From Dropout to Doctorate: Breaking the Chains of Educational Injustice

"The author's message is potent and timely... this is a vital call to reform a broken system." - Publishers Weekly Review, June 2025

"Dr. Lester has gifted us this book for this moment and for our posterity. He shares searing personal stories of tragedy and hardship that moves the crisis in our educational system beyond statistics and into the realm of human impact. . . . He adds academic ballast to his intimate narrative, so we come to understand not simply his individual story, but the historic and systemic forces at work that affect millions today." - Jemar Tisby, from the foreword

Inspiring the Next Generation to Advocate for Educational Equity

Terence Lester was born into a two-parent household that later separated due to family conflict. In search of safety and stability, his mother moved him and his sister from place to place. Carrying the weight of that early trauma, Lester turned to gangs, became a juvenile delinquent, experienced homelessness, and at one point lived out of his car. He dropped out of high school.

But Lester's story doesn't end there. He eventually returned to school, graduated as a fifth-year senior, and defied the odds by earning five degrees, including a PhD in public policy. What made the difference?

In From Dropout to Doctorate, Lester unveils the realities of educational injustice and the profound impact of unjust policies and systems on Black communities. He shows how poverty disrupts the lives of Black families, leading to homelessness and perpetuating the school-to-prison pipeline.

A Powerful Personal Story

Drawing from his own personal narrative and scholarly research, Lester names the complex challenges faced by Black children in underresourced and socially dense environments. As a public scholar and nonprofit leader, he advocates for equitable access to advanced education and addresses the systemic barriers that limit opportunities for Black people.

An Advocate's Voice for Change

Through his personal experiences, Lester calls on educators, nonprofit leaders, and community influencers to confront educational inequity and inspire systemic change. His advocacy encourages readers to envision a world rooted in justice and inclusivity. Offering remedies of community involvement and mentorship, Lester marks out a hopeful pathway that cultivates potential and provides opportunities for Black youth to thrive.

For Those Who Believe in a Just Future

This book speaks to those who are ready to champion change and reimagine what is possible for marginalized communities. From Dropout to Doctorate will challenge you to question the status quo and equip you to make a difference in your community.

If you're ready to join the fight for educational equity and inspire the next generation, pick up your copy today. Will you be the next one to make an impact?

Terence Lester (PhD, Union Institute and University) is a storyteller, public scholar, speaker, community activist, and author. He is the founder and executive director of Love Beyond Walls, a nonprofit organization focused on raising awareness about poverty, homelessness, and on community mobilization. He also serves as the director of public policy and social change and as a professor at Simmons College of Kentucky (HBCU). He is the author of I See You, When We Stand, and All God's Children, and he coauthored with his daughter, Zion, the children's book, Zion Learns to See. He and his family live in Atlanta.