|
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Grace Hopper Celebration 2020
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Harriet in Theaters November
"It seems impossible until it is done" Nelson Mandela
Harriet Tubman is one of my favorite sheroes. As a conductor for the Underground Railroad, she did the impossible lifting hundreds out of slavery while never losing a passenger. Hearing the story of this visionary always gives me chills. In November families have an opportunity to check out a new film about her life, and be inspired by this woman of courage and faith. Harriet starring Cynthia Ervio will be released to theaters on November 1.
Thursday, August 29, 2019
A Tribute to My Mother During Breastfeeding Month
One of my earliest memories was watching my mother nurse my sister. Sometimes she would talk to my sister while she nursed, and explain to her that she had eaten a nice healthy meal just for her. Listening to my mother I got the connection between caring for the baby and self care. So breastfeeding always seemed like a natural process to me although few women were breastfeeding, and many considered it old fashion and out dated at that time. My mother probably felt like a pioneer going against the tide of modern advancement. However, she instinctively knew this was the best for mom and child. So without any documentation extolling the benefits of breastfeeding, she encouraged other mothers to breastfeed.
Even when I nursed my son years later, breastfeeding was still a novel idea. However, by that time organizations like La Leche were paving the way by providing information and support to new mothers. Unlike my mother, I found a community where I could get information and support. Today the tide is slowly changing, breastfeeding is beginning to be looked at as a natural process with benefits to both mom and baby. Everyday researchers hail the benefits that help build the baby's immunity system, create bonding between mother and child, and strengthen the mother's body.
August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month, 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. 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.
Communities and hospitals need to spread the word and provide support for breastfeeding 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.
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/
Mocha Milk Mommy's Breastfeeding Support Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mochamilkmommys/
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Happy Juneteenth!
Juneteenth For Mazie by Floyd Cooper
Today we celebrate the struggles, hopes and dreams of those who came before us. Floyd Cooper shares the history and significance of the day with young people in his book, Juneteenth for Mazie. We have come a long way and still have a long way to go but today we celebrate our accomplishments and our vision for the future. Happy Juneteenth!
Friday, June 14, 2019
Juneteenth: Celebrating The African American Independence Day
"But, if this part of our history could be told in such a way that those chains of the past, those shackles that physically bound us together against our wills could, in the telling, become spiritual links that willingly bind us together now and into the future - then that painful Middle Passage could become, ironically, a positive connecting line to all of us whether living inside or outside the continent of Africa..."
Tom Feelings
We can only imagine the joy, jubilation and trepidation of our ancestors on June 19, 1865 when Major General Granger rode into Galveston, Texas and informed everyone that slavery was abolished. We know that it left enough of an impression that the day is still commemorated today. Juneteenth has become the independence day for African Americans.
One of the first things that the newly freed slaves did was to thank God and begin looking for family. In that spirit Juneteenth has continued to be a day of thanksgiving, prayer service, bringing together family, connecting with the past and celebrating our accomplishments.
This year 2019 is especially important because it will mark the 154th year of celebrating Juneteenth and represents the 400th anniversary – 1619 – of when enslaved Africans arrived in Hampton, Virginia aboard a Dutch ship. Juneteenth Celebrations will be held will be across the country this weekend. Check your local historic societies and museums for more information. Here are
a few listings:
The Johnson House Historic Site -6306 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144 (215) 438-1768 continues a 13-year tradition with its Philadelphia Juneteenth Festival, a free day of cultural and educational presentations vendors and performances including a Children's Village, a street festival, and a Beer and Hard Cider Garden on Saturday, June 15 from noon to 7pm.
10th Annual Juneteenth Heritage Festival - Join Black Arts LA for their 10th year celebrating one of the greatest events in American history on June 15-16 from noon - 6pm! Bring family and friends to enjoy the 2-day free outdoor festival showcasing outstanding work from fine artists, fashion & jewelry designers and food artists as well as enjoy great music. Be sure to visit their History/Inventors area, Health Village, and Technology Tent. Fun for the whole family!In Leimert Park Village, Degnan Blvd & 43rd Street, Los Angeles 90008.
2019 Juneteenth Rhythm & Blues Celebration at Mills Park in Carson - The City of Carson invites everyone to enjoy Classic Cars, Food, Live Entertainment and Fun Games for the kids on June 15 from 11am - 6pm. At Mills Memorial Park, 1340 E. Dimondale Dr., Carson, CA 90746
(310) 631-3130.
32nd Annual Berkeley CA Juneteenth Festival! - Adeline St. at Alcatraz Ave, Berkeley, CA. The Juneteenth Festival is held annually in June in South Berkeley’s 5-block Alcatraz-Adeline Corridor with performances, children's events, fashion, art and basketball on June 16 from 11am-7pm.
Juneteenth Celebration - Nautilus Playground- W. 30th St. & W. 32nd St, Brooklyn, NY - join NYC Parks, Alvin Ailey Extension, and NYC Council Member Mark Treyger as we commemorate the abolition of slavery and the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans throughout the former Confederacy of the southern United States. This wonderful event will feature music, dance and community performances on June 19, 2019 from 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
10th Annual Juneteenth 2019 Festival - "Back to the Future" - in Brooklyn, NY at Gershwin Park, 800 Van Siclen Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11207 There will be vendors selling crafts and food (really good food), activities for kids, games for parents and their children, a wonderful showcase, great raffle prizes and Trivia about the African American journey. Enjoy the parade on June 15 from 11am - 6pm.
Friday, May 31, 2019
Mama K's Team 4: Netflix's First Original African Animated Series -
Parents who have been looking for children's programs that reflect the diversity and cultural heritage of Africa will be interested in Netflix's latest project.
As part of its growing acquisition of content from Africa, Netflix has announced its first original African animated series. Mama K's Team 4 tells a story of four teenage girls living in a futuristic version of Lusaka, Zambia's capital city. The girls are recruited by an ex-secret agent to save the world.
Designed by Cameroonian artist Malcolm Wope, the animation drew inspiration for the visuals from retro 90s hip hop girl groups, Netflix said in a statement announcing the deal. It was written by Zambian writer, Malenga Mulendema who was one of the eight winners of the 2015 Triggerfish Story Lab initiative, a talent hunt for African storytellers.
Mulendema says she grew up watching cartoons and wondered why none of the heroes looked like her. "In creating a superhero show set in Lusaka, I hope to introduce the world to four strong African girls who save the day in their own fun and crazy way. Most importantly, I want to illustrate that anyone from anywhere can be a superhero," she said in the Netflix statement.
The monetary success of Black sci fi movies like Black Panther have sparked an interest in companies like Netflix expanding their market to Africans and African Americans. Mama K’s Team 4 is designed to particularly target Black families on a global level. This is a market that has been overlooked, and will give young Black children an opportunity to see themselves on screen. Netflix is also planning to use their platform to find the next generation of African women writers.
The series is produced by award-winning South Africa based studio, Triggerfish Animation, and London based kids and family entertainment specialist, CAKE.
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Paine College Offering Free Summer Classes in Chemistry
Paine College Announces Free Chemistry Class
Augusta, Georgia
Paine College announced that it is once again offering its free six-week chemistry course and registration is now open for middle and high school students in the CSRA (Central Savannah River Area). The class will begin on June 5, 2019, and run through July 11.
Dr. Sardar Yousufzai,Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Physics & Environmental Sciences at Paine College and Minority Affairs Chairperson of the Savannah River Section of the American Chemical Society, will teach this free summer class. The popular course offers students an opportunity to gain exposure to the basic concepts of chemistry and includes both instruction and demonstration.
By fostering learning opportunities for pre-college-age students, Dr. Yousufzai's class hopes to pass on his own fascination with science – a fascination he acquired at an early age. His teaching style is designed to help students see basic scientific concepts in practical terms, to simplify the learning process. As he told Diverse Issues in Higher Education in 2016, "I make chemistry like a pie, so easy to eat, so easy."
The program has proved its worth over the years, with many of its participants going on to pursue careers in science-related fields – including dental and medical school.
Paine College is a private, historically black Methodist liberal arts college in Augusta, Georgia. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
The six-week program offers classes for middle school students on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 10:40 AM to 11:30 AM. High school student class times are Tuesday and Thursday, 10:40 AM to 11:30 AM. All classes are held at Paine College Campus in Haygood-Holsey Room 220. Registration is now open.
For more information visit:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)