrical performances and activities. This was the unexpected start of my children’s literacy program called Book Days. It was a monthly event focused on bringing books to life to encourage a love of reading. Slowly, the idea expanded into other arenas.
In 2020, I expanded Book Days on YouTube with a real-world adventure twist. We went wherever the books took us. It was a combination of Levar Burton’s Reading Rainbow and Chet Garner’s Daytripper PBS Show. Each episode highlighted a children’s book with an experience hosted by a field expert.
As both the school programs, and YouTube episodes aired, I started speaking at conferences around the world, training educators on how to bring books to life in their classrooms.
In September 2022, an angel investor launched the program into a full-time venture. By December of that year, we had partnered with United Way’s Greater Austin Reading Coalition. They provided us our first grant to do Book Day Title 1 school tours in Austin ISD. Since then, we have also partnered with the Kendra Scott Foundation and NFL Kansas City Chief legend, Derrick Johnson, and the Defend the Dream Foundation. With all these amazing partnerships we have been able to inspire a love of reading in over twenty thousand kids since February 2023. We look forward to continuing to scale our efforts reaching students outside the greater Austin area, across the state of Texas and beyond!
In April 2024, my TEDx talk was released on YouTube. It is entitled Create Local, Go Global. My talk not only sheds light on the global crisis of illiteracy, but how others can use their creativity, just like I did, to make an impact.
I discovered that my creative journey is an inspiration to adults. I am on a mission to help people bring creative fire to their careers. I believe everyone is creative and can make a unique impact in the world.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t believe any road is without bumps. I would say that mine, so far, has been a smooth one, I have expanded one step at a time, with one opportunity at a time. Sometimes it took a bit of effort to land various YouTube episode locations. I persevered if I kept hitting a wall. At other times, it has been challenging to contact various school districts, due to their busy schedules or staff shortages. But overall, I have been blessed that things have unfolded in short amounts of time.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an unexpected social entrepreneur! I never set out to be one, it just happened along life’s journey. My passion project to inspire kids to read blossomed into lifelong mission to combat the global crisis of illiteracy.
As the program director of Book Days, I spearhead our school and community tours, bringing life-size book mascot costumes to schools to put on a theatrical reading complete with a meet-and-greet experience.
In addition, I scout and direct our YouTube channel episodes, as well as mentor educators around the world how to bring books to life in their classrooms.
Book Days is different from other literacy programs because it focuses on motivating kids to read. Other programs help kids to read and give away books. We pair books with memorable literacy experiences to ignite a love of reading that will leave a lasting impression. That is what we are most known for.
I am most proud of the number of students we are able to reach at a time on our book tours and that kids are creating lasting literacy memories. One child asked me if I remembered when I brought the mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff to her school over a year prior. These kind of moments confirm the importance and need of the work we do and fuels my fire for greater outreach!
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Seneca, a Roman Philosopher once said, “Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity.” I am a big believer that you reap what you sow. There were many seeds planted and much effort made from the time I started the program, to the time I was approached by the angel investor. I don’t believe that opportunity would have presented itself if the program had not grown to that point by that time. I also believe God’s favor has been on the program and that has been the catalyst for continued expansion and impact. His favor and hard work are the secret to success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bookdays.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialbookdays/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialbookdays/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/bookdays
- Other: https://www.kassikincaid.com
Image Credits
TEDx Youngstown
