Wes Moore

From the governor-elect of Maryland comes a story of two fatherless boys from Baltimore, both named Wes Moore. One is in prison, serving a life sentence for murder. The other is a Rhodes Scholar, an army veteran, and an author whose book is being turned into a movie produced by Oprah Winfrey. The story of "the other Wes Moore" is one that the author couldn't get out of his mind, not since he learned that another boy with his name--just two years his senior--grew up in the same Baltimore neighborhood. He wrote that boy--now a man--a letter, not expecting to receive a reply. But a reply came, and a friendship grew, as letters turned into visits and the two men got to know each other. Eventually, that friendship became the inspiration for Discovering Wes Moore, a moving and cautionary tale examining the factors that contribute to success and failure--and the choices that make all the difference. Two men. One overcame adversity. The other suffered the indignities of poverty. Their stories are chronicled in Discovering Wes Moore, a book for young people based on Wes Moore's bestselling adult memoir, The Other Wes Moore. Includes an 8-page photo insert. Praise for Discovering Wes Moore "Moore wisely opens the door for teens to contemplate their own answers and beliefs, while laying out his own experiences honestly and openly."--Publishers Weekly "He argues earnestly and convincingly that young people can overcome the obstacles in their lives when they make the right choices and accept the support of caring adults."--Kirkus Reviews

Two kids with the same name lived in the same decaying city. One went on to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated combat veteran, White House Fellow, and business leader. The other is serving a life sentence in prison. Here is the story of two boys and the journey of a generation. In December 2000, the Baltimore Sun ran a small piece about Wes Moore, a local student who had just received a Rhodes Scholarship. The same paper also ran a series of articles about four young men who had allegedly killed a police officer in a spectacularly botched armed robbery. The police were still hunting for two of the suspects who had gone on the lam, a pair of brothers. One was named Wes Moore. Wes just couldn't shake off the unsettling coincidence, or the inkling that the two shared much more than space in the same newspaper. After following the story of the robbery, the manhunt, and the trial to its conclusion, he wrote a letter to the other Wes, now a convicted murderer serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. His letter tentatively asked the questions that had been haunting him: Who are you? How did this happen? That letter led to a correspondence and relationship that have lasted for several years. Over dozens of letters and prison visits, Wes discovered that the other Wes had had a life not unlike his own: Both had grown up in similar neighborhoods and had had difficult childhoods, both were fatherless; they'd hung out on similar corners with similar crews, and both had run into trouble with the police. At each stage of their young lives they had come across similar moments of decision, yet their choices would lead them to astonishingly different destinies. Told in alternating dramatic narratives that take readers from heart-wrenching losses to moments of surprising redemption, The Other Wes Moore tells the story of a generation of boys trying to find their way in a hostile world.

A powerful memoir from 'the Democrats’ most talented political newcomer since Barack Obama' (Time) 'Spectacular . . . Wes Moore is a proper leader' George Clooney Two kids named Wes Moore shared much more than a name; they shared remarkably similar circumstances. Both grew up father­less and had difficult childhoods; both hung out on street corners with their crews; both ran into trouble with the police. How, then, did one grow up to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated veteran, White House Fellow, and leading politician, while the other became a convicted murderer serving a life sentence? Wes Moore, the author of this fascinating book, sets out to answer this profound ques­tion. In December 2000, the Baltimore Sun ran a small piece about Wes Moore, a local student who had just received a Rhodes Scholarship. The same paper also featured an article about a botched armed robbery in which a police officer had been killed. Two of the suspects had gone on the run. One was named Wes Moore. After following the case to its conclusion, Wes Moore wrote a letter to the other Wes, now a convicted murderer serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. His letter asked the questions that had been haunting him: who are you? How did this happen? Through dozens of letters and prison visits, over the course of years, Wes discovered that the other Wes had had a life not unlike his own. Told in alternating dramatic narratives, The Other Wes Moore takes readers from heart-wrenching losses to moments of surprising redemption, and sheds a powerful light on modern America. 'I always walk away from a conversation with Wes Moore with a new perspective…new ideas...with a new way of seeing things...with a new burst of positive energy.' Oprah Winfrey

A bold new argument for harnessing brain science to help young people realize their full potential, from the noted business and foundation leader“In the last decade, a growing body of longitudinal neuroimaging research has demonstrated that adolescence is a period of continued brain growth and change, challenging longstanding assumptions that the brain was largely finished maturing by puberty.” —National Institutes of Health Breakthroughs in adolescent brain science have made it clear that young people need stable relationships, meaningful opportunities and strong support to become thriving adults. Yet far too many grow up without access to these essentials. Whether it’s a young person trying to finish school and secure their first job, navigating the trauma of losing loved ones to violence or seeking connection after being placed in foster care, their experiences reveal how deeply our public systems are falling short—and how urgently we must act. A major new book for parents, local leaders, and policymakers alike, Thrive argues that how we understand and address the unequal experiences of adolescence holds the key to ensuring that all children have an equal chance of becoming successful adults. Drawing on her deep experience working in business and alongside youth, nonprofit and public system leaders as head of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, author Lisa M. Lawson offers a powerful and accessible look at what the science of adolescent development tells us—and what it demands of us. With clarity and purpose, she reveals how our policies and practices too often fail young people, and how we can do better by creating the connections, opportunities and support they need to reach their full potential. Arguing that we all have a shared stake in helping young people navigate the road to adulthood, Lawson lays out the ways that public systems, nonprofits, businesses and families can draw lessons from science—and take steps to help all young people thrive.

'An illuminating portrait of Baltimore ... Readers will be enthralled' Publishers Weekly A kaleidoscopic account of five days in the life of a city on the edge, told through eight characters on the front lines of the uprising that overtook Baltimore and riveted the world.When Freddie Gray was arrested for possessing an 'illegal knife' in April 2015, he was, by eyewitness accounts that video evidence later confirmed, treated 'roughly' as police loaded him into a vehicle. By the end of his trip in the police van, Gray was in a coma from which he would never recover.In the wake of a long history of police abuse in Baltimore, this killing felt like the final straw - it led to a week of protests empowered by the Black Lives Matter movement, then five days described alternately as a riot or an uprising.New York Times bestselling author Wes Moore tells the story of the five days through his own observations and through the eyes of other Baltimoreans: Partee, a conflicted black captain of the Baltimore Police Department; Jenny, a young white public defender who's drawn into the violent centre of the uprising herself; Tawanda, a young black woman who'd spent a lonely year protesting the killing of her own brother by police; and John Angelos, scion of the city's most powerful family and executive vice president of the Baltimore Orioles, who had to make choices of conscience he'd never before confronted.Each shifting point of view contributes to an engrossing, cacophonous account of a moment in history with striking resemblances to far more recent events, which is also an essential cri de coeur about the deeper causes of the violence and the small seeds of hope planted in its aftermath.

How do we explain sin, suffering, and hell if God is really good and all-powerful?Christians and non-Christians alike have deep questions about God. Their beliefs about God, that he is good and all-powerful, do not mesh with what they see in the world, sin, suffering, and death. Moreover, they struggle to reconcile his goodness and power with the Bible's teachings regarding the fall of man into sin and eternal judgment for the wicked in hell. How could a good and powerful God allow all of this?The core problem is not with the Bible's teachings about God's nature and attributes or the events that led to sin, suffering, death, and judgment. The problem is with what we believe about God's purpose in creating the world in the first place. Without realizing it, we have adopted an errant view of God's intent for the universe, and so we come to the wrong conclusions about his actions (or lack thereof) where issues like this are concerned.God's Purpose in Creation is designed to clear up this confusion. In this short volume, the reader will learn the true reason God made the world and the implications of that truth on the fall, suffering, hell, and redemption. When seen in the light of God's true plan for the universe, far from creating doubt about God, these questions provide a more complete insight into his glory than ever before. God's Purpose in Creation will show you how.

"An illuminating portrait of Baltimore in the aftermath of the April 2015 death of Freddie Gray . . . Readers will be enthralled by this propulsive account."--Publishers Weekly FINALIST FOR THE PORCHLIGHT BUSINESS BOOK AWARD - NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY LIBRARY JOURNAL From the New York Times bestselling author of The Other Wes Moore and governor of Maryland, a kaleidoscopic account of five days in the life of a city on the edge, told through eight characters on the front lines of the uprising that overtook Baltimore and riveted the world When Freddie Gray was arrested for possessing an "illegal knife" in April 2015, he was, by eyewitness accounts that video evidence later confirmed, treated "roughly" as police loaded him into a vehicle. By the end of his trip in the police van, Gray was in a coma from which he would never recover. In the wake of a long history of police abuse in Baltimore, this killing felt like the final straw--it led to a week of protests, then five days described alternately as a riot or an uprising that set the entire city on edge and caught the nation's attention. Wes Moore is a Rhodes Scholar, bestselling author, decorated combat veteran, former White House fellow, and CEO of Robin Hood, one of the largest anti-poverty nonprofits in the nation. While attending Gray's funeral, he saw every stratum of the city come together: grieving mothers, members of the city's wealthy elite, activists, and the long-suffering citizens of Baltimore--all looking to comfort one another, but also looking for answers. He knew that when they left the church, these factions would spread out to their own corners, but that the answers they were all looking for could be found only in the city as a whole. Moore--along with journalist Erica Green--tells the story of the Baltimore uprising both through his own observations and through the eyes of other Baltimoreans: Partee, a conflicted black captain of the Baltimore Police Department; Jenny, a young white public defender who's drawn into the violent center of the uprising herself; Tawanda, a young black woman who'd spent a lonely year protesting the killing of her own brother by police; and John Angelos, scion of the city's most powerful family and executive vice president of the Baltimore Orioles, who had to make choices of conscience he'd never before confronted. Each shifting point of view contributes to an engrossing, cacophonous account of one of the most consequential moments in our recent history, which is also an essential cri de coeur about the deeper causes of the violence and the small seeds of hope planted in its aftermath.

Hatred of the rich. Price controls. "Living wages." Stimulus plans. Government debt. The destructive forces of socialism are taking hold all over America, and it seems their influence cannot be stopped. Capitalistic, free-market ideas, those which made this nation the economic powerhouse it is today, are increasingly rejected by politicians, academics, and average citizens alike. Ticking away in the background is an economic timebomb that could make America a Third World nation in a matter of months-the national debt. The debt level of the American government has passed every warning sign economists can offer. It is now so vast it threatens to rush the entire world into a catastrophe that could make the Great Depression seem mild by comparison. Yes, America is headed for a collapse. But it doesn't have to.This book is an attempt to turn back this dark economic tide by educating the average Christian regarding the socialist ideas sweeping through the nation. How should a believer view things like the hatred of profit, the call for free government programs of all kinds, and the amassing of tens of trillions in debt? This volume will not only address sound economic principles related to these issues, but also provide the Bible's perspective on them. In so doing, the ultimate reason for our present economic condition, and potential future catastrophe, will be revealed-the righteous judgment of God.Want to learn why capitalism is best for America, counter the arguments of the socialists all around you, and prevent the fall of the greatest nation the world has ever seen? Collapse is your tool to do all of this and more Get your copy today.

'An illuminating portrait of Baltimore ... Readers will be enthralled' Publishers Weekly A kaleidoscopic account of five days in the life of a city on the edge, told through eight characters on the front lines of the uprising that overtook Baltimore and riveted the world.When Freddie Gray was arrested for possessing an 'illegal knife' in April 2015, he was, by eyewitness accounts that video evidence later confirmed, treated 'roughly' as police loaded him into a vehicle. By the end of his trip in the police van, Gray was in a coma from which he would never recover.In the wake of a long history of police abuse in Baltimore, this killing felt like the final straw - it led to a week of protests empowered by the Black Lives Matter movement, then five days described alternately as a riot or an uprising.New York Times bestselling author Wes Moore tells the story of the five days through his own observations and through the eyes of other Baltimoreans: Partee, a conflicted black captain of the Baltimore Police Department; Jenny, a young white public defender who's drawn into the violent centre of the uprising herself; Tawanda, a young black woman who'd spent a lonely year protesting the killing of her own brother by police; and John Angelos, scion of the city's most powerful family and executive vice president of the Baltimore Orioles, who had to make choices of conscience he'd never before confronted.Each shifting point of view contributes to an engrossing, cacophonous account of a moment in history with striking resemblances to far more recent events, which is also an essential cri de coeur about the deeper causes of the violence and the small seeds of hope planted in its aftermath.

Adrien Bach is a shattered and desperate man. As a field archeologist for the Global Community of Nations (G-CoN) in the year 2332 AD, his job is to dig up certain truths, and bury others. But the agony of a recent tragedy, one for which he blames himself, and a curious find in the desert that was Middle America cause him to wonder about all he has believed in the past, the value of his disintegrating life, and the course of his eternal future. Join Adrien as he battles the power of G-CoN, the shackles of scientific dogma, and the pull of inner darkness to discover the one truth that transcends them all, the only truth that can save him.

Is the Christianity you believe in the real Christianity? Is the Jesus you believe in the real Jesus? How do you know?Basic Bible Christianity explains 12 of the most important truths of Christianity based, not on the rules of political-correctness, the teachings of big denominations, or the opinions of best-selling authors, but on the words of the Bible itself. And it does all of this in a way the average person can easily understand. No big words. No complicated ideas. Just everyday truth in everyday language.What do you want to know more about? What have you not learned about God that you have always wanted to know? odds are, it's right here in Basic Bible Christianity Begin your journey of learning today (Subjects covered in detail: The basics of the Bible; God; Man; Jesus; Salvation; the Church; Obedience; Suffering; the Holy Spirit; Marriage, Sex, and the Family; Angels, Demons, and the Supernatural; and Judgment Day, Hell, and Eternal Life.)

As the mother Wes Moore, whose memoir about overcoming the obstacles that face a fatherless young black man was a huge bestseller, Joy is often asked: How did you do it? How do you balance parenting, work and self-care when you don't have a partner to pick up the slack? How do you connect with a child when you can't always be there? Joy's answer is "presence." We can't always be physically there for our children, but the power of presence can help us to be a voice in the back of their minds that guides them through difficult times. In MY PRIDE, MY JOY, Moore explores seven pillars of presence--heart, faith, mind, courage, financial freedom, values, and connectedness--that all parents can use to be positively influence their children. Using compelling stories from women who have been there and practical advice on everything from savings accounts to mindfulness, this book is a compassionate look at what it takes to raise great kids.

The perfect graduation gift for 2018 An inspirational rallying call about education, race, and the true nature of equality--the Harvard Graduate School of Education convocation speech praised as "powerful" by Hillary Rodham Clinton in Teen Vogue and "inspired" by Justin Timberlake. In emotionally charged spoken-word poetry, Livingston shares a message of hope and hard truths, declaring that education can become an equalizer only if we first acknowledge the inequality and racial divides holding back America's future. Livingston is dedicated to helping young people reach their celestial potential, and in his galvanizing commencement address, now adapted for the first time to the page, he calls on us to raise our voices on behalf of all children, as their brighter futures can light up our own. Together, we can lift off Praise for Donovan Livingston "Donovan Livingston gave a powerful speech at the Harvard Graduate School of Education's convocation. In a spoken-word poem, he shared his struggles in life and urged his fellow graduates to fight inequality and inspire students. . . . Donovan's message hit home. . . . He is] part of a rising generation that's . . . standing up to some of the biggest challenges in the world today."--Hillary Rodham Clinton, Teen Vogue "These are the words, and Donovan Livingston's voice and spirit are the music, but in any form, this rare graduation speech tells us that learning is full of bias yet can lead us to the stars."--Gloria Steinem"Donovan Livingston's Lift Off is our youth's gift to us. In this joyous young man's voice is the promise of tomorrow."--James McBride

"Brimming with hard realities about the choices we make, the friendships we keep, and the unlikely allies we find along the way, this affecting novel helps to fill the gaping hole left by Walter Dean Myers's passing." --Booklist "A taut, haunting tragedy." --Kirkus Reviews One young man searches for a place to call home in this gut-wrenching, honest novel from New York Times bestselling author Wes Moore and cowriter Shawn Goodman. Elijah Thomas knows one thing better than anyone around him: basketball. But when a sinister street gang, Blood Street Nation, wants him and his team members to wear the Nation's colors in the next big tournament, Elijah's love of the game is soon thrown into jeopardy. The boys gather their courage and take a stand against the gang, but at a terrible cost. Now Elijah must struggle to balance hope and fear, revenge and forgiveness, to save his neighborhood. For help, he turns to the most unlikely of friends: Banks, a gruff ex-military man, and his beautiful and ambitious daughter. Together, the three work on a plan to destroy Blood Street and rebuild the community they all call home. This Way Home is a story about reclamation. It's about taking a stand for what matters most, and the discovery that, in the end, hope, love, and courage are our most powerful weapons.

For anyone who has pastored a traditional Southern Baptist (SBC) church or been a member of one for any length of time, you do not need a list of dire statistics paraded before you to know the state of these churches. All you need to do is open your eyes and note what you see. They are old; they are dysfunctional; they are ineffective.And they are dying.Traditional SBC churches are not failing because of what the typical SBC associational missionary, state convention leader, or national convention revitalization guru will tell you. They are dying because they no longer serve the God of the Bible-they serve an idol.The purpose of this book is to bring to light the true situation facing almost every traditional SBC church in this nation, the biblical cause for the death spiral in which they now find themselves, and the cure for their dilemma prescribed, not by pundits or consultants, but by the Word of the biblical God himself.If you desire to see your traditional SBC church rise out of the ashes of death and decay, this book is for you.---------------------------------About Dr. Moore: Dr. Wes Moore has 30 years of experience in Southern Baptist and Baptist churches as a pastor, elder, lead deacon, and deacon. He is the author of 8 books on church growth, discipleship, and apologetics. He is the founder of a teaching ministry called Prophet Scholar. To learn more about his ministry, visit www.prophetscholar.com.

"Brimming with hard realities about the choices we make, the friendships we keep, and the unlikely allies we find along the way, this affecting novel helps to fill the gaping hole left by Walter Dean Myers's passing." --Booklist "A taut, haunting tragedy." --Kirkus Reviews One young man searches for a place to call home in this gut-wrenching, honest novel from New York Times bestselling author Wes Moore and cowriter Shawn Goodman. Elijah Thomas knows one thing better than anyone around him: basketball. But when a sinister street gang, Blood Street Nation, wants him and his team members to wear the Nation's colors in the next big tournament, Elijah's love of the game is soon thrown into jeopardy. The boys gather their courage and take a stand against the gang, but at a terrible cost. Now Elijah must struggle to balance hope and fear, revenge and forgiveness, to save his neighborhood. For help, he turns to the most unlikely of friends: Banks, a gruff ex-military man, and his beautiful and ambitious daughter. Together, the three work on a plan to destroy Blood Street and rebuild the community they all call home. This Way Home is a story about reclamation. It's about taking a stand for what matters most, and the discovery that, in the end, hope, love, and courage are our most powerful weapons.

The acclaimed author of "The Other Wes Moore "continues his inspirational quest for a meaningful life and shares the powerful lessons--about self-discovery, service, and risk-taking--that led him to a new definition of success for our times. "The Work "is the story of how one young man traced a path through the world to find his life's purpose. Wes Moore graduated from a difficult childhood in the Bronx and Baltimore to an adult life that would find him at some of the most critical moments in our recent history: as a combat officer in Afghanistan; a White House fellow in a time of wars abroad and disasters at home; and a Wall Street banker during the financial crisis. In this insightful book, Moore shares the lessons he learned from people he met along the way--from the brave Afghan translator who taught him to find his fight, to the resilient young students in Katrina-ravaged Mississippi who showed him the true meaning of grit, to his late grandfather, who taught him to find grace in service. Moore also tells the stories of other twenty-first-century change-makers who've inspired him in his search, from Daniel Lubetzky, the founder of KIND, to Esther Benjamin, a Sri Lankan immigrant who rose to help lead the Peace Corps. What their lives--and his own misadventures and moments of illumination--reveal is that our truest work happens when we serve others, at the intersection between our gifts and our broken world. That's where we find the work that lasts. An intimate narrative about finding meaning in a volatile age, "The Work "will inspire readers to see how we can each find our own path to purpose and help create a better world. Praise for "The Work" "Powerful and moving . . . Wes Moore's story and the stories of those who have inspired him, from family members to entrepreneurs, provide a model for how we can each weave together valuable lessons from all different types of people to forge an individual path to triumph. I've known and deeply admired Wes for a long time. Reading "The Work, " I better understand why."--Chelsea Clinton "Wes Moore proves once again that he is one of the most effective storytellers and leaders of his generation. His gripping personal story, set against the dramatic events of the past decade, goes straight to the heart of an ancient question that is as relevant as ever: not just how to live a good life, but how to make that life matter. Above all, this book teaches us how to make our journey about more than mere surviving or even succeeding; it teaches us how to truly come alive."--Arianna Huffington, author of "Thrive" "How we define success for ourselves is one of life's essential questions. Wes Moore shows us the way--by sharing his incredible journey and the inspiring stories of others who make the world a better place through the choices they've made about how they want to live. We come away from this important book with a new understanding of what it truly means to succeed in life."--Suze Orman "Wes Moore puts a mirror up to himself and shares the reflection with stunning candor. A truly moving picture of personal growth, and one that will make you consider your own path, struggles, and successes in a new way, "The Work" is a must-read."--General Stanley McChrystal, former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan "As a Rhodes scholar who fought in Afghanistan and later became a social entrepreneur, Wes Moore is a shining light of his generation--and one who captivates audiences."--Charles Best, founder, DonorsChoose.org "From the Hardcover edition."

The chilling truth is that his story could have been mine. The tragedy is that my story could have been his. Two kids named Wes Moore were born blocks apart within a year of each other. Both grew up fatherless in similar Baltimore neighborhoods and had difficult childhoods; both hung out on street corners with their crews; both ran into trouble with the police. How, then, did one grow up to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated veteran, White House Fellow, and business leader, while the other ended up a convicted murderer serving a life sentence? Wes Moore, the author of this fascinating book, sets out to answer this profound question. In alternating narratives that take readers from heart-wrenching losses to moments of surprising redemption, The Other Wes Moore tells the story of a generation of boys trying to find their way in a hostile world.