Deborah Jung, Co-Author of Angels at My Door

Deborah Jung has touched the lives of countless children and families in Fort Worth, Texas and across the world during the past 20 years as founding and executive director of Kids Who Care Musical Theatre , a non-profit international musical theatre company devoted to producing confident, caring and creative kids. Through Kids Who Care and other outreach efforts, Deborah also works with the hearing impaired and the mentally and physically challenged.

Deborah has produced and directed tours of 19 original musicals with Kids Who Care, with themes that have included: celebrating our differences, adapting to change, serving others, caring for the environment and believing in the impossible -- all themes centered on providing hope.  Kids Who Care has appeared Off -Broadway at the Lamb’s Theatre,  at the Kennedy Center, Bass Hall, Meyerson Symphony Hall and Disneyland. Under Deborah’s leadership, Kids Who Care also performs in venues that are making a difference, including Cook Children's Hospital, the Special Olympics opening ceremonies, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the American Heart Association, Boys and Girls Clubs around the country and at 30,000 feet aboard an airplane for the Make A Wish Foundation.

During her career, Deborah has worked as a Resident Company actress and director of Casa Manana, founded Casa Kids, served as company manager of Fort Worth Shakespeare in the Park, produced and directed a national commercial for Milk Producers of America and appeared on “Dallas.” In addition to her professional theatre credits, Deborah has worked with the Tarrant County Juvenile Detention Center, Mental Health Mental Retardation, Texas Gifted and Talented, Cook Children’s Hospital and the Creative Drama Network. Deborah received her BA in Speech and Drama from Trinity University.

Youth Contributing Writers

The brave and precious children whose stories appear in Angels at My Door are living in the midst of HIV/AIDS on a daily basis, with friends, family or other loved ones who struggle with this devastating disease. Although treatment programs have improved since HIV/AIDS became a well-known epidemic in the 1980s, there is still no cure for the disease. HIV/AIDS often affects every aspect of an individual’s life, from health to career to self-image, and can cause significant financial and emotional strains on those afflicted with AIDS and their families.

“I used to live in a one bedroom house…If it was cold and we needed to get warm we had to sleep by the stove…Then my Angel appears!” Luis, age 13

“My angel. She’s fighting a battle. A battle of life she wants to win.” Taylor, age 15

“She fought AIDS for 7 years, and she taught me everything there is to know….I love my Mama very much, and I miss her.”  Kia, age 16

Despite the fear, pain and loss these children live with, they remain hopeful, resilient and want others to know they are not alone:

“People with AIDS - don’t feel left out. Sooner or later we are going to come up with something to help you.”  Omar, age 7

“I hope people know that we are still by their side no matter what. If we have AIDS or not, it really doesn’t matter.” Luis, age 13

Student Artists from Fort Worth Independent School District

Angels at My Door is made possible by The Fort Worth Public Library Foundation through a generous grant from the Alvin and Lucy Owsley Foundation. As part of the book project, the foundation sponsored an angels-themed art competition among students in the Fort Worth Independent School District.  More than 90 students entered artwork, and over 20 pieces of their angel art are included in the book.  Winners of the art competition will be announced at the Book Release Celebration to be held mid-May at the Central Fort Worth Library in downtown Fort Worth.

“It’s significant, we think, that children who are growing up in the midst of AIDS and children who are not both contributed to this book,” said Cynthia Q. Boyd, project manager for Angels at My Door and programs chairperson for the More Life Festival. “Children see the truth so clearly – we’re all in this together. Our hope is that Angels at My Door will touch hearts, raise awareness in our communities and humanize HIV/AIDS.”