A new national initiative has launched with the ambitious objective of placing a copy of the book Never Lost into the hands of every student attending a Historically Black College or University in the United States. The initiative targets the more than 300,000 students enrolled at HBCUs nationwide, aiming to provide them with a resource during a critical period of personal and intellectual development.
The book, authored by Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, explores how faith, community, and moral responsibility have historically sustained people through periods of challenge and societal change. It reflects on the formation, transmission, and practical application of shared values, particularly during times marked by uncertainty and transition. The initiative is founded on the conviction that college years represent a pivotal formative season where students actively shape their understanding of identity, purpose, and societal responsibility.
By introducing Never Lost during this window, organizers intend to offer students historical context and a structured framework for thoughtful leadership. The goal is to provide this grounding before personal and professional habits solidify and before historical lessons become abstract or distant. The vision is national in scope but seeks a deeply personal outcome: equipping emerging leaders with perspective, purpose, and hope as they prepare to influence their communities and professions.
The initiative operates through a sponsorship model, inviting individuals, families, corporations, foundations, and other institutions to participate by funding bulk book distributions. Each sponsored copy is framed as a direct investment in a student's future development and, by extension, in the communities those students will eventually lead and serve. Supporters are asked to consider the long-term impact of providing formative resources to the next generation of leaders during their educational journey.
Never Lost is scheduled for release on February 3, 2026, by Wharton Curtis Press. The book is currently available for preorder through the publisher's website at https://NeverLostBook.com. Wharton Curtis Press, an imprint of The Church Online, LLC, specializes in publishing works focused on faith, culture, and purpose, with decades of experience in publishing, design, and distribution.
The initiative's potential impact extends beyond individual students to the broader landscape of leadership development. By systematically providing a resource that connects historical resilience with contemporary leadership challenges to a large cohort of HBCU students, the program could influence how future professionals in business, non-profit, and government sectors approach their roles. It represents a targeted investment in the intellectual and ethical formation of students at institutions that have historically played a crucial role in educating Black leaders across various fields.
