The Live Boldly: Rising Troublemaker Virtual Book Club
The Live Boldly: Rising Troublemaker Virtual Book Club, organized by Girl Scouts River Valleys and Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital, was held virtually on May 15, 2025, with four-time New York Times Bestselling author Luvvie Ajayi Jones.
This event brought together eight Girl Scout Councils across the nation to discuss Ajayi Jones’s novel, Rising Troublemaker: A Fear-Fighting Manual for Teens, along with a Q&A session.
Connecting with the Girl Scouts, Luvvie used her honesty, humor, and wisdom to inspire our youth to be their bravest, boldest, and truest selves in creating a world they would be proud to live in.
Through the Q&A session, Girl Scouts were able to engage Luvvie in conversation, seeking and gaining wisdom, and speaking on personal experiences and connections they had while reading her book.
During the Q&A, Madison L. Brayboy and Cátaleya Claros from Girl Scouts Council Nation’s Capital had the opportunity to ask Luvvie their own questions. Madison asked, “When did you decide you wanted to be an author and encourage young people to face their fears?” and Cátaleya asked, “What advice do you have for young people who have parents who want them to pursue a certain job or life?”
In response to both, Luvvie spoke on how she wants to “inspire and encourage young people to face their fears because [she] thinks they hold a lot of power that they might not recognize yet.” Luvvie also encourages young people to have these conversations with their parents; to look at what they’re good at, what they enjoy doing, and how that can help them follow their dreams and aspirations.
While collaborating with Girl Scouts River Valleys in March, Girl Scouts Council Nation’s Capital was inspired to host an in-person book club in preparation for the virtual book club event.
This in-person event allowed Girl Scouts and friends in the Nation’s Capital Council to discuss Rising Troublemaker as a group and connect, encourage each other to be authentically themselves, and inspire each other to create a world they would be proud to be in. With the help of a Book Club guide provided by Luvvie and a special appearance from Crystal Crowell, Miss Black DC, what began as a book club meeting turned into a Girl Scout-led discussion full of encouragement, guidance, and Girl Scout bonding.
These events were a fantastic success, thanks to the enthusiasm and participation of everyone involved.
