By Randy Savoie

New Orleans Job Corps CPP trainees were among the special guests at CNN news anchor Soledad O’Brien’s book signing at the city’s main library on Tuesday night.

Ms. O’Brien read a passage from her new autobiography, “The Next Big Story,” and then signed copies for each student in attendance. In the book, Ms. O’Brien reveals the advesity she had to overcome during her childhood and how that shaped her compassionate approach to reporting. Also, she describes in detail her time spent covering Hurricane Katrina.

New Orleans CPP trainee Susana Bravo said she found the experience inspiring.

“It was a great experience. It was nice to know that Hurricane Katrina did, in fact, have a positive impact on people in the end,” said Susana. “I learned from Ms. O’Brien that no matter what the situation is that you have to put your feelings aside and do whatever you can to help others who are less fortunate.”

“Ms. O’Brien told me as she was signing my book that it really meant a lot to her that we were there. It was a very exciting day.”