Many kids are told to “wait until you’re older” to make a difference—so they learn to quiet their voice instead of trusting the pull inside that says they’re needed right now. But when we give children the chance to serve, create, and lead around something that truly matters to them, everything shifts. They start to see purpose not as something far off in the future—but something they can step into today.

And now, one teen literacy trailblazer—with a mic, a mission, and a message—is proving just that.

That you don’t need a job title.
You don’t need a driver’s license.
You don’t need permission.

All you need is the courage to act on that quiet voice—and the willingness to let your purpose make a difference in someone else’s life, right here, right now.

Award-Winning Literacy Advocate, Founder of E Train Talks, Inc., & Host of E Train Talks Podcast, Ethan Minton, joins our John Masiulionis and Little Forrest on Episode #269 of PR From The Heart’s Children’s Books Spotlight Series to share his inspiring journey from a book-bingeing kid with a big imagination to teen podcaster and children’s literacy nonprofit founder, his youth-powered literacy initiative E Train Talks Inc., why early literacy is especially critical in underserved communities, how seeing oneself reflected in books can shape a child’s confidence and self-worth, the powerful role authors play in shaping young minds and cultivating lifelong readers, and simple, actionable ways adults can help children transform a love of reading into confidence, kindness, and real-world impact—plus much more.

We encourage you, our friends and neighbors, to support Ethan by donating to E Train Talks Inc. and helping put inclusive books into the hands of kids and schools that need them most: https://bit.ly/3Q9HxDV.

And we invite you to subscribe to Ethan’s official YouTube channel and watch all-new episodes of the E Train Talks Podcast: https://bit.ly/4ceqesA.