Lavender and Kasprzak’s new book benefits the Orchard East community

Kasprzak is the executive director of the Monroe County Opportunity Program and the Opportunity Center at the Arthur Lesow Community Center. Lavender is a regional community building activist, entrepreneur, and MCOP Advisory Board member.

Previous reporting: Local politicians write book about Africa; proceeds go to Tanzania

“Aaron’s dream was always to write a voting book to educate young people about the voting process, to teach them about history and to encourage civic engagement,” Kasprzak said. “We have a moral obligation to teach our kids that they have a voice. The book also has a cool feature: you can put your ‘I voted’ sticker on it after you vote. It was a good time to write the book now that we’re in an election cycle.”

The book offers a history of civic engagement.

“We believe voting is the greatest civic duty, and yet many do not exercise their right,” said Lavender. “By laying the foundation at a young age, we hope to encourage voting throughout their lives.”

“Why We Vote” was illustrated by Stanley Mbamalu, a freelance illustrator from Nigeria who also illustrated the couple’s first book, “Lloyd Goes to Africa.”