What happens when you stop deciding what a community needs and start asking?

In this episode of The Missing Book, I sit down with my dear friend Luis Jimenez, founder of Helping Our People Evolve (HOPE). Luis shares how growing up in Washington Heights, struggling to read, and finding teachers who believed in him shaped the work he does today.

We talk about the moment his mother helped him realize that HOPE had to be guided by the community, not by his own ideas alone. That lesson led him to listen to families and children, connect them with local artists and educators, and help more kids build home libraries with books that reflect who they are.

Luis also speaks honestly about the barriers people face because of how they speak or look, and why the people creating and teaching our culture deserve opportunities to lead.

Learn more about HOPE: https://helpingourpeopleevolve.org

If this conversation stays with you, share it with someone who believes in the talent already living in our communities.

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About The Missing Book Podcast:

Hosted by Luz Maria Mack, The Missing Book Podcast highlights authors, illustrators, educators, and creatives whose stories deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated. Each episode explores the inspiration behind the work, the publishing journey, and the impact stories can have on readers, families, and communities.