Award-Winning Social Entrepreneur and Activist Curtis Carmichael Set to Release the World’s First Augmented Reality Memoir, Butterflies in the Trenches
The book chronicles his life growing up in Toronto Community Housing and his cycle across the country to share his message with Canadians
(Toronto, ON) - Award-Winning Social Entrepreneur and STEM teacher Curtis Carmichael is set to release the World’s first Augmented Reality Memoir Butterflies in the Trenches on October 1st, 2021. A gripping account of breaking the cycle of poverty and equipping others to do the same, the book works in tandem with an app developed by Carmichael to bring his story to life with hidden content that is activated by the reader’s phone. “I know my story is special and I had a lot to tell,” explains Carmichael, who cycled across Canada in 2017. “Sometimes words aren’t enough and this way I am able to capture every detail of my journey and immerse the reader through words, photos and augmented reality. The app adds a visual component that truly breathes life into the story.”
The memoir details Carmichael’s experience growing up surrounded by drugs, gun violence, police brutality and systemic racism in Toronto Community Housing in Scarborough. Throughout the book, he also shares valuable lessons and advice he received from rappers, inmates, and hood philosophers that helped him on his journey to find purpose. These experiences have led Carmichael down the path of activism, and youth advocacy and influenced his decision to cycle from Vancouver to Halifax on a journey dubbed Ride for Promise. Along with talking about the issues in housing with Canadians at each stop, he raised funds for UrbanPromise Toronto, an organization that aids in funding after school programs in low-income neighbourhoods.
“Butterflies in the Trenches is a literary gem that speaks to hardships and heroes. History, or should I say his story, reminds me of my own,” exclaimed Michael “Pinball” Clemons, GM of the Toronto Argonauts, who wrote the memoir’s foreword. “Mr. Carmichael has taught me that success is not making it out, it’s making it better.”
Carmichael holds a Bachelor’s in Physical and Health Education from Queen’s University and a BEd in STEM education from Ontario Tech University. He turned down a CFL opportunity to bike across the country. Butterflies in the Trenches was written to document from a first-person perspective the massive obstacles and injustices that young people in these communities face on a daily basis. It shares the inspiring story of a young man who broke the cycle of poverty and found purpose through resilience, determination, and a desire to uplift his community where he still lives and works today.
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For interviews, e-book or hardcopy and broll assets please contact:
Fennella Bruce | 647.290.7610 | fennella@fkbmedia.com
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Curtis Carmichael is an award-winning social entrepreneur, technologist, STEM and hip-hop teacher, computer programmer, and the former Director of a Code Ninjas franchise. He is the author and mobile app developer for the World’s First Augmented Reality Memoir, Butterflies in the Trenches. As a self taught computer programmer, Curtis built the mobile app which brings his memoir to life. His cross-Canada cycling tour Ride for Promise raised funds for Toronto Community Housing afterschool programs and was featured in an award-winning documentary. Curtis' journey has been covered by CBC National News, Global News, CityNews, The Tyee, USPORTS, and TEDx.