Mr. Jonathan Sprout folk artist

8/05/2019

Mr. Jonathan Sprout

1855 Hillside Road

Southampton, PA  18966

Dear Mr. Sprout,

My name is Matt Winick from Ann Arbor, Michigan and I have a strong interest in learning history including social justice. In these subjects, I like to learn the need to make civil rights stronger to reduce discrimination, protect the environment from pollution, and many others.  Mr. Sprout, the main reason I’m writing you a letter is to explain how I find your work as a folk artist and as an activist to be very inspiring to me.

In your role as a folk singer, I really liked on how you created American Heroes album where you sing songs about famous Americans who work hard to make a great difference for our country and history.  In your work on American Heroes I like on how your song focuses on how famous Americans would work hard to make a great difference, how they work hard on overcoming different struggles along with challenges, and add some interesting facts about them.  Some of my favorite songs in the American Heroes series are Sacajawea, Martin, Amelia, Take A Ride, Ben Franklin, All Across the Land, Peanut Man,  When They Flew, Aren’t I a Woman, and many others.  Another thing that I like about these songs in the American heroes is how it highlights the need for diversity, the importance of how inventions including creativity can help change society, and how civil rights is important to reduce discrimination.   Also I’m proud on how you would tour around elementary schools including different schools and camps to help educate youth including people about which famous people in America.  Besides your work as a folk artist, I truly appreciate on how you support civil rights including people with disabilities’ rights causes to reduce discrimination, express the need to protect the environment from pollution, advocate for the need for health care reform to help people with pre-existing conditions or people who can’t afford insurance get the care they need, and many others.

Mr. Sprout, I have autism with a learning disability. Having a disability is hard for me because I have trouble comprehending on learning different advance subjects, sometimes I struggle to communicate my thoughts, and get teased. Also having a disability is difficult when I lose friends along with have struggles with maintaining friendships when some friends including some peers get judgmental about me being different.  Also I face some discrimination in public places, education, and social activities.  Your continuous support of civil rights including people with disabilities causes really inspires me to work hard on my disability. When I was young, I started listening to American Heroes 1^st album and it helped me get really interested in learning American History and be motivated to learn famous Americans. During my school years including my Washtenaw Community College I would have difficulty on learning history so I would listen to your songs to help me understand more about how different parts in history or famous people would make a difference.  Your role as a folk artist on focusing on American history helps give me motivation to continue to learn American history along with social justice.   In these subjects, I like to learn about the need to make civil rights stronger to reduce discrimination, protect the environment from pollution, understand how famous people or individuals (minorities, women, and people with disabilities) work hard to make a great difference, how science or inventions can help benefit society, a strong need for health care to help people with pre-existing conditions or who can’t afford health care get the care they need, and many others.   Also I like to visit historical sites including museums and memorials to help me understand how history plays a part in society and to learn how famous people who worked hard to push for common sense ideas.

I strongly believe that you are making a great difference for society. I’m very proud on how you are working hard to make history and famous people’s work come alive in music along with storytelling.  Also I truly appreciate on how you are an activist to improve society. You have inspired me to work hard on my disability and be motivated to continue my interest in history including social justice. I was wondering if you could please give me some advice about working hard when I face challenges. Thanks for taking the time to read my letter, working hard to make a great difference, and inspiring me. I hope that you can continue to advocate for common sense ideas and use your music to help educate people about history.

Sincerely,

Matt Winick