Teen motherhood challenges discussed

The author of a new book on teen motherhood will be in Rochester today for a launch party and book signing at 6 p.m. at One Restaurant and Lounge, 1 Ryan Alley.

LaShunda Leslie Smith, author of “The Journey of a Teenage Mother,” will talk about her unique book featuring 13 former teenage mothers exploring their past fears and current triumphs. Each woman authored her own chapter, detailing her personal experiences with teenage pregnancy, childbirth, motherhood and raising a child as a young mother. Some of the women are from the Greater Rochester area, along with mothers from Virginia, Nevada, California and the United Kingdom.

Every contributing author defied the odds and earned college and post-graduate degrees. Their stories offer encouragement and hope for anyone facing difficult life circumstances such as lower educational levels, higher poverty rates and other social issues that often accompany teen motherhood.