https://www.16lyrics.org/representation-matters daily 0.75 2022-06-27 https://www.16lyrics.org/our-story daily 0.75 2021-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1614624168800-NUNM77IBCHE687JCSI4Q/image-asset.jpeg Our Story - Our Story First and foremost, 16 Lyrics is a group of friends. For some of us, our friendships go back 30+ years, though as a collective, many of us met on the campus of Wheaton College, Norton, MA. in the late ’90s. To date, we have remained connected by shared experiences in the form of sports, discussion, music, and enjoying one another’s company. As time has progressed, we have been able to share in the progression of our respective careers, saw one another start and nourish families, dealt with the ups and downs of life, and watched as each one of us has forged their own way. Up until recently, we have been secure in our friendships and our place(s) in the current world. Then came the spring of 2020. The members of 16 Lyrics sought connection with one another, and we were able to achieve that connection more easily than ever before. We watched and commented as a pandemic ravaged our country, and we bore witness to mass protests. Protests that laid bare police brutality, inherent inequities in our country and made us see more than many of us had ever seen. This included recognizing that some of our closest friends had had FAR DIFFERENT experiences in life because of their skin color, experiences many of us had never acknowledged because of our own privilege. These previously unfathomable happenings, aided by constant connection and fueled by the realization within many of us, brought us to a point where we recognized we could actually take this energy and affect change in the world around us. Out of all these experiences and this awareness, 16 Lyrics was born. https://www.16lyrics.org/contact-us daily 0.75 2022-09-19 https://www.16lyrics.org/store daily 0.75 2023-02-08 https://www.16lyrics.org/representation-matters-1 daily 0.75 2022-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1615653512891-9ZK2H0Q8MZNLRYO3I2R2/unsplash-image-OQSCtabGkSY.jpg Representation Matters - What books? We are focused on both fiction and non-fiction books that promote anti-racist thinking and action, elevate authors and characters from diverse backgrounds, and encourage readers to think critically and develop empathy. We are developing a list of such books and we will work with the individual schools to determine their specific needs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1615660640780-MF8H5R0KN5B8BX49HAWD/unsplash-image-zVuDeGdjxgU.jpg Representation Matters - Why focus on literature? As Dixon (2018) states in this article: “Seeing people who look, act, and experience life like them in media makes a person feel included in a society, and it reinforces positive views of themselves and what they can achieve in society.” In addition: “For people who exist outside of these marginalized and underrepresented groups, it can be hard to imagine life with the experiences and hardships that minorities experience.” This article describes the many benefits of multicultural literature for young readers. This article discusses the importance of minority characters in YA literature. This article details how YA literature is leading the way in representation. Or read the words of Ibram X. Kendi here as he describes the importance of anti-racist reading for personal development. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1615653739063-FB93K2QFOCSSU0WFSNH3/unsplash-image-QwXT_ZyCbSg.jpg Representation Matters - What will the students do with the books? We are working with four individual schools in this initiative. The student population in these schools vary in regards to race, and socio-economic status. Each of these respective schools will utilize the books in the best way for their school and their students. This will include but is not limited to giving students their own copies of books, using them for book clubs and in classrooms, and adding to their school library. We want to significantly increase student-access to these types of books and we will work with the schools to determine exactly how we best do this in each building. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1615653661574-T84X9HUP5NNZXHM3SYCQ/unsplash-image-omKdUQ9R3Zo.jpg Representation Matters - Where will we get the books? We have bought our books from Black-owned bookstores. Our goal at 16 Lyrics is to fight systemic racism every step of the way and this starts with full-hearted support of Black owned businesses. https://www.16lyrics.org/donate daily 0.75 2024-07-27 https://www.16lyrics.org/initiative-updates daily 0.75 2023-09-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/74b10ea7-da7d-4f63-805e-fab9d20a0e4b/Jason_Reynolds-16.jpg Initiative Updates On January 25th, 2022, in equal partnership with Yale University and the New Haven Free Public Library, we donated $2,500 to sponsor a presentation by Jason Reynolds, the renowned and best-selling author, to present to high school students in New Haven, Connecticut. We also were able to include our Representation Matters schools from Maine, Massachusetts, Illinois, and New Jersey in this incredible experience. In total, over 1,200 students were able to participate in this moment with Mr. Reynolds, who truly embodies the importance of Representation in literature. Our donation was used to cover the cost of the presentation as well as purchase hundreds of books for school libraries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/54a2ea4d-fb90-494c-a9ab-696895714c22/Dr.+Khalid+el-Hakim.jpg Initiative Updates - Make it stand out Dr. Khalid el-Hakim of the Black History 101 Mobile Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1642135275396-VDCN6IMKBU3Y03IBCSA8/The+Ethical+Community+Charter+School+Jersey+City+-+1.jpeg Initiative Updates https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1642136234322-7J7JPRX33JEGDXE937XZ/Cameron%2BMiddle%2BSchool%2BFramingham%2B-%2B2.jpg Initiative Updates https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1642136747090-BAOYJPMWQ4KH3ZOW8GFK/University%2Bof%2BChicago%2BCharter%2BSchool%2B%2528Pete%2BButler%2B%252700%2529%2B-%2B1.jpg Initiative Updates https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1642136954138-Q2OQGXWOEHZ2XRMYQ5FU/York+MIddle+School+-+1.jpeg Initiative Updates https://www.16lyrics.org/home daily 1.0 2025-11-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/b2224733-3c22-4b02-930c-dc06f3718371/f78caf72-3a0c-4b77-93ec-c8552aaf96ff.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/098bc9ba-eecf-467c-9e66-e1267b7bbc8d/03d9a732-7e90-49c9-8c2b-9bdc878b9286.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/4bbea750-9f54-42cf-9857-8a20a52fb118/0c3fab98-81fd-4bd1-aaf2-a2c8f390f4fb.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/7eaea9e0-8eb9-4e17-a395-b7e1131dbdf7/7f607f11-04ba-466d-8f08-64a9efb3fbb4.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/73d21fe4-099c-4b3f-bcb8-a72f8e67a1df/59513a1f-ce7b-422b-b661-fee607416b16.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/a063e5ff-210a-4155-b219-1c0fb9941266/phonto.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/5e23ff6e-f5c8-46a2-9877-8aa5e78acac9/download.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/0ac2e1f4-acf3-4ac0-b294-6a9e56853bed/download.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1617986730678-V2E4GW21VF8UPE4PJTZI/16Words_New.png Home - “16 Lyrics is a structured way to continue our journey toward anti-racism together, while leveraging our resources in order to help promote anti-racism in the larger society.” — Timothy Allen, School Principal (founder) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1615337521780-XQD4BWU2PGX4IEA6VG55/unsplash-image-U65XCj4JNos.jpg Home - Our position is that young people are the ones who will either dismantle or perpetuate racism.. Our work is to participate in the creation of change through the powers of equity and representation. Equity and representation are catalysts for our youth developing active voices in shaping their future. Our current campaign is to put material and curricular support in the hands of learners and educators that inspires an antiracist future representing all, and articulates the accompanying antiracist work that can be done by everyone. - Geoffrey Taylor, Teacher https://www.16lyrics.org/photos daily 0.75 2023-09-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/b2224733-3c22-4b02-930c-dc06f3718371/f78caf72-3a0c-4b77-93ec-c8552aaf96ff.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/5e4daac8-ae0a-4ad5-977e-6e5b39db95b1/1e3e2cdd-8aa1-4252-95c6-555be07c6cf5.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/d9235359-6403-4781-a0e7-369ab0ba1ef0/4f3bcc07-49b3-425b-9435-14eba480cbcd.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/7eaea9e0-8eb9-4e17-a395-b7e1131dbdf7/7f607f11-04ba-466d-8f08-64a9efb3fbb4.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/098bc9ba-eecf-467c-9e66-e1267b7bbc8d/03d9a732-7e90-49c9-8c2b-9bdc878b9286.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/949221c9-b926-4dda-8070-761c908d16e6/fd40b404-b937-43a9-9db3-3d300f85cd2e.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/0151c306-c54a-408d-a474-44064bd931c1/781edeb7-fec4-4fdf-a428-dd8f3e5e68ed.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/73d21fe4-099c-4b3f-bcb8-a72f8e67a1df/59513a1f-ce7b-422b-b661-fee607416b16.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/579eed7f-1596-4843-84da-0f49fcccf504/IMG_0479.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/2e982e67-db71-44df-8a43-8d128467668b/0c3fab98-81fd-4bd1-aaf2-a2c8f390f4fb.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/09778b45-709a-4bf8-8eff-19bd13d70073/7551799c-70ee-41cc-a493-fdd8bbb5c8b7.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1683521938287-RVKYNDHCVMRUZBBZG5MP/30e3ec54-214c-4c14-bceb-3909c0f94265.jpg Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/da6c6225-b295-4a90-9a6f-155491ccd0e8/ce41dbd0-265a-4680-b16d-cd01b5bf4843.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/899fd93a-c2c5-49d1-9fd6-eac4d11178fc/d6dd0ce9-c17a-474d-b7c8-76c83690bcc3.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/0e2c0927-c1ae-4713-bd7b-2f37f2cd2ba3/91d7f298-614b-4e17-979e-45e5e110cab3.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/5505373d-07d7-463d-b976-7dfbc3f16fa4/3281fa98-6977-46ee-ad0a-24f694e29726.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/e307d566-9ab8-4502-b250-a16ee96bc7a5/e7b31199-ca87-47c2-8bc8-3df5ea383332.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/c8ecdc6c-b02f-4231-8454-f00b6338fe97/aaee70e7-9022-483e-8f00-54ae42370ed9.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/11092a0f-a513-413c-bde6-6ceb567731b9/57599052-ef54-4cb4-8189-dbdc0d40092f.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/4e5b1111-4d24-4c69-9334-864d9a7721a2/0302b2fe-810d-4f53-a0d2-32b21f65b891.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/e45aadd9-17c6-465d-93b9-f529090b2999/d8e516f5-00bc-43e8-a7f5-1e7496fa10a4.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/ae09d753-37ee-421f-b461-04a5829b7480/8fa0555e-36ea-43d6-b189-e6428e3c67a6.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/5e1d6713-1cc8-4dfd-b7ad-2e22f768e3e4/d8171e26-998f-4335-8e4a-6018ffa52df2.JPG Photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/f55645fd-2954-4ea6-a25e-dd4b3fa89951/5bf7fcfb-d05c-4ec4-b125-9d517340eb12.JPG Photos https://www.16lyrics.org/ourteam daily 0.75 2024-09-06 https://www.16lyrics.org/ourteam/kyle-bertke-treasurer monthly 0.5 2024-09-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/963e161e-043b-47a4-b17a-82316efd39b5/IMG_3252.jpg Our Team - Kyle Bertke (Treasurer) https://www.16lyrics.org/ourteam/syreeta-williams monthly 0.5 2023-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/7b2753ed-5436-476c-a4b0-7fc4785ecd65/unnamed.jpg Our Team - Syreeta Williams https://www.16lyrics.org/ourteam/xiomara-hadnot monthly 0.5 2023-02-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/80a90f84-dccf-42b6-8d6a-3d150e4e4b13/EECCFC05-C572-4C2B-9544-F511075665CC.JPG Our Team - Xiomara Hadnot https://www.16lyrics.org/ourteam/prince-botchway monthly 0.5 2023-02-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/d5731a9b-9be7-46bd-ba0e-9d44f5ce6009/botchway+family+picture.jpg Our Team - Prince Botchway https://www.16lyrics.org/ourteam/kenton-kirby monthly 0.5 2023-02-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/fa9ad4ae-594d-4b77-9435-66f6f75df14c/sarahkentonwedPF-22092.jpg Our Team - Kenton Kirby https://www.16lyrics.org/ourteam/project-one-w2lpm monthly 0.5 2021-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1617988351316-NZ75IOC1YP37NQA2Y1HK/IMG_4620.JPG Our Team - Zhanu Bowden (President) https://www.16lyrics.org/ourteam/dling-w2lpm-yx8p7-aty7s-d8d8s-52b85-c95pd-rc89c monthly 0.5 2023-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1620012569636-KBJ8BZ3J1GDZLK9QGOPN/image0+%281%29+copy+5.jpeg Our Team - Damel Ling (Vice President) https://www.16lyrics.org/ourteam/adonroe-w2lpm-yx8p7-aty7s-d8d8s-tr44k monthly 0.5 2021-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1619144498403-4FCK7H3GSYN5UQLLH6PE/image2+copy.jpeg Our Team - Adam Donroe https://www.16lyrics.org/ourteam/rmccollum-w2lpm-yx8p7-aty7s-d8d8s-tr44k-s8734 monthly 0.5 2021-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1617369374507-PQDIGDAD1VKHPWCUIDLF/image0+%281%29+copy.jpeg Our Team - Ryan McCollum https://www.16lyrics.org/ourteam/jpburlington-w2lpm-yx8p7 monthly 0.5 2021-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1617935859588-CQ64EPOLWM3YAEV6BKAV/image0+%281%29+copy+3.jpeg Our Team - JP Burlington https://www.16lyrics.org/ourteam/nfournier-w2lpm-yx8p7-aty7s-d8d8s-52b85 monthly 0.5 2024-09-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1619144097228-GX5TFFADJIRJTK7FFP1T/image1-2.jpg Our Team - Nick Fournier https://www.16lyrics.org/ourteam/mbruno-w2lpm-yx8p7-aty7s monthly 0.5 2023-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1615694372638-DG43FLXIOHS5H8Q13KVY/image0%2B%25281%2529.jpg Our Team - Michael Bruno https://www.16lyrics.org/ourteam/pbutler-w2lpm-yx8p7-aty7s-d8d8s monthly 0.5 2021-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1615662860068-VBNTPD5G8D8PWLWMZIAN/IMG-0001.jpg Our Team - Peter Butler https://www.16lyrics.org/ourteam/mkiernan-w2lpm-yx8p7-aty7s-d8d8s-52b85-c95pd-bsmss monthly 0.5 2021-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1615694452465-Z2MSEG89Z79EJJ781G9H/image1%2B%25281%2529.jpg Our Team - Mathew Kiernan https://www.16lyrics.org/ourteam/jtaylor-w2lpm-yx8p7-aty7s-d8d8s-tr44k-aysmy monthly 0.5 2021-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1617984873482-XNY1HFJ1YASQCVT5YJ8Y/image0%2B%25281%2529%2Bcopy%2B4.jpg Our Team - Geoff Taylor https://www.16lyrics.org/ourteam/jhancock-w2lpm-yx8p7-aty7s-d8d8s-52b85-c95pd monthly 0.5 2023-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1619144571084-IKU19HI600NDKV0JP77J/image0-2.jpg Our Team - Jeremy Hancock (Secretary) https://www.16lyrics.org/ourteam/tallen-w2lpm-yx8p7-aty7s-7jd79 monthly 0.5 2023-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1615694245888-2QAH905NE3143BHARBL3/image2.jpeg Our Team - Timothy Allen https://www.16lyrics.org/ourteam/jmirisk-w2lpm-yx8p7-aty7s-d8d8s-52b85-c95pd-rc89c-km4af monthly 0.5 2021-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60007aa9c7c0510cd2e6da19/1619144599551-QNV118PLEWB2BUJLP3FX/image1-2+copy.jpeg Our Team - Jeremy Mirick