December 2020
Finding Power in Community
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There’s no way around it: 2020 has been a hard year. Nearly everyone lost something—or someone—they loved. But there have been shining moments of hope and triumph, as well. And if those moments have taught us anything, it is the importance of creating and nurturing community. Our greatest triumphs this year happened when we cared for each other—when we stood together and spoke up for each other.
As an end-of-the-year activity, we asked our girls about their holiday traditions, their favorite songs and foods, and their thoughts on the year, and we received almost as many different answers as we have girls. But they had nearly the same answer to the question, “What do you miss the most?” Almost to a person, they miss doing things with their friends, whether it be shopping, sports, or just hanging out. Friendship is one of their most important values—and with good reason. When women of color come together, when we nurture connection, relationships, building up and giving back, we can achieve great things.
We are so grateful to all of you for your tremendous support as we build our community of extraordinary young women who will in turn nurture, support, and lead their own communities. We wish you joy, hope, and power in community in 2021.
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Cinnamongirls Look Back on 2020 |
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We conducted a mini-survey of the Cinnamongirls about the year and the holidays. Here’s a sample of their responses:
What do you miss most about your pre-pandemic life?
“Being able to hug my friends at school.”
“Everything.”
“Hangouts with my friends, and going to the library.”
“Shopping.”
“Basketball and Art with my friends.”
“Gymnastics. I miss being with my teammates.”
What have you learned or gained in 2020?
“I've learned how to organize my work efficiently to avoid procrastination.”
“To keep going and to never give up.”
“I read a book and learned about my culture.”
“That patience is everything. And you really need to be thankful for all the small things that you have because they mean so much and you can really take them for granted.”
Favorite holiday movie?
Christmas with the Kranks
This Christmas
Elf
Jingle Jangle
Favorite holiday food or recipe?
Gumbo
Empanadas
Pumpkin pie
Posole
“My mom’s sweet potato casserole.”
What will you do for New Year’s Eve?
“Spend it with family.”
Stay up all night and live tweet my goals for 2021.”
“STAY UP LATE!!!!!!”
“Scream ‘Jumanji’ so we can get out of this game.”
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Cinnamongirl Spotlight: Chariot Waddell
“You can’t let any obstacles stop you from achieving your dreams.”
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At fourteen years old, Chariot Waddell is like her name: an unstoppable force who’s going to go far. This year, Chariot was invited to be part of her school’s National Honor Society chapter, an honor extended to students who excel in academics and leadership, and who show a commitment to community service. Read more about this Phoenix, AZ Cinnamongirl for some serious inspiration!
Favorite snack: Anything in the fridge at the moment!
Favorite show: On My Block. I grew up watching Disney Channel [where] people of color never were the “main event” but were background noise to white people’s lives. In [this Disney] show, all the characters are people of color who are my age and they are the “main event”. For me, I enjoy watching shows with people that reflect me because I am able to better relate to the characters.
Favorite subject in school: I love all subjects in school! My favorite subjects are Math, History, and Literature/Language.
Favorite non-academic activities: photography, lacrosse, writing poetry, reading, baking.
What do you love about Cinnamongirl? The Cinnamongirl program has been such an influential and inspiring part of my life because it has allowed me to be able to connect with girls of color who are my age while being able to converse and learn from phenomenal women who are authors! This program has allowed me to grow in my writing along with my relationships with my Cinnamongirl sisters. In addition to this, I have been blessed with a spectacular mentor who has guided me through the writing process, improved my writing/editing skills, and taught me what it means to be an author who is a woman of color.
What advice do you have for young girls of color? You can become anything you want with hard work and dedication. There are so many obstacles that you will face . . . Not everyone will support your efforts in trying to change the world . . .But you can’t let any obstacles stop you from achieving your dreams. It is okay to fail a hundred times over but what really shows the power you possess is if you get back up again and again and again . . . [because] there will be that one time where you get back up and start to run through the wind, where no one can stop you.
What message would you like to give to the world about young women of color like yourself? Women of color are powerful. Stop trying to undermine our power, our worth just because you feel threatened by it. We will rise.
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Sister Chat: Scent, Memory, and Poetry |
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Our monthly Cinnamongirl Sister Chats offer the girls and their mentors a chance to check in personally, to discuss what’s going on in the world, and to have a little fun doing crafts and other activities.
November’s Write Your Story Cohort Sister Chat yielded this evocative poem about the scents of Thanksgiving dinner, with each Cinnamongirl and her mentor contributing a line.
The Sweet Scent of Memory
By the Cinnamongirls Write Your Story Cohort
I walk into the kitchen and oh my my...
I get a whiff of some sweet potato pie
Cinnamon and nutmeg and caramelly goodness
Oh, how the smell of pies fills me up inside
Speaking of pies, I can taste the cheese bubbling off the macaroni with my eyes
A bag of marshmallows is waiting for the sweet potato pie
My heart gets to beat as I await the taste of treats
Oh, wait there's more!
Oh, the dressing is refreshing
I can smell the turkey like I do every year
And the smell of the aunties and mom's perfume because they work so hard to prepare the meal
Seeing everyone together is giving me all the love and feels
But wait there is a smell of those Brazilian collard greens that led to my banishment from the Thanksgiving kitchen
All that sounds great but all I want to know is the turkey ready yet.
I love the smell of stuffing that will stop at absolutely nothing
The different smells illuminate the air as I get prepared and tie up my hair
The mashed potatoes taste all right. I hope I don't have to stay the night
The smell of the hot chocolate is a sweets galore
Rosemary sprinkled rolls are rising in their bowls
The jazz music playing on the radio as our grandparents tell us ghost stories from long ago.
The smell of my mother's casserole is bringing me joy
My loud cousin fills my ears with noise
And the Thanksgiving table seemed to glow.
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8 Holiday Gift Ideas from BIPOC-owned Businesses |
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These fun, unique gifts run the gamut from shaving products for men to delicious tequila and chocolate, to family games. And all of them are made and sold by people of color.
Ujamaa Box is a subscription box that will send you products from Black-owned businesses every month. Past featured items include hot sauce, jewelry, skincare products, and educational card sets.
If you’d like to support a Native business, Beyond Buckskin offers apparel, housewares, and artwork made by Native artists. This inspirational print is a great gift for a teen.
The Chuatemoc wooden shapes puzzle is just one of many bilingual and Latinx-focused products sold by Lil’ Libros, which was founded by two women who noticed a lack of bilingual books for kids and decided to fix that problem.
Born and raised in Harlem, Joe Cruz Jr. worked in the liquor industry for twenty-five years before creating YaVe tequila. Available in Jalapeno, Mango, and Blanco.
This peace bracelet from RedGreen Rivers, a Hmong artists’ collective, is made from recycled scrap metal from unexploded bombs dropped on Laos during the Secret War (1964-1973).
Studies show that caring for plants lowers blood pressure and boosts your mood. Isha Plants offers subscription boxes, gift boxes, and online workshops for everyone from your “Budding Botanist” kids to the “Bougie Botanist” in your life.
Bedré Fine Chocolates is owned and run by the Chickasaw Nation. Bedré donates a portion of its profits to philanthropic causes in the Chickasaw Nation.
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Cinnamongirl Passport Cohort
November Read
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November’s Cinnamongirl Passport Cohort book selection was Listen, Slowly by Thanhà Lai, the author of National Book Award and Newbery Award-winning Inside Out & Back Again. It follows Mai and her grandmother on a summer trip to Vietnam. Born and raised in California, Mai resents having to spend her summer in a hot, humid, smelly country to which she feels no connection. Our tweens were very moved by Mai’s story; those with family in other countries felt that her point of view articulated feelings that they’ve experienced, themselves. Listen, Slowly is a New York Times Book Review Notable Book and is best for kids ages 10-12. |
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Diversify Your Bookshelf
Our December Recommendations
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Photo credit: @readsleepfangirl on Instagram |
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Adichie’s highly engaging and intellectually stimulating take on feminism based on inclusion and awareness. Using personal stories about her childhood (as a child in Nigeria, she was passed over for class monitor because she was a girl, despite having the highest grade in the class; as an adult, her male friend was thanked for a tip, even though she was the one who had paid it), Adichie argues that bringing awareness to others will make them realize that they, too, should be feminists. Adapted from her 2012 TEDTalk. For teens through adults.
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When legendary R&B artist Korey Fields spots Enchanted Jones at an audition, Enchanted’s dreams of being a famous singer take flight. Until she wakes up with blood on her hands and zero memory of the previous night. Who killed Korey Fields? More than just a murder mystery, Grown explores the “dark underbelly...of misogynoir, rape culture, and the vulnerability of young Black girls.” (Dhonielle Clayton, NYT bestselling author of The Belles) This highly acclaimed novel is for teens through adults.
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Winner of this year’s National Book Award, this novel follows twelve-year-old Kingston James, whose older brother Khalid died unexpectedly; his ghost still visits Kingston in his dreams. Before dying, Khalid told King to stay away from his best friend, Sandy: “He’s gay,” Khalid said. Then Sandy goes missing. King finds him and agrees to help him escape his abusive father. As the two build a tiny secret life for themselves in the bayou, King must face the truth about his own identity and about his brother’s death. For ages 8-12.
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Daisy Ramona rides around her neighborhood with her Papi and sees all the people and places she’s grown up with—and also sees that things are changing. But at the end of the day, she knows that she will always have her beloved father and the love they share. Winner of the Pura Belprè Illustration Honor Award and the Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award. For ages 0-7.
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Give to Cinnamongirl Today! |
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We're inspiring girls everywhere to lead, mentor, and be the changemakers in the room. Won't you please consider a gift of any amount. 85% of our funding comes from our amazing supporters.
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When shopping Amazon, use this LINK and Amazon will donate a percent of your purchases to Cinnamongirl Inc. It’s a donation you initiate and nothing comes out of your wallet. |
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Teachers, we need your help! As educators you cross paths with future Cinnamongirls every day and that is why we are reaching out to YOU!
You can help us identify prospective Cinnamongirls who could use a platform like Cinnamongirl to support their dreams, help them develop their voice & be the leaders they were born to be.
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