{Tribute to Kindness on a Historic Day}

 On the day Joe Biden and Kamala Harris became President- and Vice President-elect of the United States, we pay a tribute to kindness....

Poet Tracy K. Smith Pays Tribute to Kamala Harris in Vogue:

When the news reached me in August that Senator Kamala Harris had been selected as Joe Biden’s running mate, it struck me that the Democratic Party was ready to listen—and to learn. Harris’s courage, brilliance, energy, and her decades of experience have long qualified her to help lead America forward out of our current national moment. And her perspective as a woman of color is critical to doing the work of helping all of us heal from the strife of racism and racial division. Knowing that Harris’s voice will be central to this dialogue makes me believe that our American union can be strengthened and deepened. [Read full article]

"Why a President Biden Will Make Parenting So Much Easier"

[by Taylor Antrim in Vogue, November 5, 2020]

“Joe Biden never lies! He’s very nice!”

 My son, William, 6, started saying this a few weeks ago, a bit mysteriously. He wasn’t parroting me or his mom. We’re solidly blue parents in blue-bubble Brooklyn, but we haven’t been talking about the election at the dinner table with him or his sister, Vivian, 8. This is probably a civic failing of ours, but I’m sorry, it’s just too stressful. How do you explain the Trump presidency to young kids? As a resiliently popular exercise in criminality and power? How would we explain four more years of it? [Read full article]

and another parent speaks..."An Emotional Van Jones Spoke for America When Joe Biden Was Declared President"

“Well, it’s easier to be a parent this morning. It’s easier to be a dad. It’s easier to tell your kids that character matters.” [Read full article]

Vice President Auntie

{International Day of the Girl}

Celebrate the International Day of the Girl with 

Malala Yousafzai and 

the Duke and Duchess of Sussex:

[Click to hear and see the sweet interview that Malala did 

with Harry and Meghan]

Nearly 130 million girls were out of school before the pandemic — and an additional 20 million girls may have their education cut short because of it.

Since April, Malala Fund has been working with our Education Champions to ensure girls continue learning during the COVID-19 crisis. And we are investing an additional $3 million in grants to education organisations who are working to make education systems safer and stronger in the countries where we work.

As the world works to rebuild, our goal should not be a return to the way things were but instead a renewed commitment to the way the world should be, a place where every girl can learn and lead.

{Greta the Good}

It began when Greta Thunberg wrote an essay on climate change in May 2018 that was published in a Swedish newspaper...read about her brave adventure since then, including, at the age of 16, addressing the United Nations Climate Action Summit...and how she handled being criticized by narrow-minded adults, even the president of the United States...then became Time magazine's 2019 "Person of the Year."

And now Hulu is presenting a documentary about Greta!

Read what Vanity Fair said about its perfect timing....and why Vogue said "why we can't wait for the Greta Thunberg Hulu documentary".... Thank you, Greta!!

{Your Words Matter}

{For the First Time in History.....}

For the First Time in History, Girls Won All Five Top Prizes at the Broadcom Masters STEM Competition

While reading this article on the delightful "A Mighty Girl" website, sign up for their newsletter to stay in touch with girls of the world!

{Day of the Girl}

October 11 is the International Day of the Girl. In a tribute, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, posted a special message, including photos of her teenage self, on the Sussex  Royal Instagram page. The Duchess has long been an articulate advocate for girls and women, including speaking at the United Nations on their behalf.

Enjoy this story by Katie Nicholl for Vanity Fair.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex in South Africa 2019

{Barbie's "Inspiring Women" Series}

Mattel, the company that owns the Barbie brand, has created an “Inspiring Women” series of Barbie dolls....honoring historic female icons. (I have mixed feelings about this! What do you think?)

Alanna Vagianos wrote an article for HuffPost reporting that the company recently announced that two dolls―honoring Rosa Parks and Sally Ride―were being added to their collection. “Parks, a famed civil rights activist, and Ride, the first American woman and youngest American to travel to space, both come with educational information about their historic contributions so that children can learn while playing.”

“These historical women broke boundaries that made the world a better place for future generations of girls,” a press release from Barbie read.

“The Inspiring Women series, which debuted on International Women’s Day last year, includes dolls based on other legendary figures, including artist Frida Kahlo, aviator Amelia Earhart and NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson.”

“As a brand that is dedicated to inspiring the limitless potential in every girl, Barbie is shining a spotlight on role models, historical and modern, to show them they can be anything,” Lisa McKnight, senior vice president and global head of Barbie, told HuffPost. “Both Sally Ride and Rosa Parks are change-makers, so these dolls celebrate their achievements, while also encouraging girls to challenge the status quo.”

“Barbie has historically been criticized for portraying a singular and unattainable body type. If Barbie were a human woman, she would be 5 feet, 9 inches and have a 39-inch bust, an 18-inch waist and wear a Size 3 shoe, according to the book Body Wars by Margo Maine, a clinical psychologist who specializes in eating disorders. While it’s valuable and important for Mattel to make Barbie dolls in the likeness of powerful women, some critics have pointed out that their body types also need to be as diverse and inclusive as the women they are fashioned after.”

Another criticism from writer and professor of history Angela Johnson relates to the inaccuracies Mattel used to describe Rosa Parks who had been a bold and passionate civil rights activist for many years. Read more here.

There are other historic and current trailblazing women being made into Barbie dolls. If Mattel truly wants to honor women in this way, then be sure to tell their real, deeper story. ~

{Women's Equality Day}

On August 26, 1920, after three generations of an unrelenting, brilliant, courageous, political campaign, women in the United States won the right to vote. 

In 1971, to honor and commemorate this historic event, Congresswoman Bella Abzug introduced a Congressional Resolution (she had to introduce it again in 1973 when Congress passed it) to ensure that this date would be commemorated with the designation of Women's Equality Day, which is now celebrated on August 26th each year.

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi leads a Women's Equality Day
 celebration in 2016

{Harry & Jane}

 “Just one week after Prince Harry and Dr. Jane Goodall shared a dance and ‘chimpanzee greeting’ during an event for young conservationists, British Vogue published an enlightening conversation between the two as part of the September issue guest edited by Meghan Markle,” wrote Carly Ledbetter in HuffPost.

“The prince and the primatologist discussed the environment, slowing down climate change, and not having too many children in the article….”

From the sussexroyal Instagram account: “Roots and Shoots is a global youth service program founded by Dr. Goodall in 1991. She has created and encouraged a global youth community to recognize the power of their individual strength—that each day you live, you can make a difference.”

{I Will Be Your Friend}

A 6-year-old boy named Blake is highlighting the power of kindness and friendship just in time for back-to-school season, wrote Caroline Bologna for HuffPost.  Last week, Blake’s mother, Nikki Rajahn, posted a photo of her son wearing a shirt that says “I will be your friend” on Facebook. She also shared the sweet backstory.:

“I told him that as a back to school gift, I will make him any shirt he would like. It could have anything- a basketball theme, football, etc. which are all his favorites,” she wrote. After thinking about it, Blake asked her, “will you please make me a shirt that says ‘I will be your friend’ for all the kids who need a friend to know that I am here for them?”

The Georgia mom ended her caption with the hashtag #stopbullying and concluded, “Never underestimate your kid’s heart for others! I love my sweet Blake!” The post has received more than 10,000 likes, and the comments section is filled with positive reactions and requests for the mom to make more of these shirts.

Read the rest of the story.

{This post is dedicated to my great-niece Maggie who turns 9 today...and is a great friend! xoxo}