National Black Child Development Institute celebrates legacy and creativity at annual gathering

“These words have an impact; they can make and change anything,” said Thomas Anthony Waller, Board Chair Emeritus of the National Black Child Development Institute (NCBDI), when addressing a room full of donors, poets, writers, and activists at the 2024 “Creative Gathering.” Held on October 17, 2024, at the ZuCot Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia, the event brought together a community dedicated to improving the quality of life for Black children and families through literature. The annual gathering, hosted by NCBDI, featured a keynote speech delivered by renowned poet and author Kwame Alexander, whose personal story highlighted the themes of legacy, creativity, and empowerment.Recalling his father, Dr. E. Curtis Alexander, ‘s role in co-founding NCBDI in 1970, Alexander expressed the significance of speaking at an event tied so closely to his family’s history. “This is full circle for me,” Alexander remarked. He fondly remembered how his father pushed him to aim high and never settle for less, sharing his father’s words: “Nobody lowers my son’s goals. He doesn’t know he can’t make it,” Alexander said.Kwane Alexander (left) with Dr. Leah Johnson, President & CEO of NBCDI.& Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta VoiceIn an exclusive conversation with The Atlanta Voice, Alexander shared...