Staff Picks: Kay Kay DeRossette

I recently downloaded the Red at the Bone audiobook from CALS. It was phenomenal. My favorite part was that each chapter is narrated by a different member of a black family in Brooklyn. Three generations trace the effects of race, religion, sexuality, and class on their family.

Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and went to school at Ole Miss. I love living in Little Rock and I’m happy to have called it home for the last four years.  My hobbies include working out, cooking, and traveling.  I am the Be Mighty Little Rock project coordinator.  I work with CALS branches and partners throughout the Central Arkansas area to increase access to free afterschool, weekend, and summer meals for kids.  It’s been especially busy as we’ve adjusted our operations in response to COVID-19.

What makes you you? 

I have a learning disability. Learning how to read, write, and speak took me a lot longer than it took my peers.  My learning disability helped me build a strong work ethic at an early age. I still don’t really like to talk about my learning disability, but it is a huge part of who I am. It has given me a can-do attitude that I apply to all aspects of my life.

Jacqueline Woodson, author of Red at the Bone, will be at the Six Bridges Book Festival in October. Find out more here.