A new year is underway, yet violence continues to plague our community and our nation. As individuals we often feel ill prepared to help. During last week’s State of the City address at the Birmingham Kiwanis meeting, Mayor Randall Woodfin said the best way our business community can help affect positive change in the city is to engage young people by 3rd grade in developing strong academic skills especially reading proficiency. As a business leader, that’s not the answer I was expecting but it empowered me by knowing I as an individual can make a difference. A few years ago, WVTM 13 visited with Jefferson County School Superintendent Dr. Walter Gonsoulin about keys to helping kids succeed. He too echoed the impact of the third-grade sharing research that shows adults in prison can point back to elementary school failures as their demise. Each of us can help a child by partnering with the City of Birmingham’s Page Pals Program to read with children, by supporting the Better Basics Organization who puts educators in schools tutoring 2nd & 3rd graders on reading… Make a difference by opening the world of reading, books, and imagination to a child.