John Legend - Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (Official Animated Video)

From John Legends Christmas Album, A Legendary  Christmaas

Have a Joyful and Peaceful Christmas!

Wish

 

"Wish" stars Oscar winner Ariana DeBose as a 17-year-old girl named Asha, who wishes on a star when she senses a darkness in the Kingdom of Rosas, casted by King Magnifico that no one else does.   When Asha asks for help from the stars, a fallen star appears to help her save the kingdom. With Asha’s courage and determination, she is able to reconnect humans with the power of wish-making, a theme reflected in many of Disney's movies. Afro Latina star Ariana DeBose explains Asha is about building community and being unselfish. Wish brings together the power of wish-making, fairy tales and representation  on the big screen.  “Wish,” is the movie commemorating Walt Disney Studios’ 100th anniversary and will be released on November 22.

UniverSoul Circus

UniverSoul Circus  known as the coolest show on earth! bring their razzle and dazzle performances to New York City with a stop at Orchard Beach in the Bronx from Nov 2-5. This African American owned circus showcases their diverse and multicultural talent at major cities across the country. 

“We get to share our culture with everyone and each member of the audience leaves with a message: that everyone belongs. The UniverSoul Circus is for the people…it’s their show.” states Cedric Walker, Founder and CEO After 29 years, millions of people from all over the world have enjoyed thousands of shows and the fun continues.  Their next stop is Philadelphia from Nov 10-18 and later Coney Island. 

As part   of their initiative  to build community, they have reached out to homeless families and provided them with free performance.   We love performing for families across the country, but our Family Open House is our way of reaching out to the local community and helping those in need as best we can, and we’re thrilled that business, media, and community leaders are as supportive of this event as we are,” said Cedric Walker, “There are many great organizations that, thankfully, are willing to help provide necessities to these transitional families, but we can offer them something very unique with a night out together at the circus and we hope to make this an annual event.”

Check their schedule and learn more about them at  https://www.universoulcircus.com/

Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with Afro Latino Children's Books

National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America from September 15 to October 15. Unfortunately, many Afro Latinos have complained that they have been excluded from this cultural recognition. Films and TV shows like the popular novelas and books have rarely included Afro Latino culture.  Now their diverse and vibrant stories are beginning to be told.  In pop culture, movies like Miles Morales feature an Afro Latino character. Here are a few books for children to enjoy the rich voices and talents of Afro-Latino storytellers.

Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa
by Veronica Chambers, illustrated by Julie Maren
Introduce your kids to Celia Cruz, the world-renowned salsa singer. This picture book biography celebrates her vibrant personality and passion for salsa music that touched millions of fans. The stunning artwork and captivating narrative will have you pressing play on a Celia-inspired playlist when you’ve finished reading.  (Ages 5 - 8)

Hands
by Torrey Maldonado

This deeply moving story will captivate tweens and teens from cover to cover. It’s about a boy named Trev who must decide what kind of man he wants to become. To protect his family from his abusive stepfather, Trev takes up boxing. But when his talent for art opens an alternative path for protecting his family, Trev must decide whether to fight against an immediate threat or work toward a better future. (Ages 10+

Flora la Fresca & the Art of Friendship

by Veronica Chambers, illustrated by Sujean Rim

This heartwarming story follows Flora, a Panamanian American girl, as she navigates the ups and downs of friendship and family. Between her best friend moving away and her sister’s all-consuming quince preparations, readers can't help but relate to Flora and her experiences.  (Ages 8 - 12)

Octopus Stew
by Eric Velasquez

Dinner turns dangerous in this unique picture book that tells two stories in one. When Abuela gets captured by the octopus she was cooking, Ramsey must save her from the tentacled villain. Fold-out pages show the story’s events as a tall tale while folding them in shows it happening in real life. Kids will love reading both versions of this exciting book. (Ages 4 - 8)

Undercover Latina

by Aya de León

Spy and heist fans will love this young adult novel about a Latina who goes undercover to infiltrate the world of white supremacists. An unexpected crush and the pressure of pretending to be someone else complicates the job. It will take all of Andréa’s smarts not to blow her cover before she can expose the white supremacists’ plans.

If Dominican Were a Color 

by Sili Recio

The palette of the Dominican Republic is exuberant and unlimited. Maiz comes up amarillo, the blue-black of dreams washes over sandy shores, and people’s skin can be the shade of cinnamon in cocoa or of mahogany. This exuberantly colorful, softly rhyming picture book is a gentle reminder that a nation’s hues are as wide as nature itself. 

Islandborn

by Junot Diaz

When Lola's teacher asks the students to draw a picture of where their families immigrated from, all the kids are excited. Except Lola. She can't remember The Island—she left when she was just a baby. But with the help of her family and friends, and their memories—joyous, fantastical, heartbreaking, and frightening—Lola's imagination takes her on an extraordinary journey back to The Island.  As she draws closer to the heart of her family's story, Lola comes to understand the truth of her abuela's words: “Just because you don't remember a place doesn't mean it's not in you.”Gloriously illustrated and lyrically written, Islandborn is a celebration of creativity, diversity, and our imagination's boundless ability to connect us—to our families, to our past and to ourselves. 

                                                    

Platnos Go with Everything

by Lissette Norman
Paletero Man meets Fry Bread in this vibrant and cheerful ode to plátanos, the star of Dominican cuisine, written by award-winning poet Lissette Norman, illustrated by Sara Palacios, and translated by Kianny N. Antigua.  Platanos are Yesenia’s favorite food. They can be sweet and sugary, or salty and savory. And they’re a part of almost every meal her Dominican family makes. Stop by her apartment and find out why platanos go with everything—especially love!

Platnaos Are Love                                                                                                  

by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris 

A delicious picture book about the ways plantains shape Latinx culture, community, and family, told through a young girl’s experiences in the kitchen with her abuela. With every pop of the tostones, mash of the mangú, and sizzle of the maduros, a little girl learns that plátanos are her history, they are her culture, and—most importantly—they are love.                

El Secreto del Plátano (the Secret of the Plátano)
by Luz Maria Mack
At first his tiny ears couldn't hear it, but Abuela shares that she can't teach something that only her heart knows. This loving and tender story of the magical union between a grandmother and her grandson was penned by Dominican author, Luz Maria Mack, and inspired by a dream where she and her Abuela met again to dance and share the secrets of the plátanos.
Sometimes the secrets of life are written in nature, under the stars, and in the sounds of the whispering leaves. This translation of The Secret of the Plátano brings a lovely intergenerational friendship to a Spanish-speaking audience.

 Nina Bonita 
 by Ana Maria Machado 
 With the help of a little bunny issues of race and colorism are addressed.

Josefina's Habichuelas 
by Jasminne Menez
Young Josefina gives up sweets for Lent and then learns how to make her Dominican family’s traditional Easter dessert.

Me and Mama
by Cozbi A. Cabrera
On a rainy day when the house smells like cinnamon and Papa and Luca are still asleep, when the clouds are wearing shadows and the wind paints the window with beads of water, I want to be everywhere Mama is.                                                                                         

Mama’s love is brighter than the sun, even on the rainiest of days. This celebration of a mother-daughter relationship is perfect for sharing with little ones!  With lyrical prose and a tender touch, the Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Honor Book Mama and Me is an ode to the strength of the bond between a mother and a daughter as they spend a rainy day together. 

The Cot in thee Living Room

by Hilda Eunice Burgos

Each night, a young girl watches her mami set up a cot in the living room for guests in their Washington Heights apartment, like Raquel (who’s boring) and Edgardo (who gets crumbs everywhere). She resents that they get the entire living room with a view of the George Washington Bridge, while all she gets is a tiny bedroom with a view of her sister (who snores). Until one night when no one comes, and it’s finally her chance! But as it turns out, sleeping on the cot in the living room isn’t all she thought it would be.

Cesaria Feels the Beat 

by Denise R Adusei

This title will be released on June 4, 2024.

In this powerful and inspiring picture book, a deaf girl stands up for herself and takes off her shoes while dancing at her Carnival performance so she can feel the music through her bare feet. Cesaria is going to perform for the seaside Carnival. She skips past the beach barefoot, dressed in her favorite peacock leotard. But when her dance director tells her she must put on her shoes to go on stage, Cesaria signs, “Peacocks don’t wear shoes!” You see, Cesaria hears the music through the soles of her feet, but no one seems to understand…That is, until all the dancers take off their shoes, and learn to feel the music, just like Cesaria.

Cesaria Feels the Beat is a lyrical and heartfelt story about deafness, community, and Carnival.

What Can You Do With a Paleta? Qué Puedes Hacer Con Una Paleta

by Carmen Tafolla (Author), Magaly Morales (Illustrator)

As she strolls through her barrio, a young girl introduces readers to the frozen, fruit-flavored treat that thrills Mexican and Mexican-American children. Create a masterpiece, make tough choices (strawberry or coconut?), or cool off on a warm summer's day--there's so much to do with a paleta.

Black Breastfeeding Week

 

August was National Breastfeeding Awareness Month created to encourage and support new mothers who chose to breastfeed. This is a time to spread the word on the benefits of breastfeeding. All month long, people around the world are celebrating the amazing benefits of breastfeeding, while continuing the fight to ensure women have the support they need to breastfeed.  

The last week was focused on African American mothers. "In America the message needs to be heard loud and clear especially for African American mothers whose rate of initiating breastfeeding is the lowest in the country. There are social, political and cultural reasons for this disparity that need to be addressed. Today laws are being passed to protect mothers who decide to breastfeed but more work has to be done.  Women should not have to fear losing their job in order to nurture their babies."

Breastfeeding offers so many health benefits from helping mother and child bond, providing an incentive to eat healthy and allowing mother's body to heal faster. Most important breast milk provides the nutrients that human babies need.

"Communities and hospitals need to spread the word, provide support for breastfeeding mothers and initiate legislature that provides safe public and business spaces for mothers. Even as individuals, we can help mothers with words of encouragement, a cooked meal, housekeeping, shopping errands and much love. We are all part of the village."

Learn more and spread the word.  For mothers who need support here are a few groups providing information and support.

The African American Breastfeeding Network

The African American Breastfeeding Network

La Leche
https://lllusa.org/
https://www.llli.org/

United States Breastfeeding Committee
http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/nbm19

Black Moms Do Breastfeed
https://blackwomendobreastfeed.org/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Blackmomsdobreastfeed/

Healthy Horizon

https://www.healthyhorizons.com/

 March of Dimes

https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/blog/august-national-breastfeeding-month

Mocha Milk Mommy's Breastfeeding Support Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mochamilkmommys/

Breastfeeding Info from Weill Cornell Update

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sponsor-story/weill-cornell-medicine/2023/08/23/a-better-start-for-baby-how-to-support-breastfeeding-moms/70620865007/?fbclid=IwAR1WXvP0NCqjwRinSAueG4THNovXNtWX_iRoFVZLgO4HfIhH_HxgHYgkxUM

The Little Mermaid Release Date is May 26

 

Disney's live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid is set to be released on May 26. 2023. The new film, directed by Rob Marshall, stars R&B singer Halle Bailey as Ariel and Melissa McCarthy as the villainous sea witch Ursula. The fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen follows the journey of a young mermaid who is willing to give up her life in the sea as a mermaid to gain a human soul.

In an interview with Edition magazine, Halle Bailey discussed embodying Ariel in Disney’s upcoming live-action reimagining of The Little Mermaid, noting that the response to the trailer was a “shock.” News of Bailey’s casting as Ariel initially drew ire from some Disney fans, who took issue with a Black actress embodying the role of the fictional princess.  Despite many racist comments from trolls, the actress and singer was grateful that young women of color were able to relate to her character.

She also confirmed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that the director Rob Marshall encouraged her to incorporate aspects of herself into the iconic role, including her locs "— incorporating my locs into the red hair was something that was really special to me." The Grammy Award nominee and half of celebrated sister duo Chloe x Halle further expounded, “I’m really excited for my version of the film because we’ve definitely changed that perspective of just her wanting to leave the ocean for a boy,” she explained. “It’s way bigger than that. It’s about herself, her purpose, her freedom, her life and what she wants. As women we are amazing, we are independent, we are modern, we are everything and above. And I’m glad that Disney is updating some of those themes.”

 "Seeing the world’s reaction to it was definitely a shock, but seeing all the babies’ reactions, all the brown and Black young girls, really tore me up emotionally,” she said. “It’s honestly been such a crazy ride, and I genuinely feel shocked and honored and grateful to be in this position. A lot of times, I have to pinch myself and be like, is this real life?”

Celebrating the Birthing Journey

 

Celebrating the Birthing Journey: Baby Dove, Sista Midwife Productions, and BMMA

As a part of Black Maternal Health Week 2023, Dove, Black Mamas Matter Alliance and Sista Productions discuss the important role Doulas can play in providing healthcare to Black mothers. They unveiled the New Black Doula Directory powered by Baby Dove Care and Sista Midwife Productions. This new resource will limit barriers to accessing Black doulas who provide culturally competent care.

Last year Baby Dove expanded their Black Birth Equity Fund to $500,000. The fund provides Black expecting mothers with financial access to doula services. Porchia-Albert,  a doula from Ancient Song Doula Services explains “Our mission has always been about reducing or eliminating the infant maternal mortality rate,”  “Things have changed since I first started. Now, we are in a space where people are curious, more conversations are taking place around Black maternal health, and the word doula is something more people have heard about.”

White House Proclamation on Black Maternal Health Week, 2023

 

This week we celebrate Black Maternal Health Week. The theme for 2023 is “Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy!” 2023's theme for BMHW will emphasize the strength of the community and the human right of individuals to live freely, safely, and joyfully as themselves. This week provides an opportunity to get informed on the health crisis in the African American community and to share ways to heal our community. We have the highest rate of maternal  and infant deaths not only in the nation but in industrial countries across the world. Here are some of the facts. 

The United States is the only industrialized nation where Black maternal health is getting worse. Black women are three to four times more likely to die from complications surrounding pregnancy and childbirth than white women. Death rates for infants born to Black Americans with advanced degrees are higher than white Americans who didn't go to high school.

To address these issues the White House has declared the following: Proclamation on Black Maternal Health Week, 2023

     "Black Maternal Health Week is a reminder that so many families experience pain, neglect, and loss during what should be one of the most joyous times of their lives.  It is an urgent call for action.  Black women in America are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women.  This is on top of the fact that women in America are dying at a higher rate from pregnancy-related causes than in any other developed nation. 

     Tackling this crisis begins with understanding how institutional racism drives these high maternal mortality rates.  Studies show that Black women are often dismissed or ignored in hospitals and other health care settings, even as they suffer from severe injuries and pregnancy complications and ask for help.  Systemic inequities are also to blame.  When mothers do not have access to safe and stable housing before and after childbirth, they are at greater risk of falling ill.  When women face barriers traveling to the hospital for prenatal and postpartum checkups, they are less likely to remain healthy.  Air pollution, water pollution, and lead pipes can have dangerous consequences for pregnant women and newborns.  And when families cannot afford nutritious foods, they face worse health outcomes. 

     That is why my Administration wrote the Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, which lays out specific actions that the Federal Government will take to improve maternal health, and secured funding from the Congress to help implement it.  Vice President Kamala Harris has been a leader on the issue of maternal mortality for years and led the charge to improve maternal health outcomes, including by issuing a call to action to address disparities in maternal care.  She continues to elevate the issue nationally, convening State legislators, medical professionals, and others so all mothers can access the care they need before, during, and after childbirth.

    Additionally, my American Rescue Plan gave States the option to provide a full year of postpartum coverage to Medicaid beneficiaries — up from just 60 days of coverage.  As a result, my Administration has approved requests from 30 States and Washington, D.C. to provide women with Medicaid coverage with a full year of postpartum coverage, and we have made this option permanent for every State that extends Medicaid postpartum coverage.  My Administration has helped facilitate Medicaid expansion in four States since I took office, and I continue to call on the Congress to close the Medicaid coverage gap. We are also working to expand and diversify the maternal health workforce, helping health care providers hire and train diverse and culturally-competent physicians, certified nurse midwives, doulas, and community health workers to support women during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care.  My American Rescue Plan included historic investments in our health workforce, and my Budget includes $471 million to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity rates — improving access to care in rural communities, expanding implicit bias training for health care providers, and further supporting the perinatal health workforce. 

   Because expecting mothers deserve to know where to find the best care, the Department of Health and Human Services created a new “Birthing Friendly” hospital designation, a public-facing recognition of the quality and safety of maternity care which will be publicly reported on the Care Compare website beginning this Fall.  My Administration is committed to implementing the No Surprises Act, which helps ensure that women are protected from certain unexpected out-of-network medical bills that can come up during pregnancy, postpartum care, and delivery.

     One in 5 women in America experience maternal mental health conditions like postpartum depression, anxiety, or substance use disorder, so we launched the Maternal Mental Health Hotline.  By calling 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS — a confidential, 24-hour, toll-free number — new and expecting moms can now connect with professional counselors.  We are also supporting and expanding maternal mental health screening programs, including for postpartum depression.  My Administration is also partnering with community-based organizations to help pregnant people access addiction services and work with professionals trained in treating substance use disorder.

     We are protecting the job security and workplace rights of pregnant and nursing mothers — including Black women, who are more likely to be fired, quit, or be forced to return to work after giving birth before it is healthy for them to do so.  Over the past 2 years, I signed legislation to ensure employers make reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers and job applicants, expand the use of break time and access to private spaces for millions of nursing parents, and study the unique maternal health challenges facing veterans and help ensure they get the quality health care they deserve through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

      At the same time, my Administration is using the power of the Federal Government to address the long-standing disparities that Black communities continue to face — disparities that directly impact the health and well-being of Black mothers.  During the height of the COVID-19 crisis, my Administration provided relief to hardworking families, cutting the rate of poverty for Black Americans by nearly a third.  We are also confronting racial discrimination in housing; expanding public transit to every neighborhood in the country; improving access to affordable and healthy food through our National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health; and tackling dangerous environmental injustices that have hit communities of color the hardest. 

       This week, as we continue our work to make pregnancy and childbirth safe, dignified, and joyful for all, let us remember that health care should be a right and not a privilege.  Let us give thanks to the extraordinary maternal health care workforce, which serves its patients and their families every day.  And let us join in common cause to end the tragedy of maternal mortality once and for all.

         NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 11 through April 17, 2023, as Black Maternal Health Week.  I call upon all Americans to raise awareness of the state of Black maternal health in the United States by understanding the consequences of institutional racism; recognizing the scope of this problem and the need for urgent solutions; amplifying the voices and experiences of Black women, families, and communities; and committing to building a world in which Black women do not have to fear for their safety, their well-being, their dignity, or their lives before, during, and after pregnancy."

To read more visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/04/10/a-proclamation-on-black-maternal-health-week-2023/

For more information and to participate in making change:

Sites:

White House - A Proclamation on Black Maternal Health Week, 2023 https://www.whitehousegov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/04/10/a-proclamation-on-black-maternal-health-week-2023/

Black Mamas Matter Alliance - https://blackmamasmatter.org/2023-black-maternal-health-week/

The National Birth Equity Collaborative - https://birthequity.org/

The Black Maternal Health Caucus - https://blackmaternalhealthcaucus-underwood.house.gov/

Mama Glow - https://mamaglow.com/

  National Black Doulas Association Directory - https://www.blackdoulas.org/national-directory

Ancient Song Doula Services    - https://www.ancientsongdoulaservices.com/

The Shades of Blue Project- https://www.shadesofblueproject.org/

 Sésé Doula Services -  https://www.sesebirthingfreedom.com/

 MomsRising - https://www.momsrising.org

Wolomi - https://www.wolomi.com/home

 The Blavatnik Family Women’s Health Research Institute - https://icahn.mssm.edu/research/womens-health

Articles:

https://blackmaternalhealthcaucus-underwood.house.gov/media/in-the-news/9-organizations-working-save-black-mothers

https://www.self.com/topic/black-maternal-mortality

Black History Month 2023

 I can't believe it has been a year since I wrote this post.  As we continue to heal and thrive toward greatness, changes may seem very slow. But Black History Month reminds us again of all that we have accomplished, and that celebrating our history is a year long event.

Welcome to Black History Month 2023! 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. 

The 11th Daddy Daughter Dance

 

Real Dads Network is a non-profit organization that provides support and resources for fathers and families. They promote father involvement as critical for the development of healthy children.

"It is our belief that children do better, both developmentally and in attainment of life opportunities, when both parents are actively involved in the parenting process, regardless of the martial or living circumstances."

"Our Vision is to create a culture where all fathers are actively involved in the parenting process, and are portrayed and viewed as exemplary role models by society."

"The Daddy Daughter Dance is one of our signature events. We have been doing the dance for about a decade. The Daddy Daughter Dance is a celebration of that special relationship between fathers and their daughters. Our Dance is an elegant event that presents an opportunity for a father or father figure and his daughter (or daughters) to get dressed up, dance, have dinner, talk, laugh, be entertained and share a memorable evening together with other fathers and their daughters.

"We have been doing the Daddy Daughter Dance since 2008 and over the years we have directly influenced Chicago, Philadelphia, New Jersey and  Virginia to do dances and indirectly influences several other places to do daddy daughter dances." 

Their Daddy Daughter Dance will be held at the Alhambra Ballroom -2116 Adam Clayton Powell Junior Boulevard New York, NY 10027 on February 14 from 4-8 pm.

For more information https://www.realdadsnetwork.org/

https://www.realdadsnetwork.org/events/daddy-daughter-dance/

Celebrate Black Children's Book Week

 

Black Children’s Book Week is a global celebration of Black children and the people who ensure Black children are represented in books and other children’s media.

The week is administered by Black Baby Books, a platform that makes it easier to discover children’s books with Black characters.

They invite everyone to join the celebration: parents, guardians, authors, illustrators, publishers, educators, librarians, business people, community advocates, and other advocates for Black children.

Black Children’s Book Week starts on the last Sunday in February every year. This year from 2/26/23 to 4/3/2023.

Visit https://blackbabybooks.com/bcbw/

 

The African American Children's Book Fair in Philadelphia