The Imagine Institute

Imagine Spotlight: Alexis Wynne

The Imagine Institute — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 15:00:28 +0000

This week, we are excited to highlight Alexis Wynne, who runs a family home child care business in Auburn, Washington.

MEET ALEXIS

Alexis grew up in the child care business. Her mother, Carli Meek, started Little Steps Discovery Zone when Alexis was 7 years old and her sister was a baby.

When she was a young teenager, Alexis started volunteering at Little Steps. She took a break after graduating high school, but she soon found her way back to child care.

“I ended up working at a gym. Long story short, they ended up putting me in the child care, because that’s just the vibe I gave. I was like, ‘You know, I don’t want to be doing this at a gym. I want to go back and work with my mom.’”

When Carli became an employee at the Imagine Institute, Alexis took over the family business. Now, she dreams of someday raising her own children at Little Steps.

Little Steps Discovery Zone

TEACHING CHILDREN, LEARNING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Alexis loves working with families and children at her child care business, especially seeing kids learn new things. One of her most rewarding experiences recently was connecting with a child who is nonverbal. Alexis took an American Sign Language class last year, and she has been teaching the child ASL.

“Today I saw, for the first time, her putting together words using her signs, and it made me cry a little bit.”

While running her business full-time, Alexis is also earning a degree in early childhood education from North Seattle College. There, she’s studying the child care crisis and burnout among educators.

CONNECTING WITH OTHER CHILD CARE PROVIDERS

Like her mom — who is now the program manager for Imagine U — Alexis has been involved with the Imagine Institute for several years.

The many trainings she has taken through Imagine have helped Alexis and the children she cares for. In 2019, she took classes in the PREPARE for Care program, an anti-racist and trauma-informed curriculum. More than four years later, she’s still using the things she learned.

One of her favorite experiences has been joining the Shared Services Hub. The Hub connects licensed family child care providers and child care center directors throughout the state with resources and services to help grow their business

Through the Hub, Alexis is part of a Community of Care. She meets once a month with a mentor, Roberta, to share experiences and advice.

Alexis is also a mentor to others through Imagine U, Imagine’s relationship-based mentorship program. She currently has one Intern learning the business.

“I’d like to mentor more people that want to open businesses closer to us. There’s a lot of daycares in Auburn that I know personally, but I think the surrounding areas like Federal Way and SeaTac really need them. So I can help grow the community, plus grow my business.”

Imagine Spotlight: Carli Meek

The Imagine Institute — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 19:47:46 +0000

This week, we are excited to highlight Carli Meek, the program manager for Imagine U and a longtime child care provider in Auburn, Washington.

MEET CARLI

When Carli had her second daughter in 2004, she had just finished dental assistant school. But her plans quickly changed. Her sister also had a newborn, and the two enjoyed staying home with their babies so much, they decided to start a family home child care business.

“I was able to stay home with my children. I was able to be a woman business owner and an entrepreneur in my own personal life. As a child care provider, I was really able to make a difference for children in the community and for their families.”

Little Steps Discovery Zone opened in 2005. Carli’s sister later followed a different career path, but Little Steps was still a family business — Carli’s older daughter, Alexis, started helping as a volunteer when she was a teenager.

Now, Alexis runs Little Steps. Carli still helps manage the business while helping other people become child care providers as the program manager for the Imagine Institute’s relationship-based mentorship program, Imagine U.”

Little Steps Discovery Zone

THE JOURNEY FROM CHILD CARE PROVIDER TO MENTOR

After running Little Steps Discovery Zone for 11 years, Carli received a scholarship to earn her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Goddard College. She followed it with a master’s in adult education.

Imagine U allowed Carli to blend her love of teaching children and adults. As an Imagine U Mentor, she prepared future child care providers to open their own businesses.

She also benefited from the Imagine Institute trainings and decided to become a state-approved trainer. She’s an instructor at North Seattle College, too.

When the Imagine Institute launched the Child Care Stabilization Grant program in 2021, Carli saw another opportunity to help child care providers. She became CCSG program manager. Now, she’s the Imagine U program manager.

“It’s been amazing. When I first found out about the Imagine U Mentor program, my dream was to assist in leading this program.”

HELPING OTHER CHILD CARE BUSINESS OWNERS

Because of her experiences, Carli understands the challenges providers face. She’s proud to be part of an organization that supports and empowers child care workers.

“In Imagine U, we’re helping open child cares across the entire state. In the training department, we are training all of these providers for high-quality care. In the substitute pool, we are helping to get substitutes into programs when licensed providers need help or they need time off, vacations, time to be able to go do their professional development. It’s endless.”

Carli is excited to spread the word about Imagine to people across the state, especially in child care deserts and on the east side of Washington. She’s also excited to add Imagine U Mentors who speak more languages.

Being a child care provider can be isolating, Carli said. She encouraged others to find out how the Imagine Institute can help them.

“We have Technical Assistants on the line that can help in seven different languages immediately. Call and find out! Get involved, because we are a whole community that is there to support you.”

Black History Month 2024: Final Remarks

The Imagine Institute — Sat, 02 Mar 2024 17:31:10 +0000

Throughout the month of February, we are sharing posts written by Imagine Institute training program assistant Lourdes Flores about Black History Month. This series will follow the long history of Black History Month, Black History in the United States, and how we can all celebrate Black History Month in a way that is supportive, healthy, and, most importantly, empowering.

Throughout this series, we have covered some parts of Black History in celebration of Black History Month 2024. To wrap up this series, we want to revisit some key points.

Celebrating in a Healthy and Respectful Way

Black history is rich, important, and beautiful. When speaking about Black culture in the United States, we acknowledge that Black Americans are both African Americans and Black immigrants from many countries of the world. We celebrate a rich history, which has paved the way for other minority groups in the United States and has helped bridge inequities for centuries.

While Black History Month is a month to learn, we also recognize that it is a time for Black Americans to celebrate themselves, in safe spaces, and in any way that is comfortable to the community.

Through this, we acknowledge the importance of not invading Black spaces in an effort to learn more, and assume the responsibility ourselves in an effort to build anti-racist practices into our daily lives.

Celebration Through the Arts

While we were not able to cover all of the arts, we covered music, literature, and cuisine in this short series.

Please consider incorporating the curriculum we shared in the beginning of the series in your own business and sharing some of the children’s books shared with the children under your care. You can also show support through cuisine, purchasing a cookbook, and listening to music.

A fun fact is that the greatest and fastest growing export in the Caribbean is music, and streaming songs directly translates into payment for many of these artists. Many, though not all, of these artists immigrate to the U.S. after finding commercial success.

Inclusion Starts Now

Inclusion and anti-racism begin at an early age, and Black History Month is the perfect time to showcase the diversity and beauty of the Black community.

We hope that you have enjoyed reading the articles that we shared and encourage all to continue learning about the rich history of African Americans and Black Americans throughout the year.

“Unbowed by the forces of hate and undaunted as they fought for centuries against slavery, segregation, and injustice, Black Americans have held a mirror up to our Nation, allowing our country to confront hard truths about who we are and pushing us to live up to our founding ideals. They have helped redeem the soul of our Nation, ensuring the promises in our founding documents were not just words on a page but a lived reality for all people. In the process, the vibrancy of Black history and culture has enriched every aspect of American life.”

The announced theme of Black History Month 2024 is “African Americans and the Arts”, with a focus on the visual and performing arts, literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, culinary, and other forms of cultural expression.

In our series, we will cover music, literature, and cuisine.

Celebrating Black History Month 2024 – Soul Food

The Imagine Institute — Sat, 02 Mar 2024 17:30:55 +0000

Throughout the month of February, we are sharing posts written by Imagine Institute training program assistant Lourdes Flores about Black History Month. This series will follow the long history of Black History Month, Black History in the United States, and how we can all celebrate Black History Month in a way that is supportive, healthy, and, most importantly, empowering.

All About Soul Food

Soul food originated in the American south during the Antebellum period and is associated with the cuisine of the South in general. Soul food used cooking techniques from West and Central Africa, Western Europe, and Indigenous cuisine of North America.

The blend of soul food arose from enslaved peoples maintaining their culture despite slavery and blending it with the ingredients that were available to them during the period. The act of maintaining cultural practices is a huge mark of resilience, and perseverance on its own.

Soul food was originally looked down upon socially as a low-class food, until the commercialization of it. Now, it is considered a fundamental part of American cuisine, and often just associated as Southern cuisine.

It is important that we speak about the origins of soul food, and the importance that it played in subsistence and survival of both life and culture.

What is Soul Food?

Soul food uses various proteins, like rabbit, squirrels, deer, frogs, crawfish, turtles, shellfish, and crab. It also incorporated ham hocks, hog jowls, pigs’ feet, ears, skin and intestines, and generally any meat that was not consumed by Western Europeans.

The term Soul Food originated in the 1960’s and 1970’s during the Black Power Movement. One of the earliest uses of the term is found in the autobiography of Malcolm X, published in 1965.

Soul Food was a cultural point that tied African Americans back to the south after the Great Migration, often being a source of nostalgia.

Soul food restaurants were also mostly Black-owned businesses, helping bolster economic growth of African Americans amidst Jim Crowe politics and during many revolutionary movements. They also served as important meeting places, serving as cultural hubs in urban cities after the Great Migration and during the civil rights movement.

The African Influence in Soul Food

The influence can be seen in the heat levels of many soul food dishes, as well as the ingredients such as malagueta pepper and red cayenne peppers. Several foods used in soul food were domesticated or consumed in the African savanna region, and the tropical regions of West and Central Africa, such as pigeon peas, black-eyed peas, okra and sorghum.

The knowledge of how to cook rice was brought to the United Stated by Africans and became a staple to many soul food dishes like Jambalaya, and red beans and rice (popular in Louisiana).

Another parallel is the consumption of sweet potatoes in the US, which is reminiscent of the consumption of yams in West Africa.

Native-American influence

Southeastern native American culture is also an important part of Southern cuisine. Staples like corn were used to make cornbread, grits, Moonshine, and Southern whiskey (all of which are still important to the Southern economy today).

Passed-on recipes

Because reading and writing were illegal during slavery, soul food recipes and techniques were passed along orally and through families until emancipation.

The first recorded soul food cookbook: Abby Fisher’s What Mrs. Fisher Knows About Old Southern Cooking in 1881.

The National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), and organizations of the like, have produced cookbooks to fund operations and charities, funneling funds back into Black economic development and advancement. Some of these include:

Celebrating a Rich Cuisine and History – Places to Try!

Simply Soulful Café – A Black-owned business who uses the recipes of a family matriarch to bring Soul Food out to Washington. 2321 S Jackson St., Seattle

The Comfort Zone – Founded by a mother and daughter duo, they serve shrimp and grits, fried pork chops, oxtails and rice, gizzards, mac and cheese, and more! Two locations: Columbia City – 5016 Rainier Ave S. Seattle; Dakota – 3642 33rd Ave S. Seattle

Trying Other Black Cuisine

Seattle is very fortunate to have many immigrant-owned businesses that sell Halal foods of different African countries. You can also try Black Caribbean cuisine in the area. Here are some spots!

Mama Sambusa Kitchen – founded in 2009 by Marian Ahmed, a Somali immigrant who “was forced to leave everything dear to her behind in the hopes of creating a better life for her family.” Marian says that she had a difficult time navigating a male-dominated industry but persevered and opened her business to create something for her daughters that would build and carry on generational success. They suggest trying out their Sambusa! They are women, immigrant, Black, and Muslim-owned. 8319 Wabash Ave S. Seattle

Queen Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant: serves traditional Ethiopian fare and has vegetarian options! 916 E John St. Seattle

Taste of Congo – Black, immigrant, and women-owned, Caroline opened Taste of Congo after moving to the Seattle area. Her business is built on traditional recipes that she learned from her mother, who would cater weddings, parties and church programs in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa. They offer both individual service and ordering, as well as catering. 14200 Tukwila International Blvd, Suite 141 Tukwila, WA

Taste of the Caribbean – serves Jamaican cuisine. The reviews suggest trying their rice and peas, ackee, saltfish, and oxtails. 1212 E. Jefferson St. Seattle

Jerk Shack – serves Jamaican food, both individually, through catering, and meat by the pound. They also sell different sauces to take home. 1133 24th Ave, Suite N, Seattle

Celebrating Black History Month 2024 – “The Art of Resistance”: Protesting Through Literature

The Imagine Institute — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 21:48:09 +0000

Throughout the month of February, we are sharing posts written by Imagine Institute training program assistant Lourdes Flores about Black History Month. This series will follow the long history of Black History Month, Black History in the United States, and how we can all celebrate Black History Month in a way that is supportive, healthy, and, most importantly, empowering.

Influence of Literature

Literature is a fundamental avenue of Black expression in the United States, and one that has been historically suppressed. Pre-dating the United States, reading and writing has often been reserved and limited for powerful groups to maintain control over populations. Even thinking on the Protestant revolution of Europe, a fundamental part of it was spreading the word of the Bible and teaching people to read to allow them to interpret it themselves – the leader of the revolution was previously a Catholic priest and found that the church was outright lying about the scripture and weaponizing it to collect high and frequent tithes from a peasant majority who was already impoverished.

The power of written word has never been unknown, and knowing how to read and write was punishable by death to African Americans during the Antebellum period. Long after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by Lincoln, barriers to education helped ensure low literacy rates in the Black community – that is, until Black Americans founded their own institutes of learning, crowdfunding and sourcing their own ways and spreading standardized education throughout the community, by and for themselves.

Literature is a treasured art because it is almost the pinnacle of resistance, and the art that has been created by Black Americans is unique, powerful, and expository. Here we visit some books, as well as a vastly unrecognized, but very powerful, resistance movement.

Harlem Writers Guild

This is the oldest organization of African American writers, originally established as the Harlem Writers Club in 1950. It sought to give African American writers a platform to present their art without censoring their experience of being Black in the United States of America.

The Harlem Writers Guild used their social circles and their academic voices towards social change. They had revolutionary meetings in coffee shops in Harlem, supported the Black Panther movement, Malcolm X, liberation movements in Mozambique and Angola, and organized to help dismantle apartheid policies in South Africa with American resources.

They fought against publishers who refused to publish Black artists by creating networks of resistance and going largely unnoticed by oppressive regulatory authorities. It is estimated that the Harlem Writers Guild, through their shared network, published more than 300 literary works.

Legacy: We continue to see book bans on many ‘controversial’ books that speak of the Black experience in America. While the topics that are often covered in Black literature are not “pretty” or “palatable”, by ignoring and suppressing these works, we not only suppress a key form of expression, but we force oppression into obscurity, allowing us to continue to not address key issues.

Banned Books by Black Authors:

Native Son, Richard Wright (1940)
The Color Purple, Alice Walker (1982)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou (1969)
Song of Solomon, Tori Morrison (1977)
New Kid, Jerry Craft (2019)
Black Boy, Richard Wright (1945)
Go Tell it on the Mountain, James Baldwin (1953)
Their Eyes were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston (1937)
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, Michelle Alexander (2011)
Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, Brandy Colbert (2021)
A Hero Ain’t Nothin’ But a Sandwich, Alice Childress (1973)

Consider purchasing some of these books from one of the aforementioned Black-owned bookstores! Please note that these are likely not appropriate for children, but we have shared age-appropriate books earlier in the series.

Celebrating Black History Month 2024 – “The Art of Resistance”: Protesting Through Song

The Imagine Institute — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 21:29:02 +0000

Throughout the month of February, we are sharing posts written by Imagine Institute training program assistant Lourdes Flores about Black History Month. This series will follow the long history of Black History Month, Black History in the United States, and how we can all celebrate Black History Month in a way that is supportive, healthy, and, most importantly, empowering.

Song writing and performance has been a marker of protest and resistance for Black Americans for centuries. It is also a marker of celebration, joy, exaltation, and worship, among others. The National Museum of African American History and Culture created a comprehensive list of music. We also wanted to share some categories of music for you to listen to: visit this site from the Smithsonian.

Age-appropriate music for children:

Different genres in African American music:

African American is a diverse term, but for the purposes of this section, we will cover African-Americans who are descendants of the African diaspora of the 1700s-1900s.

Sacred Music

This includes spirituals and gospel music. When we think of Black Christianity, it is important to note that the celebration of God is very unique.

The Black Church and the role of music

One thing that is important to note is that Sacred music was often used to hide messages of resistance in enslaved populations. Plantation bosses and owners encouraged Christianity, and singing was popularly encouraged. Songs like “Wade in the Water” had messages about the underground railroad and helped spread messages in the fight for freedom.

For example, it is popularly believed the Harriet Tubman used “Wade in the Water” to warn enslaved peoples to get off trails and into the water to hide scents and lose tracking dogs.

Sacred music was also used to help retain humanity under the inhumane conditions of the Antebellum South.

Now, sacred music is a celebration of Black culture and resistance, and a tool for unity through the church. Sacred music transcends generations and unifies the Black community. Two Examples: “I’ve Got The Victory” Summer Jam Praise Break 2018! and “I’m yet holding on praise break.”

Folk Music

African American folk music links back to African cultural traditions. Popular folk music was used in the 1960s Black Power protest movement and its influence can be found in Hip Hop today.

The history of African American folk music is rich and demands separate reading. A great article by Black Music Scholar can be found here, which details the key aspects, performers, the commodification of it, as well as its influence and impact:

Ritchie Havens – Freedom at Woodstock 1969
Leadbelly – Goodnight Irene

Influence in Hip-Hop modernly

African American folk music has historically been used as a symbol of resistance. It is not surprising that with the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, and another wave of Black activism, we would see the rise and incorporation of it into more popular modern genres.

Jake Blount – The Downward Road
Kendrick Lamar – For Free? (Interlude) [clean]
Childish Gambino – This is America [clean]

The Blues

The blues is considered contemporary American music. However, it was created by and for African-Americans in the south. With roots in the Mississippi Delta, Memphis, Chicago, Georgia, Southern Texas, etc., the music was originally used for protest of widespread poverty in the area while celebrating the natural and cultural richness of the culture.

Songs also detailed the Great Migration Northward, where 6 million African Americans moved out of the rural Southern United States to the urban Northeast, Midwest, and West (1910-1970)

Edith Wilson – [What did I do To Be So] Black and Blue
Leadbelly – Bourgeois Blues – This song was used to spread the message to warn African Americans against moving to the north and detailed that the promise of equity in the north was an illusion. The lyrics include:
“Me and my wife went all over town
And where we go, the colored people turn us down
Lord, in a bourgeois town
It’s a bourgeois town
I got the bourgeois blues, I’m
Gonna spread the news all around” … “I tell all the colored folks to listen to me
Don’t try to find you no home in Washington, DC”
Tampa Red – Things ‘Bout Coming My Way (1931 version)

Jazz

Jazz evolved from ragtime and was first materialized in New Orleans. Inherently based on improvisation, it has evolved into many different subgenres, from big band to avant-garde jazz.

Big 6 Brass Band – Full Set
Billie Holiday – Strange Fruit
James Brown – I’m Black and I’m Proud
Miles Davis with John Coltrane – Full set, Paris 1960 – Both of these men are considered founders and key figures of jazz, and their joint collaboration is critically acclaimed.
Nina Simone – Feeling Good

Rhythm and Blues

The predecessor to soul music, R&B has roots in jazz, the blues, and gospel. The popularity and easy commercialization of R&B helped spread African American culture and popularized racial integration during the late stages of the Great Migration.

Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On
Mary J. Blige – Family Affair
The Fugees – Killing Me Softly

Hip-Hop and Rap

Hip-hop and rap have become a global phenomenon and spawned an entire cultural form. The roots of rap are in protest and continue to be an avenue for artists to voice opinions about social and political issues.

The Last Poets – Before the White Men Came
Gil Scott Heron – The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Run DMC – Proud to be Black
Kendrick Lamar – PRIDE.
Kanye West – Homecoming
2pac – Who Do You Believe In

Caribbean Music

The Caribbean population, while diverse and sometimes multi-ethnic and multi-racial, is largely Black, and the African influence has trickled through generations. Often, we refer to Caribbean music as having “Afro-beats”, but there are many genres, varying by countries and regions. Here are some.

Salsa (Cuba, Puerto Rico) – Celia Cruz – Rie y Llora
Dembow (Dominican Republic) – El ALFA EL JEFE X ROCHY RD – Los Pobres y los Ricos
Kompa (Haiti) – Larose/Missile 747 – Mandela
Soca (Trinidad and Tobago) – Patrice Roberts – Old and Grey
Reggae – Jamaica – Eve, Damian Marley, and Stephen Marley – You don’t love me (no, no, no)

African Music – The Diaspora

As we mentioned above, almost 50% of the Black immigrant population in the United States today is made up of African Immigrants from countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Somalia.

1970s and 1980s Somali Music Playlist: Here.
Niaja Music 2024, Nigerian Songs Playlist 2024: Here.

Black History Month 2024: Presidential Proclamation and Theme

The Imagine Institute — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:56:49 +0000

Throughout the month of February, we are sharing posts written by Imagine Institute training program assistant Lourdes Flores about Black History Month. This series will follow the long history of Black History Month, Black History in the United States, and how we can all celebrate Black History Month in a way that is supportive, healthy, and, most importantly, empowering.

On January 31^st 2024, President Joseph R. Biden released A Proclamation on National Black History Month, 2024. It has been customary for all presidents to release such proclamations since President Clinton began the tradition in 1996. Here is a key excerpt of this year’s:

In our series, we will cover music, literature, and cuisine.

Diversity within the Black Community: 46.8 million people in the US identify as Black

The Imagine Institute — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 04:36:36 +0000

Throughout the month of February, we are sharing posts written by Imagine Institute training program assistant Lourdes Flores about Black History Month. This series will follow the long history of Black History Month, Black History in the United States, and how we can all celebrate Black History Month in a way that is supportive, healthy, and, most importantly, empowering.

Diversity in the Black Community

The 2020 census shows that 13.6% of the US population identifies as Black or African American. It is important to note that this category does not only cover African American people, but also all Black Americans.

A common misconception in the United States is to consider that all people who are Black are African American. However, this is not the case.

Is there harm in grouping all Black people under the same umbrella? Yes and no. When we speak about Black History Month, we must acknowledge that this covers all Black people in the United States. It is not limited only to African Americans, but also encompasses different immigrant groups like peoples from the Caribbean and West, East, Centra, and Sub-Saharan African.

Black Population Diversity in the US

When we speak about Black history, we cannot assume that the centuries of struggles that Black Americans have faced is that of Black immigrants and refugees of the 20^th and 21^st century. All of history is important, but part of empowerment and celebration is being informed of the differences within the community.

The foreign-born Black population has doubled since 2000, rising from 7% to 10% in 2019. As of 2019, 4.6 million Black Americans were foreign-born. 42% of Black immigrants in the United States are of African Origin and 46% are of Caribbean origin.

Birthplaces for Black Immigrants in the United Sates (2019):

Jamaica – 760,000 people living in the US
Haiti – 700,000 people living in the US
Nigeria – 390,000 people living in the US
Ethiopia – 260,000 people living in the US
Dominican Republic – 210,000 people living in the US
Ghana – 190,000 people living in the US
Trinidad and Tobago – 170,000 people living in the US
Kenya – 130,000 people living in the US
Guyana – 120,000 people living in the US
Somali – 110,000 people living in the US

Children’s Books for Black History Month

The Imagine Institute — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 16:00:25 +0000

Throughout the month of February, we are sharing posts written by Imagine Institute training program assistant Lourdes Flores about Black History Month. This series will follow the long history of Black History Month, Black History in the United States, and how we can all celebrate Black History Month in a way that is supportive, healthy, and, most importantly, empowering.

Yesterday, we shared a list of Washington-based Black-owned places to buy books. Today, we have a wonderful list of books for young readers that celebrate important people from Black history and tell stories of Black excellence and joy.

Glow by Ruth Forman, illustrated by Geneva Bowers

Ages 0 to 3

This simple, playful, and elegant board book stars a young boy who joyfully celebrates his dark skin with a bright moon at the end of a perfect day.

The Kindest Red by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S. K. Ali, illustrated by Hatem Aly

Ages 4 to 9

It’s picture day, and Faizah can’t wait to wear her special red dress with matching hair ribbons, passed down from her mother and sister. Faizah’s teacher starts the day by asking her students to envision the kind of world they want, inspiring Faizah and her friends to spend the day helping one another in ways large and small. But when it’s time for sibling pictures, Faizah realizes that she and her older sister, Asiya, don’t match like her classmates do with their siblings. With help from her classmates inspired by Asiya’s hijab, Faizah finds that acts of kindness can come back to you in unexpected ways.

Rocket Says Speak Up!, by Nathan Bryon, illustrated by Dapo Adeola

Ages 4 to 9

When Rocket finds out that her town’s library is closing, she knows something must be done. Inspired by the activism of Rosa Parks, Rocket rallies support from her peers, and together they lead a peaceful protest that spreads awareness and raises enough money to save their beloved library.

Kind Like Marsha: Learning from LGBTQ+ Leaders, by Sarah Prager, illustrated by Cheryl Thuesday

Ages 4 to 9

This book celebrates 14 amazing and inspirational LGBTQ+ people throughout history. Fan favorites like Harvey Milk, Sylvia Rivera, and Audre Lorde are joined by the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Frida Kahlo, and more in this striking collection. With a focus on a positive personality attribute of each of the historical figures, readers will be encouraged to be brave like the Ugandan activist fighting for LGBTQ+ rights against all odds and to be kind like Marsha P. Johnson, who took care of her trans community on the New York City streets.

Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo,” by Zora Neale Hurston, adapted by Ibram X. Kendi

Ages 10 to 12

This historic text is adapted from the work of Zora Neale Hurston. It details the story of Cudjo Lewis, who was a person brought to the United States through the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Cudjo tells of his childhood in Africa and the horrors of the raid of his home, being captured, and held in a barracoon for sale. He spent years in slavery until the end of the Civil War.

And We Rise, by Erica Martin

Ages 13 to 18

In stunning verse and vivid use of white space, Erica Martin’s debut poetry collection walks readers through the Civil Rights Movement—from the well-documented events that shaped the nation’s treatment of Black people, beginning with the “Separate but Equal” ruling—and introduces lesser-known figures and moments that were just as crucial to the Movement and our nation’s centuries-long fight for justice and equality.

The Awakening of Malcolm X, by Ilyasah Shabazz and Tiffany D. Jackson

Ages 13 to 18

In Charlestown Prison, Malcolm Little struggles with the weight of his past. Plagued by nightmares, he drifts through days unsure of his future. Slowly, he befriends other prisoners and writes to his family. He reads all the books in the prison library and joins the debate team and the Nation of Islam. Malcolm grapples with race, politics, religion, and justice in the 1940s. And as his time in jail comes to an end, he begins to awaken—emerging from prison more than just Malcolm Little: Now, he is Malcolm X.

February Activities for Kids and Families

The Imagine Institute — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 21:12:02 +0000

February is the shortest month, but it’s also one of the busiest of the year. We celebrate so many things, including Valentine’s Day, so we decided to compile a list of activities for providers to do with their kids that is fun and easy. Have fun!

Indoor Tie-Dye Designs – Tie-dye is usually an outdoor activity since it can be messy, but in the cold weather, you can still let kids do it indoors. First, grab some white cloth and put it on a tray or other surface you use for crafts. Then have kids take Sharpies and create designs. They can make anything from a heart to a rainbow, or whatever they can come up with. Then, using a Q-Tip or cotton swab, dab the designs with rubbing alcohol. The designs will then spread out and turn into a tie-dye design.

(https://artfulparent.com/sharpie-tie-dye-comfort-pillows-from-crafting-connections-magazine/)

Valentine’s Day Noodle Garland – This can be done for Valentine’s Day, or for any other holiday. Take a bunch of different types of dry noodles and have kids color them red and pink. Then, cut out heart shapes from construction paper and have kids glue their noodles to the paper in various designs. They can even paint the paper if they want. Then you take clothespins and hang the hearts up on a piece of string to put up in the room. Easy, fun, and can be changed out with colors and designs for different holidays.

(https://www.theottoolbox.com/valentines-day-garland-craft-noodle/)

Heart Counting Game – This is another activity that can be done for other holidays besides Valentine’s Day. First, make or buy two colorful paper hearts and put them on side-by-side on a piece of paper. Then, fill two cups with dried beans, candy, or something else to count with. Have two kids take turns rolling a pair of dice to see how many pieces they can put on their heart. Once the heart is full of pieces, they win! This activity is a good way to teach counting, and a fun way for kids to spend time during the holiday. (https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/24818/math-games/)