“I am an amalgam of a great, proud, painful, amazing, bloody, beautiful people and history.”
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Be inspired by 5 women of color who are making history today! Then help shape the women who will make history tomorrow by participating in our Dream Big Fundraising Campaign giveaway offer, and registering for an important upcoming talk: on Kids to College: What Parents Need to Know. Then read about our amazing new project director, meet critically acclaimed author Rita Woods, whose powerful quote you read in our subject line, catch up on what our fantastic cohorts are up to, and get some great book recommendations to diversify your bookshelf. We love our newsletter this month and we hope you will, too!
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5 Amazing Women of Color Making History Today |
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Lizzo: the pop icon whose unapologetic exuberance and message of self-love are helping to redefine our ideas about female beauty.
Kizzmekia Corbett: The immunologist at the U.S National Institute of Health whose research was the key to developing Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.
LaDonna Brave Bull Allard: A member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Ballard was one of the leaders of the 2016 Dakota Access Pipeline protests.
Tammy Duckworth: Illinois’ first Asian American U.S. Senator, Iraq War vet, double-amputee, and the first senator to give birth while in office—and to bring her baby to work in the chamber.
Ellen Ochoa: Ochoa became NASA’s first Latina astronaut in 1991 and went on to become the first Latinx and second woman director of Johnson Space Center in Houston.
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Dream Big Fundraising Campaign |
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Help our girls dream big! Become a monthly donor, or donate $75 or more to the Dream Big campaign in March and receive a Cinnamongirl mug as a sign of our gratitude.
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Save the Date: Sunday, April 25
Kids to College:
What Parents Need to Know
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After years of working with STEM students at an elite private school and years more working with applicants to the Honors College at Virginia Tech University, Dr. Joanie Banks-Hunt sees a clear gap between white college applicants and college applicants of color—not in talent, intellect, test scores, or potential, but in their understanding of how to navigate the admissions process and how to showcase their strengths. Join us for our FREE three-part speaker series, Kids to College, for compelling, crucial talks for families of kids preparing for college.
Part 1: What Parents Need to Know
Sunday, April 25, 1-3 PM PDT Dr. Joanie will launch our series with an informative talk with parents of kids of color about how best to prepare our students for the college admissions process. Ideal for parents of kids aged 14+.
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Part 2: How Girls Can Thrive in Competitive High Schools
Sunday, May 2 Cinnamongirl Program Director and alumna Ta Lynn Mitchell will lead an alumnae panel discussion on handling classroom bias, taking on leadership roles, and managing friendships.
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Part 3: Writing College Admissions Essay
May 9, 16, and 23 A series of workshops just for girls of color. UC Berkeley English Professor Anne F Walker will work with twelve girls to brainstorm and draft stories that will anchor college essays that are unique, memorable, and compelling. Grades 11 and 12 only, please.
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Congratulations to Cinnamongirl Alum, New Project Director, and New Homeowner Ta Lynn Mitchell |
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A former Cinnamongirl herself, Ta Lynn Mitchell brings a personal love for our program, as well as a passion for inspiring students from under-resourced schools and underrepresented communities to study and excel at STEAM subjects. She is currently spearheading our brand new STEAMGirls cohort, as well as assisting with the Write Your Story cohort. A graduate of American University and director of programs at the nonprofit organization Code Nation, Ta Lynn has also recently purchased her own home—an incredible accomplishment for anyone, but especially noteworthy for someone still in her twenties. We could not be prouder to welcome her to the Cinnamongirl staff. |
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Seeking Cinnamongirl Board Members |
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Cinnamongirl thrives on the strength of a small board of talented individuals who love what they do. We are seeking dedicated, enthusiastic people who can help us grow corporate donations, and who can cultivate relationships with individuals passionate about supporting the growth and development of future women leaders of color. If this sounds like you and you’re interested in doing meaningful and deeply rewarding work, please send a cover letter and resume to board@cinnamongirl.org.
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“Who I am is an amalgam of a great, proud, painful, amazing, bloody, beautiful people and history.”
Meet Author Rita Woods
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Rita Woods is one of the accomplished authors who work with the girls in our Write Your Story cohort. Her novel, Remembrance, traces the intertwined lives of a present-day woman in Ohio, an enslaved woman from Haiti 1791, and an enslaved teenage girl in 1857 in New Orleans. A work of historical fiction with a sprinkling of magic, it has been called “stunning” by the Boston Globe and an “ambitious, absorbing . . . well-researched epic historical fantasy” by NPR. Asked how her identity as a Black woman informs her writing, she says, “Who I am is an amalgam of a great, proud, painful, amazing, bloody, beautiful people and history.” Woods enjoys her work with Cinnamongirls, saying, “My favorite thing about being a Cinnamongirls writing coach is just being awed (and a bit envious) of the raw talent and courage of these young women.” We are awed by Ms. Woods’ talent and courage and honored to have her guiding our young writers.
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The girls in the Write Your Story Cohort have finished drafting their pieces, and they got some great revision advice from author Nikki Shannon Smith. Smith wrote of her experience, “It was an absolute joy and honor to work with the Cinnamongirl Write Your Story program and all of the young writers. . . . It was heartwarming to see the students’ commitment to their goals, their willingness to dive in and ask questions, and their courage as they learned and experimented with their writing. These young women have bright futures!” Keep an eye out for news of the Write Your Story anthology!
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The Cinnamongirls Travel Cohort shared their research in slide presentations to educate each other about their destination. A few fast facts from their research:
- The Zenu people of what is now Cartagena invented and perfected a technique for weaving gold into beautiful art pieces.
- Popular attractions in Cartagena include an outdoor market and a Spanish colonial fortress.
- Although Spanish is the most commonly spoken language, there are over eighty languages and dialects spoken in Colombia.
- Palenque, Colombia, was founded in the early 1700s by people who escaped their colonial enslavers and is the first “free town” in the Americas.
- The girls and their chaperones will be staying in the lovely villa pictured above!
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When their mother’s new job forces them to move from bustling San Antonio to middle-of-nowhere Aura, Texas, Caitlyn tries to stay positive, focusing on meeting new people and having new adventures. Cassie, on the other hand, is convinced that it’s only a matter of time until they’ll be sick of Aura and ready to move back to the big city. But being the new kids isn’t their only challenge. The girls start experiencing strange visions, and they must work together to change the future before it can happen.
Tia and Tamera Mowry began their careers as the stars of the 90’s sitcom Sister, Sister. They currently co-produce and star in Nickolodeon’s Instant Mom (Tia Mowry-Hardrict) and FOX’s The Real (Tamera Mowry). Twintuition: Double Vision is the first book in a four-book series.
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Gorgeous portraits accompany biographies of such fierce but forgotten women as Yankton Dakota Sioux writer and advocate Zitkála-Šá, Mary Eliza Church Terrell, who co-founded the National Association of Colored Women (NACW), and Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, who, at just sixteen years old, helped lead the biggest parade in history to promote the cause of suffrage.
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Winner of the 2021 Newbery Award the 2021 Asian/Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature. When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her halmoni's Korean folktales arrives. Lily learns that long ago, Halmoni stole something from the tigers. Now they want it back. And when one of the tigers approaches Lily with a deal—return what her grandmother stole in exchange for Halmoni's health—Lily is tempted to agree. But deals with tigers are never what they seem.
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Winner of the 2021 Caldecott Award winner. Michaela Goade is the first Native American illustrator to win this prestigious award. A powerful, beautifully illustrated story inspired by the many indigenous-led movements across the continent. When a black snake threatens to destroy Earth and poison her people’s water, one young Water Protector takes a stand to defend Earth’s most precious resource.
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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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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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Cinnamongirl Inc.
PO Box 27411, Oakland CA 94602
510.560.4476
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