APRIL 2024 MAGAZINE

Growing up, my five siblings and I didn't have much. We were homeless for an extended period of time. Living in an apartment building with no basic necessities, no water, food, clean clothing, and shoes. The hard floor was our bed, but we slept in the seated position most of the time.  

Our story about Monir Zandghoreishi and Maurice Leary is a fine example of what America stands for. Maurice is built like a linebacker and Monir has the regal bearing of a Persian Princess. Monir fled Iran during a time of grave political upheaval and unrest.  Maurice comes from a hardscrabble past in New Rochelle, New York. They both share something in common: a heart of gold and a commitment to help young people.

The key to understanding people and the world around us begins with education. One way to learn about the world is by developing a love of books. Each month, we profile a library. Large, small, urban, rural, post-modern, quaint or neo-classic; do you have a library that you love? Tell us about it. This month, Patricia Vaccarino writes about the granddaddy of all libraries on 42nd Street and 5th Avenue in New York City.