Joshua Dickerson brings in a crowd by the multitude at the Sights and Sounds Museum: A Salute to the

Interrupted

Mar 1, 2016

3 min read

Dickerson on the left

Joshua Travis Dickerson Sr., graduated from Griffin High School in the state of Georgia. He earned a degree from the Georgia State University. After finishing college, Dickerson became an educator in the DeKalb County School system, and was awarded the DeKalb County Teacher of the Year Award through 2007 and 2008, for Jolly Elementary School.

Dickerson is currently a Regional Operations Director for a non-profit organization in Metro Atlanta. He created several programs to empower the youth such as the Pieces of the puzzle, and Fathers & Reading. He is part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. Mr. Dickerson also helped to create chess as well as the robotics clubs at various programs in Atlanta.

As a proud father of three, Dickerson is knowledgeable firsthand about the importance of being a positive role model.

He’s also passionate about writing. Dickerson utilizes everyday life as a muse for his poetry pieces. His verse "Cause I Ain’t Got a Pencil" is receiving all- inclusive praise.

The poem is a page from his latest book, "Cause I Aint Got A Pencil."

The book was released on February 27, 2016 at the Sights and Sounds Black Cultural Museum in Decatur, Georgia.

Our intrest was piqued after hearing about the author. So, we took a day-trip to Georgia just to get the who, what, when, where and why, on Author Dickerson at his book release.

What we learned:

While the event celebrated the achievements of many other endowed authors and business owners, Dickerson seemed to be the highlight of the affair. People came in droves just to support him, including Monec Walker…

The room was stifled with an uncomfortable warmth, and yet, Walker sat quietly with unsullied patience—she observed the fluctuating crowd of people that came to see Dickerson from her chair. She gazed on in amazement with an infectious smile on her face that was stunningly appealing.

When asked how she knew the author, Walker said, “I came out to support my friend, mentor and exercise coach, Josh Dickerson. He came out with his first book, “I Ain’t Got A Pencil,” she giggled with excitement.

Monec Walker and her daughter

“But, how I came about Mr. Dickerson-- it was about 2 ½ years ago. I gained a lot of weight, I was going through depression, and my life was just going downhill. I had ran into my neighbor, who told me about this workout program that was free. I decided to go with her. She had just recently lost a son...

When I got to the workout program, there was a bunch of elderly women who had bad health. There were younger women there who had health issues too,” she recollected aloud.

“They had started this program called, ‘Weight Loss Equals Health Gain,” and they didn’t have a trainer. The trainer quit the day that they were supposed to start—he never showed up. So, Mr. Dickerson, who was at the community center where they were supposed to have the class, stepped in and took over the class. This is the second, going on the third year… He’s been with us ever since.

Every Monday he comes out and spends an hour with us. We workout and things like that. They had a challenge that the person who lost the most weight will win a thousand dollars. Well, I came in first, and I won a thousand dollars. I lost 29 pounds in 6 months,” she revealed.

“But, it’s just the mentoring—it’s more of a support group, and it’s just amazing how some of these ladies health are changing and they are constantly coming back. He just keeps working with them. It’s just an honor to see how he gives to the community. I notice in this group, all the kids know him. I don’t know him on a personal level, but I do know him as a person, what he does, and how he gives back to the community. I had to come out and support him,” she spoke obligingly.

Walker was proud of Dickerson… She waited with an uncompromised demeanor-- she waited until the crowd dwindled, before approaching him to have her manuscript signed. She never left...

To us, that say's pleanty about Dickerson's character.

They say that if you want to know about a person, look closely at his or her group of friends-- and judging by the looks of things, Dickerson seemed to be an eminent man of graciousness and unpretentiousness, who’s more than a social network illusion…

Photos from the exhibit at the Lights and Sounds Black Culture Museum/ click pics to view photo gallery... Time Hop