“Empires don’t fall from outside forces. They crumble when truth is no longer welcome.”
That quote sparked a movement.
First came Magnolia Steel - a raw, powerful book rooted in lived experience and truth-telling. Now comes Second Light: a community initiative born from that same fire, ready to rebuild, retrain, and reimagine the future with the people often left behind.
What We’re Doing:
Second Light is launching free workshops and community storytelling spaces for youth, returning citizens, and justice-impacted families. Through books, barbershops, building trades, digital storytelling, and more, we’re putting tools in people’s hands and voices in the spotlight.
We’re starting with:
- Free copies of Magnolia Steel sent to readers across the country (including book clubs inside prisons)
- Community workshops led by credible mentors—those who’ve walked the walk
- Skills training + healing circles: from storytelling and barbering to business ownership and franchising
- A digital showcase to elevate these voices and stories nationwide
Why We Need You:
We have no big budget. No institutional funding—yet. What we have is a blueprint, a vision, and the will to get it done. Your support helps us:
- Print and ship books
- Hire local mentors and instructors
- Host virtual workshops
- Provide tools and supplies to participants
- Reach locked-in brothers and sisters who need light the most
Who We Are:
We’re Nolatown. We’re from these streets. From Freret Street and the Magnolia Projects to the Marine Corps and back again. This is personal. We believe in second chances—and Second Light is the spark.
Join us. Power a story. Change a life.
Organizer
