Social reform has long been in the hands of politicians who don't fully comprehend the magnitude of the real issues. Lost in the debate are the voices of the at-risk teens whose reality is grounded in an environment where drug addition, violence and poverty are a part of everyday life. To help policymakers and community leaders truly understand, we needed to get them to recognize these realities in a way that they could not ignore.

In order to help Youth Ambassadors rewrite the textbook on effective urban social reform, we had to first understand the issues that at-risk teens face every day in their communities and how the Youth Ambassadors program was making a difference in their lives.

Working closely with Youth Ambassadors, we met with the students and were able to experience first-hand the programming that the organization provides to the youth of Kansas City throughout the year. Specifically, we attended sessions where students would write their stories, share their photography and speak with each other about what was going on in their world. We also learned that teens who participated in the YA program were much more likely to complete high school and pursue a job or secondary education.

With this understanding, we looked to create a book that was effective in presenting these teens’ stories and pictures in a way that was striking, poignant and real. Through the use of distressed hand-drawn type, stark black and white imagery, bold graphics and a hard cover, and textbook-like binding, we brought these teens’ stories to light so that people would pay attention.

"I'm Not No One" presents the realities of at-risk youth as told through their own words and pictures, offering readers an intimate and sobering look into the everyday lives of these teens in a way that cannot be ignored.

With its initial publication at a cost of only $11,000, the book has become the sole fundraising effort for Youth Ambassadors – helping it to raise more than $150,000 for its efforts and encouraging others to become members of the program.

In addition, "I'm Not No One" is now being used by college professors in sociology and communications courses; community leaders, including mayors, governors and policymakers, to help influence social reform at local, regional and national levels; prominent organizations, such as Missouri Healthcare Foundation, which have made the book mandatory reading for their employees and board members; and the book was even presented to President Barack Obama, and is now a part of his “My Brother's Keeper” initiative to help empower boys and young men of color across the United States.