Community-wide effort needed to reverse trends that are causing generational poverty

Time has always been on the side of renowned author Toschia Santiago Moffett.

By her 5th birthday, she had already read her first book and could comprehend five languages. At the age of 22, Moffett had already earned her master's degree.

Always looking to quench her thirst for success, she would take trips around the globe, visiting countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and her native land, the Dominican Republic.

A best-selling author of books like "You Wrong For That" and "See, What Had Happened Was!," there was little for Moffett to prove. But the writer believes she has much more to contribute to the world.

Moffett and a group of 35 other authors are making their way to Gaffney this weekend for the Divine Literary Tour's Empowerment Weekend.

"Selling books is something we do, but not where our focus lies," Moffett said. "This is about empowering the people of this area and hopefully helping them make a change in their lives."

Comprised of authors representing the nine Black Greek letter organizations, the group tackles issues like teen pregnancy and illiteracy, hoping to create more opportunities for children destined for life on the streets or in prison.

"We hope people will step out of the box and realize these things that are being talked about are real," said Communities in Schools of Cherokee County Project Director Edward Surratt. "I'm excited and hope the community buys into it."

During the weekend-long event, a number of authors and speakers will take time to talk to students and hold workshops at several schools around the county, along with visits to the local Boys and Girls Club.

Also scheduled are forums focusing on the state of the family and the church's role in black households.

"The church either plays a big role or none at all," Moffett said. "At one time, the church was a revered place for all.

"But now, when a number of girls in the church are pregnant, who is going to stand up for it? In many cases the pastor can't because he was sleeping with the mother the night before."

In preparation for the upcoming seminar, Moffett and others on the tour used the popular social engine MySpace in an attempt to find out what they were getting themselves into.

"Of the 25 MySpace pages we looked at in which the kids were between 15 to 20 years old, 20 of them had kids... and were proud of it," Moffett said. "That type of stuff is alarming, and is a big reason for generational poverty in the area."

According to Moffett, it will take a community-wide effort to bring high pregnancy, illiteracy and poverty rates down.

"Right now, family legacies are being passed down by way of Tommy Hilfiger and Polo jeans," Moffett said. "Our goal is to help reverse the trend and create substance for generations to build off of in the years to come."