Community Read: Culminating Event on October 17

The Event
Three Cups of Tea is about the possibility of cultures coming together for a common goal of peace and hope. The book, and Mortenson's own courage and dedication to the mission, are catalysts for change, and motivate, inspire and educate. Bryan Nurnberger, of SimplySmiles, and his wife, inspirational singer/songwriter, Kristen Graves, will do the same for all of us through their parallel stories. Please join us on October 17th at 2 o’clock at John Winthrop Middle School in Deep River. Be inspired and enlightened – and filled with hope!



The Speakers
Bryan Nurnberger is the President and founder of Simply Smiles, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing bright futures for impoverished children. Bryan will share some of his stories and his philosophy on creating change and building community.


Bryan received a BA in History from the University of Colorado in 1999. Before founding Simply Smiles Inc., he worked as a History and Special Education teacher. He has also worked as a rock and ice climbing guide for Eastern Mountain Sports throughout New England. He is an Eagle Scout who has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, lived with monks in Greece, and worked with sugar-cane cutters in The Dominican Republic. Mr. Nurnberger lives with his wife Kristen in Southport, CT.


Kristen Graves is a folk/pop singer & songwriter with a voice that commands attention, lyrics that catch your heart, and melodies that stay with the listener long after the evening ends. Kristen’s songs have a coziness to them like a well-worn winter blanket, but don’t underestimate her; she can pack a serious emotional punch at a moment’s notice. Picture an energetic Sarah McLachlan, or Tracy Chapman with a pop edge, and you’ve found Kristen Graves. Kristen has been writing and performing her own songs since 2000. As an acoustic singer & songwriter she has toured nationally since 2002. She has written and recorded four albums, and has independently sold thousands of copies of her CDs. Kristen will accompany Bryan on the 17th and will sing some of her songs of hope for us.


The Story
In the summer of 2002, Bryan, a rock climber, injured and unable to continue climbing on a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, found himself heartbroken and appalled by the severe poverty he saw there.

Children at an orphanage where he was volunteering were wearing the same clothes day after day. Many of them wore the same diapers day in and day out, and most didn’t have food in their bellies.

So Nurnberger, then a special education teacher in Prospect, emptied his savings account of about $5,000.00. With that he bought food, clothes and diapers for the children at Casa Hogar, a struggling Mexican orphanage with 80 children.

In 2003 Nurnberger founded SimplySmiles with the start of his first project, The Casa HogarSimplySmiles has continued to grow, work and fulfill their mission of improving the lives of impoverished children in the mountains of southern Mexico, and around the world. Like Greg Mortenson, Bryan Nurnberger refused to think that one person with a vision, a heart and a commitment could not make a difference – even if it was one smile at a time! Like Greg Mortenson, Bryan would not give up or let “roadblocks” stop him.

Back in the beginning of his journey of hope and compassion, Bryan spent six months battling Mexican authorities as he tried to bring a school bus filled with medical supplies, toiletries, clothing, toys, and eighty personalized quilts to Casa Hogar. He persevered as Mexican authorities at the border changed the rules or presented new challenges. He has built a highly respected, and rapidly growing organization that has made huge differences in our world and will continue to do so! Now in 2010, SimplySmiles has expanded to include 5 projects – including monthly food distributions in the shockingly poor region of southern Oaxaca, Mexico, the launching of “SimplyCoffee”, with the goal to make being a coffee farmer in this region viable again., (Simply Coffee is in the very beginning steps of creating a coffee company that will buy the beans from the villagers at a “fair trade” price.), and the Cheyenne River project in South Dakota, with the vision to curtail suicides, to provide basic needs, to give children an alternative to the dangers of the streets, and to preserve and cultivate the rich Lakota Culture. Just this summer they completed building their first school in the southern region of Mexico!!

They're Collecting Pennies for Peace

Tri-town area businesses and stores are collecting pennies for the next two months to benefit the Pennies for Peace program of the nonprofit Central Asia Institute established by Greg Mortensen, author of "Three Cups of Tea." The book, and its two editions for younger readers, is the subject of Tri-Town Youth Services' Community Read this summer. Pennies for Peace was initiated to teach children the rewards of working together to bring hope and educational opportunities to children in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where one penny buys a pencil.

Shown in the photo, left to right, are Chester businesspeople Heidi Samuelson, New Alliance Bank; Katie Wright, Hammered Edge Gallery; Leslie Strauss, Century 21; Tom Marsh, Chester First Selectman; Sherrie Coleman, eo Art Lab; and Rachel Ryan, Rachel Ryan's Fitness; with Nicole Dolan of Tri-Town Youth Services. More information about the community read is at www.tritownys.org.

Community Read List of Events (watch this page for updates)

• Sept. 2 6:30-8:30 pm Essex Library Film: Afghan Star
• Sept. 12 12:30-4:30 pm Essex Books Celebration of “Three Cups of Tea” and Launch of “Pennies for Peace” campaign
• Sept. 15 1:00 pm Deep River Library Discussion Group
• Sept. 16 6:30 pm Chester Library Slides and Discussion
• Sept. 19 2:00-4:00 pm Ivoryton Library “Let's Hold Hands Project” for kids Grades K-5 and families
• Sept. 21 3:30 pm Kirtland Commons Discussion Group
• Sept. 23 4:00-5:00 pm and 6:30-7:30 pm Essex Library “Listen to the Wind” Discussion Groups (2 groups) for kids in Grades 1-3 (4:00 pm) and 3 - 6 (6:30 pm). Call to register: 860-767-1560
• Sept. 26 4:00 pm Chester Village West Discussion Group
• Sept. 28 11:00 am Deep River Congregational Church Discussion Group
• Sept. 29 11:00 am Deep River Congregational Church Discussion Group
• Sept. 30 6:30-7:30 pm Essex Library Film: Beyond Belief

Let's Get Started: About Three Cups of Tea and the Tri-Town Community Read

Deep River, Chester, and Essex have a new opportunity to grow and learn together this summer. Chosen by community ballot, Three Cups of Tea is a book described as “proof that one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and determination, really can change the world.”


Three Cups of Tea is the true story of mountain climber Greg Mortenson, and how he changed the lives of 58,000 school children in his quest to bring education to Pakistan’s and Afghanistans’ rural villages. There are 3 versions of the book, geared to all reading levels and generations, so everybody can participate.

This community read is sponsored by the Healthy Communities • Healthy Volunteers initiative, which is funded by the Middlesex United Way. Please use this blog to add your thoughts, impressions, questions, and ideas. You can communicate by adding comments at the end of blog entries or writing directly to its creator, Katherine Hauswirth (khauswirth@sbcglobal.net).

Take this opportunity to learn more about and become involved with Tri-Town Youth Services, our local libraries and bookstores, and other reader-friendly hubs in our community, too! Use the links section at the right to make more connections in our community. See the next post for a list of upcoming community read events.

Watch this space for updates, some words from the read's participants and leaders, more facts about the book and the topic it covers, and hopefully some words from the authors themselves.

Happy Reading!