We are thrilled celebrate the publication of We Can: Portraits of Power by Tyler Gordon with a special virtual event. For this event Tyler Gordon will be joined in conversation by violinist Damien Escobar. Tyler Gordon is a fourteen-year-old painter whose work has been featured in TIME Magazine, Essence, Good Morning America, and ABC News. In 2020, he was awarded the Global Child Prodigy Award. He currently lives in San Jose, California with his family.

"When I was born, the doctors told my mom that if I did survive I would have lots of health problems and be blind, deaf and severely mentally delayed . . . Boy were they wrong!" --Tyler Gordon

Fourteen-year-old Tyler Gordon's journey from a regular kid growing up in San Jose, California, to a nationally recognized artist wasn't without its challenges. For the first six years of his life he was deaf, which led to a stutter ? and bullying. Art gave him a creative outlet for his pain. Then, after painting a portrait of Kamala Harris and posting it on social media, he received a call from the vice president herself! Soon his art was everywhere. He had an interview with the The Today Show. He was the youngest artist featured in the Beverly Center. His portrait of LeBron James graced the cover of TIME Magazine. And that was only the beginning!

Here is a debut picture book by Tyler Gordon, featuring his bold paintings of over 30 icons--musicians, artists, writers, civil rights leaders, sports legends, change-makers, record-setters, and more--alongside short explanations of how these people inspire him.

If Tyler can make art and follow his dreams, you can, too. We all can.

He will be in conversation with Damien Escobar - musician, entrepreneur, philanthropist and humanitarian.  The Emmy-winning, NAACP Image Award nominee has a nearly 20 year resume with billboard chart-topping albums and sold-out global tours - an inspirational success story that started with him playing his violin in NYC subways.

Rakestraw Books "Live at Home!" with Tyler Gordon in conversation with Damien Escobar