A few people have asked how Tony’s Red Leather Talks initiative is going. I guess I could let you know that it continues still. And that on the night before publication a group of kids come to the house and help Tony prep and roll the next day’s issue. And that on publication Mondays, while Tony moves through the school filling his distribution bins, students he doesn’t know stop him in the hall asking if the new RLT is out and if so, can they get one. 

But the most-telling thing I could share, or show, is the above image. One of Tony’s friends, an obviously highly-artistic friend, showed up one day and handed this to Tony. I mean wow. How often do we see a gift as thoughtful and exquisite as that. Absolute one of a kind!

If you recall, the point of the original briefcase he used was to be discreet. The RLT has since become an accepted part of the community, so much so that it can now be carried in a custom-branded case announcing its arrival. 

And one last thing to happen, which I can’t help but think is connected to this endeavor, is Tony was one of six nominees voted by the senior class to deliver the commencement address at their graduation. There is one more vote to go to decide on the final speaker, but that he was one of six students nominated by a class of more than 300 to speak on their behalf, is, well, it moves me more than a little.