Haywood Fennell, Sr. who was raised in Harlem and now resides in Boston, MA. Haywood is the Founder of the Veterans Reading Brigade a volunteer group of US Military Veterans using their skills and military experiences to introduce literacy as a way to learn and enjoy reading. Haywood works and collaborates with other educators, doing research in the area of creating reading materials along with programs such as “That’s Not My Name” and “Our leaders are readers,” hat the reader can relate and discuss that raises their comprehension and appreciation. The lack of literacy interest began before the Covid-19 plague and continues to climb. The Coota Literacy Enhancement Project focuses on research and developing initiatives to improve literacy and ESL courses.
Haywood began writing a little over twenty years ago with his first book, “Coota and the Magic Quilt,” receiving an award from the Boston Herald and Verizon. He is a selfpublished author of four titles and recently was awarded an honored by the Witherspoon Chronicle Institute for his latest book,“Oba and the People of Gi.” He is a sought out speaker on literacy and works with youth in the area of literary appreciation and how to communicate without using racial and ethnic slurs. He is a playwright and founded the Oscar Micheaux Family Theater Program Company twenty years ago. He realizes the value of young people and their role in the future. He focuses his efforts on teaching children the impact of literacy, Black history, and cultural competence. Haywood is a graduate of U/Mass Boston and a former Vietnam Era Veteran. {Non Combat} He has received many awards and citations for his years of community service.