Thursday, November 24, 2022

Girtrek's Annual Black Family 5K

GirlTrek, the largest health movement and nonprofit for Black women in the country, is bringing together thousands of families across the country this Thanksgiving weekend for the Black Family 5K.


Host a Black Family 5K - GirlTrek organized by GirlTrek

"This week we will reunite with our families over Thanksgiving dinner. For many us, it's been years since we saw some of our loved ones. Others are seeing each other again after losing loved ones. And then there's some who are responsible for making a dish this year.

And then the next day, we will gather our families for an annual Black family tradition. GirlTrek's #BlackFamily5K. We're walking off all the food we ate on Thursday night. We'll be sharing family memories. Telling the family some big news. Together, from all over the world, Black families will walk for their health and a day of connection.

Gather your aunties, uncles, grandparents, neighbors, and friends. Back for the fifth year, GirlTrek’s Black Family 5K encourages families -- blood or chosen -- to get out in nature and take a walk. The Black Family 5K is a hallmark end-of-year celebration in the GirlTrek movement celebrating fitness, family, and fun. (The Black Family 5ks happen throughout Thanksgiving weekend. Walk anytime that is convenient for you and your family.)

We need this now more than ever. A reason to revel. To reconnect. To rejoice with our loved ones. Join us as we reclaim Black Friday and center ourselves on kinship, health, and fun rather than shopping, spending, and stress.

Sign up to host your own Black Family 5K TODAY. Start or continue this tradition with YOUR relatives. It's simple and free. Once you register you will get receive a confirmation email with the code to access the official race kit complete with t-shirts and customizable race bibs. Please expect up to a 5-minute delay before receiving the email due to traffic."

Visit https://www.mobilize.us/girltrek/event/538516/?utm_campaign=bf5k&utm_medium=&utm_source=&emci=e2dd84da-516b-ed11-ade6-14cb65342cd2&emdi=83a55562-606b-ed11-ade6-14cb65342cd2&ceid=635972 

Monday, July 18, 2022

Picture the Dream: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement Through Children’s Books

Picture the Dream: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement Through Children’s Books

 

In New York City check out the exhibit, Picture the Dream: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement Through Children’s Books at the New-York Historical Society-170 Central Park West at Richard Gilder Way (77th Street), New York, NY 10024, Phone (212) 873-3400.

This is the first exhibition to delve into the events, people, and themes of the civil rights movement through children’s picture books, one of the most compelling forms of visual expression can be seen through July 24. If you miss the exhibit you can still check out the list of books showcased for the exhibit at https://www.nyhistory.org/blogs/picture-the-dream-bibliography-books.

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Celebrate Afrofuturism at Carnegie Hall's Spring Famiy Day

Families living in or visiting New York City can participate in a Spring Family Day celebrating Afrofuturism on April 10 at 12 pm. Remember to RSVP and follow Covid restriction.


Carnegie Hall’s Spring Family Day is a daylong open house that invites children and their parents to explore the idea of Afrofuturism on April 10, 2022 at 12 PM. In a fitting nod to the boundless imagination of Afrofuturism, families enjoy an array of social experiences, arts activities, music making, concerts, and more. Design your own comic-book hero and super-powered instruments for harmony and justice, and participate in a group songwriting session. Sing and dance to soulful funk music, build your own instruments from recycled materials, and more! Ages 5-10 enjoy a Afrofuturism Dance Party with critically acclaimed author, filmmaker, and dancer Ytasha Womack who leads a dance party championing Afrofuturism and the power of imagination. This very special part of Carnegie Hall’s Afrofuturism festival lets you create and learn alongside other families throughout the Resnick Education Wing. Registration for this event opens March 28. Carnegie Hall is located at 57th Street and Seventh Avenue in Manhattan.

COVID-19 Precautions: Please note that they are currently unable to welcome any attendees who are not fully vaccinated, including those under the age of 5. To enter the building, all Carnegie Hall visitors are required to agree to a COVID-19 Liability Waiver and show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 with a vaccine approved by the World Health Organization. This includes visitors under the age of 12, with their guardians acting on their behalf. Boosters are also highly recommended, based on eligibility determined by the CDC. While inside Carnegie Hall, all guests must wear a properly fitting mask over their nose and mouth except when eating or drinking in designated areas.

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Meet Multi Artist Louis Henry Mitchell

 

Sheen Center at 18 Bleecker St,  New York, NY 10012 is offering families an introduction to artist Louise Henry Mitchell on February 26 at 2 pm.

Bring the family and join for a fun, intimate conversation with multi-talented artist Louis Henry Mitchell, as he shares about his inspirational journey from growing up in the East New York section of Brooklyn, to becoming Creative Director of Character Design at Sesame Street – and about the abiding faith in God that sustained him along the way.

Whether designing new Sesame Street Muppets, creating balloons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, or presenting a hand-drawn portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Coretta Scott King, Louis always dreamed big, and will encourage you to do the same.

Don’t miss this once- in-a-lifetime afternoon for dreamers of all ages!

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Exploring Black History: Soul Food

Before I discovered the Harlem Renaissance, Booker T. Washington and Ancient Nubia. I learned about my cultural heritage at my mother and grandmother's table. Caribbean and Southern food was my first introduction to my cultural identity.  Hearing stories about the family and our history, and learning the recipes that were pass down was my introduction to Black History. Where do these recipes come from?  Why are certain foods considered good luck? What foods do you feed a new mother? As I got older helping in the kitchen and learning family recipes also became part of my introduction to Black joy. At my grandmother's table, food, love, laughter  and stories were shared by family and friends. Meals were a sensuous occasion of smell, taste and camaraderie. This is where my identity was formed watching everyone working together while sharing their lives and their wisdom.

Throughout Black history there has always been Nanas and Aunties who opened their home and shared their table with everyone. They were the ones who kept families and traditions alive. They were also the great chefs and master storytellers who brought joy to the community.  At this time when Black joy is so needed, we can celebrate the unsung heroes of Black History who kept alive families and traditions, and taught the spirit of sharing.

Here are a few books to share with young people that connect us with food, traditions and history.




Feast for 10  by Cathryn Falwell  (Author)

A counting book that features an African-American family shopping for food, preparing dinner, and sitting down to eat. Lively read-aloud text paired with bright collage illustrations.  Nice seeing the dynamics of a large family being represented.




Carla and the Christmas Cornbread - by Carla Hall and illustrated by Cherise Harris. 
Carla Hall, my favorite TV chef inspires young children with a story from her childhood. In this heartwarming tale from her childhood, superstar chef and TV host Carla Hall shares the story of young Carla, who eats a sugar cookie meant for Santa on the night before Christmas and then tries to make things right.  Christmas is Carla’s favorite holiday of the year. She goes to her grandparents’ house and eats grandma’s special recipe—a perfectly delicious cornbread. She listens to her grandpa Doc’s marvelous stories about traveling the world. And, best of all, she spends lots of time with her family. But how will Santa know to stop at their house if they don’t leave him a midnight snack? With her grandmother’s help, Carla comes up with a plan, but will it be enough to save Christmas?





Rainbow Stew by Cathryn Falwell  (Author, Illustrator)

It's a rainy summer day, but the vegetables in Grandpa's garden are just waiting to be picked. Yellow peppers, purple cabbage, red tomatoes, green zucchini, orange carrots, and more. So many colors! So many delicious ingredients to slice, chop, peel, and dice for a great big pot of mouthwatering Rainbow Stew. The sweet story of three children who spend a rainy day with their grandfather, picking fresh vegetables in his garden, and then cook and share a meal of healthy vegetable stew.



Ruby's Reunion Day Dinner by Angela Dalton  (Author), Jestenia Southerland (Illustrator)

This joyful picture book taps into the rich African American tradition of family reunions, with delicious food at the heart of the celebration. 

Once a year, each of Ruby’s relatives prepares a special dish to share at their family reunion. Daddy calls it their “signature dish”—and Ruby wants one of her own. She wanders through the bustling kitchen looking for inspiration. As she watches Pop-Pop’s chicken sizzling in the skillet, Uncle G slicing onions, and Auntie Billie cooking corn on the hot grill, she wonders if she’s just too young to have a signature dish. That’s when she finds it— the perfect solution!





Chef Toussaint by David Christopher Miller (Author), C J Love (Illustrator)


You will love watching Chef Toussaint make magic in the kitchen, from fried chicken to apple cinnamon french toast. Join this 9-year-old master chef as he turns his grandmother's old recipes into award-winning dishes. Experience the power of literacy through a great storyline and memorable images. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Chef Toussaint's culinary genius has allowed him to be featured on the Food Network, and his food being sold in several restaurants in Georgia. Spend time with Chef Toussaint in the kitchen as he uses vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, basil, curry powder, ginger, and a bunch of natural spices. Eggs, butter, milk, cheese, onions, parsley, garlic, and mushrooms fill the shelves in his refrigerator. Chef Toussaint is a great family book complete with recipes and a message for parents in the back of the book.


Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham  (Author),  Charles G. Esperanza (illustrator)

Granny teaches her grandson to cook the family meal in this loving celebration of food, traditions, and gathering together at the table. The  story is a warm celebration of tradition and coming together at a table filled with love and delicious food.

On Sundays, everyone gathers at Granny’s for Soul Food.
But today, I don’t go to the backyard or the great room.
I follow Granny instead.
“You’re a big boy now,” Granny says. “Time for you to learn.”
 



Soulful Holidays: An inclusive rhyming story celebrating the joys of Christmas and Kwanzaa by Ciara L Hill (Author), Christian Krabbe (Illustrator)

An inclusive rhyming story celebrating the joys of Christmas and Kwanzaa!

Cozy up together with this charmingly illustrated family book told in easy-to-read memorable rhymes. Through this heartwarming tale, children and families all over the world can experience the magic of Christmas and the true essence of Kwanzaa. Read about the food, songs, cultural decorations, and more! The catchy couplets in this dazzling picture book will delight readers with the inclusive traditions of families who honor one or both of these incredible holidays.


Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Dee Romito  (Author), Laura Freeman  (Illustrator)

Pies From Nowhere looks into the life of Georgia Gilmore, a hidden figure of history who played a critical role in the civil rights movement and used her passion for baking to help the Montgomery Bus Boycott achieve its goal.

Georgia Gilmore was a cook at the National Lunch Company in Montgomery, Alabama. When the bus boycotts broke out in Montgomery after Rosa Parks was arrested, Georgia knew just what to do. She organized a group of women who cooked and baked to fund-raise for gas and cars to help sustain the boycott. Called the Club from Nowhere, Georgia was the only person who knew who baked and bought the food, and she said the money came from "nowhere" to anyone who asked. This picture book highlights a hidden figure of the civil rights movement who fueled the bus boycotts and demonstrated that one person can make a real change in her community and beyond. It also includes one of her delicious recipes for kids to try with the help of their parents!




Waffles + Mochi: Get Cooking!: Learn to Cook Tomato Candy Pasta, Gratitouille, and Other Tasty Recipes: A Kids Cookbook by Yewande Komolafe  (Author), Michelle Obama (Foreword)

Explore the globe with Waffles + Mochi and learn about the stories behind the food we eat in this accessible, child-friendly cookbook, based on the Netflix children’s show from Higher Ground, President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s production company in partnership with Netflix.
 
 Each chapter begins with a simple recipe to master—like creating magical salts to dust over your dishes, boiling eggs four ways, and baking a potato that’s anything but ordinary. Then the recipes build from there. Before you know it, you’ll be whipping up Tenacious Tomato Salad, Chicken Sancocho, Kimchi Grilled Cheese, and Cloud Meringues. Enjoy this international adventure with food.





Long before the natural-food movement gained popularity, Edna Lewis championed purity of ingredients, regional cuisine, and farm-to-table eating. She was a chef when female chefs—let alone African American female chefs—were few and far between. With lyrical text and watercolor illustrations, Robbin Gourley traces the roots of Edna's appreciation for the bounties of nature through the seasons. Folk rhymes, and songs about food are sprinkled throughout the text, and five kid-friendly recipes and an author's note about Edna's life are included.




In the Garden with Dr. Carver by Susan Grigsby  (Author), Nicole Tadgell  (Illustrator)

Sally is a young girl living in rural Alabama in the early 1900s, a time when people were struggling to grow food in soil that had been depleted by years of cotton production. One day, Dr. George Washington Carver shows up to help the grown-ups with their farms, and the children with their school garden. He teaches them how to restore the soil and respect the balance of nature. He even prepares a delicious lunch made of plants, including “chicken” made from peanuts. And Sally never forgets the lessons this wise man leaves in her heart and mind. Susan Grigsby’s warm story shines new light on a Black scientist who was ahead of his time.



Harlem Grown: How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood by Tony Hillery (Author), Jessie Hartland  (Illustrator)

Harlem Grown tells the inspiring true story of how one man made a big difference in a neighborhood. After seeing how restless they were and their lack of healthy food options, Tony Hillery invited students from an underfunded school to turn a vacant lot into a beautiful and functional farm. By getting their hands dirty, these kids turned an abandoned space into something beautiful and useful while learning about healthy, sustainable eating and collaboration.



Everybody Eats by Jasmine Crowe (Author), Nadia Fisher (Illustrator)

When Carter volunteers at the food bank for the first time, she runs into one of her friends from school and hunger takes on a personal note. After reading a book on how she can help fight against hunger, Carter goes on a journey through her community to do what she can and teach others how they can help, too!


Wednesday, February 2, 2022

The 30th Anniversary of The African American Children's Book Fair Set in Philadelphia

 


The African American Children’s Book Project was created by Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati in 1992 to promote and preserve children’s literature written by or about African Americans. Come to their 30th Anniversary African American Children's Book Fair in Philadelphia on February 26 from 1-4 pm. 

Join virtually to preview the 30th Annual African American Children’s Book Fair on Saturday, February 5, 2022 – 1:00-3:00PM est – Face book Live. Get an inside look at the stellar line up of some of the best and the brightest from the children’s literary community. 

The 30th Annual African American Children's Book Fair – LIVE and IN PERSON will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 12th Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA on Saturday, February 26, 2022, from 1:00 to 4 p.m est. Hosted by the African American Children’s Book Project, the book fair is one of the oldest and largest single-day events for children's books in the country. Games, prizes and promotional give-aways will highlight the afternoon. A wide selection of affordable Black children’s books will be available for purchase. Mask are required at all times. There is also a Covid-19 protocol in place.

Disney and Questlove Release "Rise Up, Sing Out"


For Disney this is the right time to release  “Rise Up, Sing Out,” a series of musical animated short films with an aim to inspire with empowering and culturally optimistic messages celebrating differences. The eight-episode series, executive produced by Ahmir ‘”Questlove” Thompson and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter of the Roots, will be available on Disney Plus starting Wednesday, February 2, but the first episode will be shown on the Disney Channel and Disney Junior.

Questlove and Black Thought not only produce the music for the series and are executive producers of the series, but also appear in it, as cartoon characters.  Walt Disney Records will release the musical track from “Rise Up, Sing Out” on Friday, February 4.

According to Variety, Questlove and Black Thought in a prepared statement explain, “We feel this is the perfect time ... for us to take this project out into the world to sow seeds of kindness that will hopefully have a lasting impact for generations to come.”

The series, which will address themes such as diversity, inclusion, kindness, and self-expression, was produced in response to parents’ increasing demand from Disney Junior to provide entertainment to help keep them entertained (with a positive message). They talk to children about respect for others. One episode celebrates Black hair, while another explores names that may be mispronounced or stigmatized.

Joe D’Ambrosia, senior vice president of original programming and general manager of Disney Junior, in a statement further explains.  “Bigotry, bias and stereotyping aren’t simple topics for anyone to tackle, but the talented creative team did a thoughtful job in delivering memorable songs and stories that reflect the opportunity storytellers have to help parents as they raise healthy, thoughtful and well-rounded kids.”

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Black History Month: Honoring Ourselves and Our Ancestors



Welcome to Black History Month 2022! For the past 2 years we have experienced some very challenging times. Many of us have experienced lost, separation and pain. Our community has been devastated in many ways because of Covid, violence and economic hardships. Many pillars of our community have been lost. Grandparents, parents, teachers, medical professionals, family and friends who have supported us and our community are no longer here. Even if we have not been touched personally there is still a collective grieving as a community.  This month gives us an opportunity to thank God, honor our ancestors and inform our children. Our history shows us that we have the resilience to heal and rebuild when we love and support each other. Let our light shine.

Monday, January 17, 2022

Martin Luther King Day: Daring to Dream



 "Everybody can be great ... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."


 “Daring to Dream: The Radical Imagination of a New Generation” is the theme for the 2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Day. To honor King’s memory, since 1994 this federal holiday has also been celebrated as a day of service. How would our world look like if everyone did his part to build a better world. The website for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service encourages people to think of the holiday as “a day on, not a day off” by volunteering for local causes. MLK inspired millions of people in his lifetime and continues to inspire us to this day. Across the globe, activists look to King for inspiration and courage. Modern movements for racial equality and justice, such as the Black Lives Matter movement, are extensions of the work that he started.  Join with people around the country to make a difference especially this year with so many families in our country and around the world affected by Covid.  Visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service for ideas and opportunities to volunteer.  Days of Service help to raise awareness, mobilize volunteers, and provide individuals with an opportunity to engage and build new connections, and help nonprofits find support for their programs. MLK Day of Service is intended to empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, create solutions to social problems, and move us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community.”




Wednesday, January 12, 2022

American Masters Debuts Documentary on the Life of Alvin Ailey


Alvin Ailey's "Revelation"

American dance will never be the same because of the incredible work of Alvin Ailey. Young adults can learn about the awe inspiring work of this genius in a documentary shown on PBS. American Masters: Ailey is a portrait of the legendary choreographer Alvin Ailey (1931-1989), a trailblazing pioneer who founded his influential studio Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958 at age 27. The documentary traces the full contours of this brilliant and enigmatic man whose search for the truth in movement resulted in enduring choreography that centers on the Black American experience with inimitable grace and power. His choreography was rooted in memories of blues and gospel music, juke joints, and church exemplified by iconic works like "Revelation" and "Lazarus." Opening the series’ 36th season, American Masters: Ailey premieres nationwide on PBS (check local listings), pbs.org/ailey and the PBS Video app.

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

10th Annual Schomburg Center's Black Comic Book Festival

 

The Schomburg Center's for Research in Black Culture 10th Annual Black Comic Book Festival starts Thursday, January 13 through Saturday, January 15. 

From Wakanda to West 135th Street—join them online! The Black Comic Book Festival starts in just two days. Check out their schedule of virtual panel discussions. Register now and join the festival online starting on Thursday.

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture - 515 Malcolm X Boulevard (135th St and Malcolm X Blvd) New York, NY 10037. Phone: 917-275-6975.https://www.nypl.org/locations/schomburg