Black Oasis: True Colours Mentoring

Friday, February 12, 2010

True Colours Mentoring

Welcome to an exciting month filled with activities celebrating a people of colour! It is Black History Month this month and there is plenty to see and do!

The Kelowna Immigrant Society, a non-profit agency, is proud to join with communities across Canada in celebration of Kelowna's second annual Black History Month in a week of celebration commencing February 15-26, 2010.

For two weeks, Kelowna will extend its hospitality to meet, greet and hear Black novelists, poets, biographer, historian, playwright, storyteller, children's authors and artist as they span across the city visiting the Kelowna Library, schools, gallery and other institutions as these modern day wordsmiths weaved their stories using the lushness of language, the gift of creativity that reminds us that the written word is indeed important for the retention of memory.

I have been invited to contribute in the Black History Month Celebrations across Kelowna and as an author who has messages of empowerment and inspiration to bring to all children, I am very pleased to be introducing the people in our community, the educators, families, and, of course, the children to this book, and the series to come, with topics relating to transracial adoption, adoption, racism, fitting in, foster care, questions about family, racial identity, and most of all, building a positive self esteem and positive self confidence in children.

Having said that, I welcome everyone to come out for another great day of friends, food, games, mentors, crafts, and tons of fun!! Mark your calendars for this coming Sunday, February 14, 2010, from 1 pm - 4 pm at the Boys and Girls Club in Rutland, on Hartman Road. The schedule has been attached for you to print off and keep on your fridge for the dates of all the sessions planed for this year. Our February session is going to be a Black History Month Celebration.

I look forward to this Sunday to join the kids in the fun and I can't wait to see you all! If you know of any friends, or family members, that want to come out and join our group, please feel free to invite them to tag along with you on Sunday! The more, the better!

Any questions, concerns, ideas, or you need to talk, please do! See you soon!

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Need to Contact Me?

To discuss having me speak at your school, bookstore, library, or event, send an email to: olazapple@mac.com

For schools, I do a presentation that uses any of my books, Why Can't You Look Like Me, Where Do I Belong, or What Is A Part Of Me, as a point of departure for discussing differences in people, family situations and about how believing in the negative words and behaviours towards people who are different, can hurt oneself and others. The positive message of being different is acceptable is encouraged and discussed with the children throughout the presentation. Self confidence is key throughout the discussion. There is generally a question and answer period with the children, as they are always quite inquisitive about the books. The presentation can last 30-45 minutes, depending on age, and can be tailored to the needs of a given grade level or curriculum.

For Adoption or Foster Care support groups, I do a presentation by first discussing my own life experiences as a transracially adopted person. I continue on with the topic of finding the strength within to make a difference in the lives of children by developing books that will encourage children to believe in what is within them, rather than what is said about, or to them. The messages that are offered throughout the presentation are key in the development of strong, healthy, self confident children, children that will start their healing process as they grow, rather than when they are grown. Things are wrapped up with a question and answer period whereby parents, educators, support workers and anyone who attends a presentation, will walk away feeling empowered and inspired to continue helping the children and families in their lives.

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Contact me to discuss: olazapple@mac.com