Lil Herbie Giving Minority and Urban Youth a Positive Role Model

Nowadays, children from African-American homes struggle with injustice and lack of opportunity. As racial tensions rage across the nation and systemic racism takes over educational institutions, job markets and other areas of society, what children from minority homes need most is a beacon of hope amid all the challenges. That’s what Lil Herbie provides to young kids, especially in minority groups.

The official mascot for nonprofit Every 1 Voice Matters, Lil Herbie, is a symbol that aims to bring more awareness to the issues that children face today, including bullying, violence, racism and other societal woes. The way that the organization and its front bearer mascot achieves this objective is through promoting reading, fun learning and acceptance.

Lil Herbie is the creation of Sherrika Myers, founder of Every 1 Voice Matters. The nonprofit head and leader came from a single-family home and experienced hardships that came with her family’s predicament, including poverty and instability. Moreover, Sherrika had a stuttering issue, a problem her family couldn’t afford to resolve given their lack of resources. “I used the only thing I had available to me, a book, to help get my stuttering under control,” shares Sherrika. Today, she helps kids break down communicative and social barriers.

The creation of Lil Herbie came to Sherrika to respond to the many problems young African-American children face at school and in the community. The inspiration for the mascot is her grandson Lil Herbert, who also stutters.

Today, Sherrika uses Lil Herbie as a tool to engage kids and to teach them important values and lessons that she hopes they will carry through their lifetime. Sherrika has started a book collection based on the mascot. She now has two storybooks entitled Herbie’s New Home, available on Amazon now, and Herbie Goes to School, available this summer. A Lil Herbie Show is also in the works, with its target premiere set for spring this year.

Every 1 Voice Matters aims to continue breaking down communication, social and cultural barriers in society through educational materials and awareness building. The organization provides outreach programs, grassroots events, yearly giveaways, digital initiatives and other innovative measures to bring more guidance to misdirected youth who seek role models to emulate.

Through Lil Herbie’s image, Sherrika hopes that more urban youth will see themselves according to their talents and potential instead of their lack of ability or the color of their skin. By providing children with a character that looks like them, she hopes to instill a sense of pride and comfort in who they truly are. “I want our African-American kids to look at Lil Herbie and feel like, if he can do it, then I can do it, too,” adds Sherrika Myers. “I don’t want our kids to feel like they have to limit themselves because of their race or that they aren’t worthy of having a mascot who looks like them or a cartoon that represents their race.”

Sherrika aims for Lil Herbie to soon make it to mainstream mass media and become an icon for all children.

To learn more about Lil Herbie, Sherrika Myers, and Every 1 Voice Matters, visit their website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel.