In his trilogy of memoirs that includes Once Upon A Time When We Were Colored, The Last Train North, and Watching Our Crops Come In, Clifton Taulbert introduced us to a host of relatives and friends--affectionately known as the porch people--who were an integral part of his upbringing in his native Glen Allan, Mississippi. Although these people were limited in financial resources, they were rich in love and wisdom and taught him lessons that proved to be invaluable. Using his own success as proof that by building strong communities, we build strong individuals, Taulbert revisits these elders and their lessons in Eight Habits of the Heart : Embracing the Values that Build Strong Families and Communities (Penguin Books; January 5, 1999; $9.95). Eight Habits of the Heart grew out of a commencement speech that Taulbert delivered in 1995 at the North Shore Country Day School in Winnetka, Illinois. Wanting to leave a lasting impression on America's future leaders, but not knowing exactly what to say, Taulbert illustrated the community building practices that he learned from Poppa Joe, Ma Ponk, Preacher Hurn, and others in his beloved Mississippi Delta. He realized that a lot of the good will that these people showed one another was habitual and was offered out of love and respect. And that if we all practiced those same acts of kindness-- habits of the heart--in our day-to-day lives, not only would we build a strong community for ourselves and future generations, but we would have the potential to build a strong nation. With rich and poignant personal stories, Clifton Taulbert illustrates each habit and shows readers how to embrace these values: Nurturing Attitude: "Unselfish caring, supportiveness, and a willingness to share time" despite hardships; the ability to give our children "the best of what has been provided to us."
Dependability: "Being there for others through all the times of their lives, a steady influence that makes tomorrow a welcome event."
Responsibility: "Showing and encouraging a personal commitment to each task."
Friendship: The ability to bind together and "take pleasure in each other's company." Listening, laughing, and sharing good times and bad.
Brotherhood: Reaching beyond comfortable relationships "to extend a welcome to those who may be different from yourself."
High Expectations: "Believing that others can be successful, telling them so, and praising their accomplishments."
Courage: "Standing up and doing the right thing, speaking out on behalf of others, and making a commitment to excellence in the face of adversity or the absence of support." Hope: "Believing in tomorrow--because you have learned to see with your heart."
Taulbert also includes a series of "Exercises for Reflection" that can be used by families, businesses, schools, worship groups, reading clubs, and others to help motivate the building of stronger relationships and communities. His voice shines through as a refreshing guide to the spiritual core we as a society seem always to be seeking.

In the late 1950s, Glen Allan, Mississippi, was a poor cotton community. For many, it was a time and place where opportunities were limited by social and legal constraints that were beyond their control. It was a time and place where few dared to dream. Based on his own life experience, Pulitzer nominee Clifton Taulbert has teamed up with entrepreneur thought leader Gary Schoeniger to create a powerful and compelling story that captures the essence of an entrepreneurial mindset and the unlimited opportunities it can provide. Drawing on the entrepreneurial life lessons Taulbert learned from his Uncle Cleve, Who Owns the Ice house? chronicles Taulbert's journey from life in the Mississippi Delta at the height of legal segregation to being recognized by Time magazine as "one of our nation's most outstanding emerging entrepreneurs." Who Owns The Ice House? reaches into the past to remind us of the timeless and universal principles that can empower anyone to succeed.

This facilitator's guide helps staff developers lead inspired training focused on Taulbert's time-honored principles that can transform the lives of the teachers, students, administrators, and staff.

"This book provides practical examples of how to change schools into learning communities for the betterment-personal and academic-of all students, teachers and principals. The weaving of personal stories with important messages for educators makes this an important book to be used for professional development." -Diane Barone, Professor of Literary Studies, College of Education, University of Nevada, Reno "Clifton Taulbert uses his charismatic writing and inspirational stories to convey a powerful message. Teachers and educators who are interested in bringing the eight habits of the heart into their lives will find this book compelling and useful." -Douglas Fisher, Professor, San Diego State University "Eight Habits of the Heart for Educators is well suited for new as well as seasoned administrators looking to improve student achievement. New teacher mentoring programs would be an ideal place for many of the suggested activities. Weaving in the life experiences of the author, creates interest and provides the reader with a sense that putting the habits in place is very possible." -Kay Lovelace Taylor, Principal Associate, KLT & Associates "This book will appeal to teachers, administrators, school board members, and those studying to be educators. Clifton Taulbert's style is both intellectual and down-home and the book is organized for maximum effectiveness. It offers strategies without being strategy driven, is spiritual without being preachy, and provides opportunities for readers to look toward self-improvement while still feeling good about the progress they have already made." -John C. Hughes, Principal , The Joseph R. Drake School, Bronx, NY Find a renewed sense of purpose and mission by using the Eight Habits of the Heart! How can we provide all our students with a first-class education with all the obstacles and challenges faced by today's schools? Based on his experiences growing up in the Mississippi Delta during the era of segregation, Clifton Taulbert shares time-honored principles that can transform the lives of the teachers, students, administrators, and staff within the school.Through moving and inspirational stories, Taulbert explains the Eight Habits-nurturing attitude, dependability, responsibility, friendship, brotherhood, high expectations, courage, and hope-and how educators can implement them into their own lives and the life of their school. This reader-friendly guide empowers educators with: Real-life examples of educators successfully implementing the Eight Habits of the Heart Intentional strategies and application sections to apply each habit in your classroom and school Insightful reflective questions and personal assessments