Despite the numerous campaigns over the decades, bullying remains a nuisance that plagues school halls, severely affecting many children and teenagers’ self-esteem and mental health. Sherrikka Myers is an individual who has been using her creative talent to make a difference in the lives of thousands of children through her book collection, the Lil Herbie Series Book Collection. She recently released a new book, Herbie Goes To School, to join the collection and her advocacy against bullying.
Sherrikka Myers is a dynamic visionary with a heart for children in her community and across the world. An author and national speaker, Myers understood the struggle of stuttering all too well, having developed a stutter when she was a child. Growing up in a single-family household with limited resources, she found her solace in reading. It became more than a hobby as reading became the only tool that helped get her to control the stuttering.
Since then, she has been working diligently to help the families of children who also stutter, have low self-esteem, low self-confidence, and have been bullied. Myers has worked closely with these families, improving their quality of life by breaking down communicative and social barriers. She would later take her work to the next level by creating Every 1 Voice Matters or E1VM.
Every 1 Voice Matters is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that came to inception when Sherrikka Myers witnessed her first grandchild struggle with stuttering. She decided to utilize the same technique she used as a child battling the same issue, using it as a foundation for her organization.
“I know how it feels to feel like no matter what you want or have to say that your voice doesn’t matter,” she shared, “I know how it feels to have something to say, but you’re afraid to say it because of a stutter. I also know how it feels to finally realize that your voice does matter and wanting to do everything in your power to help the other kids realize that no matter what people say, no matter how they sound, that their voice always did and always will matter.”
Myers would then use her creativity to breathe life in Lil Herbie, an anti-bullying and stuttering awareness mascot and the protagonist of the Lil Herbie Series. The collection consists of books that act as tools to help build children’s self-esteem and self-confidence, bringing awareness to stuttering and mental health issues that the next generation face daily. In addition, Lil Herbie acts as a symbol of strength, courage, perseverance, and determination for children, interacting with them and bringing positive vibes.
Recently, the author released a new addition to the series titled Herbie Goes To School. In the book, Herbie’s family moves to another state after buying a new home. He is faced with the challenge of making new friends at a new school. Because of his stutters, Herbie is afraid that all the other kids will laugh at him. When he finally does go, the young protagonist realizes that it wasn’t as bad as he thought.
Despite the tremendous efforts and families she’s helped, Sherrikka Myers hopes to continue writing more adventures to add to the Lil Herbie Series Book Collection and establish E1VM Enrichment Academy in every state and worldwide to encourage and empower children.
Learn more about Sherrikka Myers by visiting her official website. You can also get updates on the Lil Herbie Series Book Collection on Facebook and Instagram.
