November 2020
Women of Color Leading the Charge
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“I may be the first woman in this office. But I won’t be the last.”
—Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris, November 7, 2020
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Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsome with two of our Cinnamongirls. |
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The nail-biting finish of this year’s presidential election nearly obscured the historic nature of Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris’s victory. But when the dust settled, we were able to celebrate the fact that as a woman, as a biracial Black and South Asian daughter of immigrants, and as a graduate of Howard University, Harris broke several historic barriers at once. Representation matters, and now girls of color finally have a real-life representative at the highest level of government.
Other women of color garnered election accolades as well. Stacey Abrams is widely credited for delivering the Biden-Harris ticket’s historic victory in Georgia through her grassroots movement to fight voter suppression and lift up Black and brown voters. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, Congressional representatives from Minnesota and Michigan, have also been recognized as powerful forces in turning out progressive voters in their respective states.
Across the nation, it has become increasingly clear that women and girls of color are a vital part of our nation’s future, and that investing in young women and girls of color is essential to the health of our democracy. And when we look at our Cinnamongirls, we are filled with hope. These young women have it in them to bring about the future that we dream of, and Cinnamongirl is committed to supporting them and investing in their growth. We hope you are, too.
Renée Richard
Chief Executive Officer
Cinnamongirl, Inc.
Support the growth, development, and leadership
of young women of color.
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Fun Facts about Vice President-Elect Kamala Devi Harris
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- Harris’s parents, Donald Harris and Shyamala Gopalan, met at UC Berkeley; Donald Harris was an economist and Gopalan was a cancer researcher. Kamala was born in Oakland, CA.
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Devi means “lotus,” a flower symbolizing purity of purpose in Asian cultures; even though lotuses may be “born” at the bottom of a pond, they rise up to the surface to become beautiful flowers.
- Harris attended middle school and high school in Montreal, Canada. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Howard University in economics and political science.
- While attending law school in San Francisco, Harris lived with her sister Maya and helped take care of Maya’s young daughter.
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Save The Date: #GIVINGTUESDAY December 1, 2020 |
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GivingTuesday is a global day of generosity that takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving; this year it’s on December 1, 2020. It’s a special day to exercise the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world as one.
We hope it will inspire people everywhere to come together to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
Please plan ahead to give Cinnamongirl a little extra boost on Giving Tuesday by donating what you can to support our girls!
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Mentor Spotlight - Kelsey Scott, Cinnamongirl Mentor
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[ Photo courtesy of kelseyscott.com]
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Two-time Emmy-nominated actress Kelsey Scott is also a screenwriter, a karaoke lover, and an adventurous cook. She mentors Cinnamongirl Mariah, an accomplished young debater who loves Broadway musicals and is ready to take on the world.
Why I volunteer: There is, and always will be, more need than resources. I volunteer to be a piece of a difference made, an imprint left, a life impacted, and to pass along the spirit of giving and community.
Why Cinnamongirl? When my mother told me I could do anything, I believed her. But the world too often sends a different message to girls of color. I consider any efforts to empower the voices and fuel the motivations of these young ladies a beautiful obligation. I was specifically drawn to Cinnamongirl's Write Your Story program because I'm a firm believer in the power of artistic expression as an avenue to personal and educational growth.
One thing I know for sure: I have so much more to learn. So much personal and professional growth. The shelter-at-home order has crystallized the list of things I always said I wanted to accomplish, but didn't have the time.
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I Feel You: Writing 3D Emotional Imagery |
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Photo credit: Nye Lyn Tho |
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Award-winning poet and assistant professor of creative writing at Colby College Arisa White worked with our writers on how to use “emotion as information, the body as a source, and the senses for detailing.” Of her experience, White says, “The Cinnamongirls were great collaborators. They got the gems. They got the strategies.” A standout example from one of the exercises: chocolate covered smoke. “Yaass!” she exclaims. “That’s a three-dimensional emotional image.”
White has amassed a long list of honors for her crisp, emotionally arresting poetry for adults; her recent book for middle grade readers, Biddy Mason Speaks Up, has also won a number of prestigious awards.
You can learn more about her books in our Diversify Your Bookshelf section below.
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Using Poetry to Survive Pain:
Passport Book Club Tweens Read Under the Mesquite
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Laila Butcher, one of our discussion leaders, has observed that her readers resonate with books with strong women and girls of color as central characters. The girls keep a journal as they read, writing their reactions and answering discussion questions along the way to prepare for a fruitful in-depth discussion at the end of the month.
Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall is a novel in verse featuring Lupita, the eldest daughter in a Mexican American family and an aspiring poet and actress. When her mother is diagnosed with cancer and her parents go to stay at an out-of-town clinic, Lupita struggles to take care of her seven younger siblings and deals with high school and friends who don’t “get it.” Her only refuge is the time she spends writing under the shade of a mesquite tree; ultimately, she finds a way through the pain, fear, and chaos of her life.
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Diversify Your Bookshelf
Our November Recommendations
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Beyond Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and Rosa Parks, Arisa White re-introduces the world to the brilliant Biddy Mason. Ms. Bridgett “Biddy” Mason was born into slavery but was taken to California where she contested her slaveholder’s claim and eventually won her freedom. Mason worked as a midwife and saved enough money to become one of the first landowners in Los Angeles and one of the first Black millionaires in the country.
A generous and beloved philanthropist, her many legacies include the First African Methodist Episcopal Church and an elementary school for Black children. Part illustrated poem, part history book (including timelines, primary sources, and historical context passages) and all excellence. For ages 8 - 12.
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This arresting poetry collection won the Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Poetry. Critics praised White’s “blend of intellectual rigor . . . with beautiful imagery” and its “formal playfulness, the rich music, the storytelling, and, perhaps especially, the sense of justice and humanity.” Adults and older teen poetry lovers will appreciate the sharp beauty of White’s language and craft.
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Award-winning author Tana Lloyd Kyi addresses a range of stereotype-related issues including racism, sexism, ableism, and homophobia. She details personal stories as well as the broader socio-economic consequences, citing examples from all over the globe but focusing primarily on the United States. As the title suggests, Kyi also delves into the science (and history) behind our tendency to stereotype, and offers suggestions about how to overcome it. All of this is done in an engaging, age-appropriate manner, with illustrations, sidebars, and a list of sources and suggested reading for those who want to explore further. For ages 9-13.
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edited by Adi Alsaid
This anthology explores the joys, heartbreaks and triumphs of immigration, with stories by critically acclaimed and bestselling young adult authors. The stories travel the globe from Israel to Argentina to Fiji, to India and arrive with characters looking for home in the United States. Whether you’re with a girl trapped at the border with her mother, or a boy looking back on his family’s changing immigrant status through history and geography, you will be transfixed and inspired. For ages 12 - adult.
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Yes, that Stacey Abrams. While Justice Sleeps is an adult courtroom thriller about Avery Keene, a talented young law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Howard Wynn. Wynn falls into a coma and Avery is shocked to learn that he has given her the power of attorney. As she goes through his papers, she discovers that he has been secretly researching a hotly contested case between an American biotech company and an Indian genetics firm—and that in doing so, he has uncovered a dangerous conspiracy among some of the most powerful players in Washington.
Abrams has also written a nonfiction book about ending voter suppression, titled Our Time Is Now, and she writes romance novels under the pen name Selma Montgomery. Talk about the woman who can do it all!
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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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