The Michael Baisden Foundation

The basic definition of literacy is the ability to read and write. So the basic definition of illiteracy is the inability to read and write. Today in America, 92 million Americans have low or very low literacy skills and cannot read above the 6th grade level.

According to the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), illiteracy has overtaken one-third of America's children by the fourth grade, including two-thirds of African-American students, and almost half of all children in the inner cities.

The goal of the Michael Baisden Foundation is to eliminate illiteracy in our communities by providing books, computers, organizing workshops on writing and publishing, as well as funding for tutoring programs in state and federal prisons and reform schools, where one-half of all adults cannot read or write at all. And only about one-third of those in prison have completed high school.

Michael Baisden's own passionate testimony as to how books changed his life gives hope to those who have been enslaved by the shackles of illiteracy. In ten short years, he went from driving subway trains to becoming a four time best selling author, television talk show host, and now, a nationally syndicated radio personality. "Dreams do come true," he says! That dream for me began when I opened a book."

In 1993, he began reading self help books and autobiographies. Initially out of boredom, but as time went on, out of curiosity. "I was searching for something," he said. "As it turned out I was searching for Michael Baisden." The book that renewed his interest in reading was The Autobiography of Malcolm X, followed by The Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison, and Waiting to Exhale, by Terry McMillian, who he admits was his greatest inspiration in writing his first novel. After years of not having read a single book from cover to cover, he was going through as many as three books a week. The fire was lit! And the rest, as they say, is history.

Please support the Michael Baisden Foundation for Literacy and help us light the fire of hope and inspiration for all of our children, and their parents. Join with us to help achieve our goal of making sure that every child and adult in this country knows how to read and write. "Books do change lives," Michael says, "and I'm living proof!"

The Michael Baisden Foundation, (Section 501(c)(3)) a non-profit organization was formed to eliminate illiteracy as well as promote technology and is dedicated to education, support and advancement in our communities.

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