Ola Zuri launches new books!

Starting off the new year by ending the last year with a bang! 


What a wonderful turnout for the release of the latest book in the series, book three titled What Is A Part Of Me.

So happy to see so many people come out to support what I am doing for the children!  

Providing autographs...

 The launch of the new anthology, Somebody's Child, was a success and all copies were sold out!  

  Passages read...

Being able to speak with the people who came out to support me and what I am doing is a wonderful part of the experience.  

Questions asked...

Smiles and laughs shared...

 

Total support in what I am doing...

 

All in a day's work!!!

I sit here wondering how each day can continue to pass and I still have heard nothing from the many, many people who were so impressed by what I am continuing to do for the children - the children who are growing up in our communities who do not have the full confidence within themselves that we parents believe they do, the self esteem that is needed to grow into well rounded individuals, the strength to stand on one's own two feet and feel from within that there is nothing one can not conquer by staying strong and believing in oneself.  Each day I wait, I dream, I hope someone, anyone, will look at what I am doing and say, yes, this is something that matters, what can I do to help!?  Yet everyday I still wait, still wonder, still hope, and still dream.

One hundred percent, 100% of what I do is not for me, is not for the parents, is not for the social workers, or the adoption and foster care workers, it is all for the children!  The children who are trying their best to grow up in a world that hides things, shelters things, and distorts things so that children will not be hurt, so that the parents continue to look the best, to be their ever guiding protector and the children do what the parents want because after all "mother and father know best."

So many times I keep hearing from others about what I am doing and how it sounds so good and it is what children need and, as many times as I hear those words, I also hear it must be hard for you to do this alone.  I don't ever hear how someone would like to help me, how someone would like to sponsor me, how someone would be interested in finding me a professional publisher or agent to take the books I have to many more places than I can do on my own.  No, for some reason I keep hearing how it must be hard and how can I continue to do what I am doing when I am trying to raise four children alone.  Where is the money coming from Ola??!!  How can you do this Ola??!!

I will tell you how I can do it --- I do it, end of story!  These books are important enough to me to get into the hands of children that I will continue doing what I am doing and struggling with financial issues because I believe all children deserve to have these books in their hands.  I see too often how many people are out there wrestling within their adult lives with issues from the past that have gone unresolved and are unsettled in their lives and I know with the positive literature in the Believe In Me program, children can start to believe in self, work on the issues that could already be eating away at them, and ask the questions, receive some answers, some guidance, and learn to trust themselves throughout their whole childhood.  Why, oh why, would I want children to grow up and not have the inner strength to see the answers to their questions have always been inside of them all along when I can provide them with a way to work on those questions, those insecurities as they are growing and maturing instead?!




The time has to come for others to realize what I do is not about me, not about being an "angry adoptee" or an angry daughter but it is all about what I can do to assist others with how to aid the children in their lives with some resources to bring forth the courage to stand on one's own two feet and feel good about it, from the youngest age and up!!

Adoption - who is it really about??

This has been quite the summer for me what with travelling to California for the Pact Family Camp in July and only having returned recently from Colorado where I attended the NACAC Conference.  The chance to have spoken with so many parents at both venues this summer has been fabulous.  I also believe being able to partake in a variety of the sessions available to children and making friends with those same children was very rewarding and the best part of all!!

I am looking at things a little more clearly now after having had the opportunity to listen to the  variety of people, including social workers, counsellors, and others who appear to be fairly involved at the initial stage of placing the rainbow of children in care with families.  Unfortunately where the breakdown seems to be starting for so many adoptees is within the system those same children are a part of.

Listening to speaker after speaker discuss the training and involvement necessary for those in the child welfare system was incredulous because as it turns out, there are not enough of the child welfare offices across the countries, both in the USA and Canada, getting or giving their staff the right kind of education when it comes to placing children of colour into the many waiting families.

The system breaks down by not ensuring the staff are all being educated enough with race issues in their own offices and then taking the same training to the families who are interested in adopting a child of colour.  Offering courses after the fact is absolutely not acceptable because not everyone is taking the courses - especially not the child welfare workers to begin with!

There is no way that these children are being offered the best choice when the parents who are adopting them do not, have not and may not, ever decide to have any other people of colour in their lives besides the children they adopt or the ones whom they see when they participate in their annual heritage or family camps.  These children are not being given an opportunity to be raised knowing their parents are confident and secure around the many people of colour in our society - the occasional few in their passing lives is definitely not good enough.  It never has been and it never will be!

The children need to see their parents with and around people who look like them from the very beginning of their adoption.  It is not good enough to take a class or attend a conference or workshop that is based on transracial adoption after the child has been placed within the family setting.  Parents need to have already joined groups with people of colour in them - they need to already have friends whom they socialize with on a regular basis - they need to bring race into their daily lives as much as it will be in the child's daily life.


What is it the parents are so ashamed of?  What are they hiding from?  What are they afraid of when there is nothing of colour in their life until a little workshop has been attended and THEN all of a sudden it sounds like they now need to have a friend who is of colour in their life.  NO WAY!  Totally unacceptable and completely unfair to the children who are now becoming a part of their white family and will definitely have some questions or situations throughout life as a person of colour and having a family who has not participated in the colour of their lives throughout their life, is showing their children that the people who look like them are not good enough for them, as parents, to be friends with.  How is that a benefit for the children of colour now that they are home in their new family?  How does this help them to grow into strong people who feel a sense of pride being amongst other people of colour when their own parents would not acknowledge and befriend those some people of colour?

Children are growing up with parents and in the system with people who are trying their best to do what they think is what the kids need  however what the kids need is to be considered in the equation.  I understand, as a parent myself, how one would say some things are too much for a young child to understand or comprehend or if a parent wants to "protect" the child from the many dangers of society, of the world.  However, when a child is shielded or treated as inferior to parents because the parent believes everything would be fine in the end, this is actually more harming to the child than helpful.  Every child goes through the growing up phase in life and when parents pretend their child is not old enough to understand or handle situations, especially race issues, the child can grow up with an uneasy feeling towards self and how many parents really want that?

There are many ways for parents to ensure a healthy happy child who feels confident and secure from within.  The books in this series are a definite asset to have in ones library - positive messages to increase a positive feeling towards self is what all children need.  What better time to instil confidence in our children than from the very beginning of their lives - reading with them, providing reading material for them, and consistently being there for them in every way is so important and is something I will continue to provide for my children and for the many children out there in the world!!!

What a Great Start To Adoption Awareness Month!!!

After many months of trying, praying, and hoping that I would be able to share the series of books and the Believe In Me program and everything I have to offer within more communities in as many places as I can, I am finally heading to the United States!!!  What an awesome break!!

As part of the National Adoption Awareness Month campaign in November, I have been invited to the Michigan/Ohio area by the Adopt America Network to be a guest speaker / panel member with renowned adoption author, Rhonda Roorda, co-author of In Their Own Voices, (Columbia University Press, 2000) and Kevin Hoffman, author of Growing Up Black In White, ( Vine Appointment Publishing, 2010) on November 6, 2010.  As an author who has messages of empowerment and inspiration to bring to all children, I am so excited to be able to promote and present the books and the program, as well as offer book signings with the families and the many support people in the communities in Michigan and Ohio and all of those who venture out to the event! 


I will introduce anyone who has never read about me, and remind all of those who have, about the program created by me, using books and literature, titled Believe In Me.  The overall purpose of the program is to provide positive literature to encourage and empower all children to believe in themselves with determination and faith while discovering and using perseverance for success and overcoming obstacles in life.  


Why Can’t You Look Like Me (Black Oasis Ent., 2009) and Where Do I Belong (Black Oasis Ent., 2009) are the first two, of six, titles in the program.  The series of books open children up, from a young age and up, to having to deal with their feelings when they are unsure of how to feel.  They offer a distinctly broader view of dealing with situations any child may experience that is on the level of the child.  Next, the books emphasize roles to actively teach and encourage the child to believe in what is inside of himself/herself and not on what others may say or want for him / her.  What Is A Part Of Me, is the next title in the series, looking at a possible Winter 2010/11 release date. 


With the series, the opportunity is there for children to read, explore, and discover who they really are inside and know that it is okay to be that person.  There are interactive questions at the end of each story which will aid families, caregivers, and educators, to discuss any areas of difficulty, or emotion, that may possibly come up as a result of the story.  Questions and discussions that perhaps would have been harder to raise if not for this positive literature.  It can be quite a task for a child to not understand what is going on inside and then not know how to discuss it.  This series of books will help pave the way for so many children, (as well as for the parents) to open up and use the tools that have been inside of themselves all along!!  


Now, who wouldn't want to help promote such a positive thing in their communities???  I am so glad to be a part of the families, support workers, educators, and most definitely, the children's lives, knowing they are learning to empower themselves from within... as they are growing!

I would love to see, meet, and talk with all those who come out to meet myself and the other authors at this fabulous kickoff to November's Adoption Awareness Month activities!!  To register for the event, please follow the link below!  Hope to see you there!! 
http://adoptamericanetwork.org/1346/adopt-america-network-to-host-panel-on-transracial-adoption/

Adoption and Foster Care - Taboo Subjects???

Have you ever noticed there are certain topics, subjects, that seem to be taboo to talk about?  Like, for example: race, religion, sex, politics, money, sexual orientation and relationships, and for some reason, adoption.  Go figure that something that is so important to many, many people, could actually be on the list of taboo subjects to discuss!


As I have been researching and struggling through my own journey of adoption, I have found that there are many people who actually DO talk about adoption, almost on a daily basis.  There are a variety of blogs, websites, tweeters, facebook pages, myspace pages, articles, news broadcasts and stories all over the place when it comes to this supposedly taboo subject.


Now, you may be wondering, how this is possible if the subject appears to be so off limits.  I have wondered the same thing and decided that it was finally my turn to step out and really write about it.


Adoption, as it turns out, is a subject that is actually in the news a lot - the celebrities are all over the headlines with new children whom they have brought home, or Hollywood movies of recent that are based on adoption and foster care, like "Despicable Me," "The Blind Side," "Orphan," "Meet the Robinsons," and Pauly Shore's controversial film titled, "Adopted."   Then of course there are other stories like the one in the news where the adoptive mother took the child to the airport and left him there, alone, to go back to his country, as she was unable to reach him emotionally and couldn’t take it anymore.


So, what makes this subject so scary, so wary for people to discuss??  Is it because of the fact that infertility comes into play for some people?  Is it because people who have not been touched by adoption, or foster care, are afraid to talk about the realities of attachment disorder in children who have been placed in foster care and then adopted?  What is it that scares so many people and makes discussing it so taboo?  The realization that children who are placed into these realities are struggling through emotions, fears, anxieties, upheavals and so much more is something that can not be ignored any longer. These children are crying out for something, anything to aid them on their journey of recovery.  I will be that aid, now and always!


Even though these stories appear to be in the news a lot, the idea of picking up a story about adoption or foster care seems to scare a lot of publishing houses and literary agents - scares them so much that there are a limited number of manuscripts that are even picked up by the specialty publishing houses and very rarely is a small independent author picked up by a house and even more rarely by an agent - perhaps there is a small fear that these story ideas really wouldn’t sell and then how would they make any money??


Okay, I get that and I can even understand that.  Having said that however, the genre of books that is being offered through myself is one that has not been touched and is what is needed right now.


The children in the adoption and foster care world are being sent too many mixed messages - especially the transracially adopted or fostered children.  There is a message being ingrained upon them that adoption is alright for them, for now.  However... if they choose to look for their biological family, that is not always acceptable in the adoptive or foster parents eyes.  When I say this, I mean that a lot of the time the youth, and then young adults, are so afraid of hurting the parents feelings when choosing to look for any biological piece of them, that they choose to wait - choose to wait as so many adults have done for years now, until the parents have passed away and then finally go in search of something, someone - some biological connection to their world... to their being.


What is so harmful about that you may wonder... well, what is harming is that these youth and young adults are not free to express what they are truly feeling within as they have been growing up.  There is no real outlet for them to discuss the anguish, possible sorrow, that is growing within their hearts and souls.  Adoption tears at everyone in a different way, yet the most similar one is that of having been abandoned - the child growing up as an adoptee or foster child, has that initial feeling of loss attached to that adoption or foster care situation.

Are the children in foster care, and the children who are in orphanages across the world, asking to be adopted or fostered as part of their life journey?  Are these young children wanting to start their lives out with abandonment issues?  I don't think so.  I don't believe that any child would ask for the emotional upheaval that is experienced in foster care and then, more often than not, transitions over into the new life started when adopted.  When I was growing up, I know I never once asked to be in the situations I was put in and yet, now as an adult, I am asked why I can't get over them.  Why am I still bothered by issues that were from the past, from a beginning I did not ask for?        

There is a reality that so many are not willing to look at when it comes to children who started out their lives as being abandoned, given up.  This reality is one that, at some point in one's life, will have an affect on how relationships play out, how conversations are brought up, and even how certain aspects of daily life are fulfilled.  I have noticed there are a lot of fostered and adopted adults who gravitate towards the profession of counselor, or support worker, or volunteer to work in the industry that has had such an important impact on one's life.  I know I have and that is one of the main reasons I write... to help others who may feel the way I felt and who may not realize that speaking out for themselves is key to helping themselves heal, from the inside out!  

The books that are being brought forth by myself address these issues in ways that aid all children with the healing process - a healing that is necessary even in this day and age of adoption and foster care.  The children growing up today have so many resources to aid with almost every type of situation they may go through - when it comes to believing in what is inside of yourself, I have not been able to locate materials that will aid children the way I believe is necessary.  The resource I provide with the Believe In Me program, through the literature I have written (Why Can't You Look Like Me and Where Do I Belong) and the literature I continue writing, those materials are now becoming available!

I know what type of book I would pick up and purchase for my children - the books I am providing are in our collection and are making a difference in many lives as I speak.  That is what is key here and that is why I continue to write!  My illustrator, Jenn, tells a story in itself with the images she continues to come up with - the words flow with the illustrations so anyone can pick up a book and understand there is a huge message involved, not only in the words, but also in the images.  

My passion is for these books to be available to the children, to all of the children who may be going through their own personal journey of healing within.


So, are adoption and foster care taboo subjects???


Not in my world and not in any young person's journey through life as an adoptee or foster child!!   All you have to do is ask one of them...  

What a fabulous book tour!

McNally Robinson is an amazing bookstore! What a fortunate person I have been to be able to take part in readings and book signings with one of Canada's top booksellers!! On location in the Winnipeg location, I was very proud to read from my books, talk with the many people who stopped to listen and sign copies of my books!




Over the past two weeks, I was fortunate to be able to speak with so many families, educators, and people in the community about what the importance of family, children, belonging, fitting in, adoption, foster care and building a child's self esteem and self confidence levels from within.

It was so beneficial! Not only was it a benefit for myself and being able to speak with so many people - it was also a huge benefit for the people I spoke with to see how useful and necessary the Believe In Me program with the literature it is providing for the people in every family, every community is. There were many comments about how important the messages I am providing for the children is in today's schools, today's families.

Kelowna Children's Festival

What a fabulous turnout to the Children's Festival this past weekend!

There were so many interesting things to see and do including: bike races, face painting, a variety of foods to taste, dancing, music, games and challenges, and of course, books!

The day was great and I am very glad to have been a part of it. The children's eyes lit up when listening to the stories in the library and their curiosity peaked every few minutes when there was something new to see or hear. I look forward to taking part again next year! Hope to see more people come out and enjoy the diversity we have in this country!!

Adoption - Journey to Motherhood Broadcast

The journey of adoption can be a difficult process not only for the children who have been adopted, but also for the parents and family members involved as well. I decided to empower the children with the literature I am writing - to ensure they all grow up with a better sense of self than what I experienced - the idea of self healing wasn't introduced to me until I was an adult and although it has been an amazing experience for me to discover who I am, I wish I had been able to grow up with the same knowledge and realization of being happy within myself rather than have to find out it was always okay to be me from the start. For me to be able to talk freely and let others know how I felt growing up is very rewarding - it can be hurtful to others to learn how I felt yet for me, for my healing and my growth as an individual, as a mother raising my children, I know it is crucial for me to be able to express everything I felt so I am able to finally let go of all the hurt, loneliness, abandonment, isolation, abuse, sadness and finally, of all the pain I had in my childhood.

I was asked to participate in an online radio interview with Mary Beth Wells who educates and informs others in the adoption journey process on her online radio show, Adoption - Journey to Motherhood. Mary Beth is an adoptive parent who has designed dolls to introduce children to the idea of adoption by giving them the chance to adopt a baby doll of their own. Learn a little bit more about Mary Beth by taking a look at her informtion below.

The show is based out of the United States and talks with a variety of guests covering all issues pertaining to adoption, adoptive parents, birth parents, adoptees, foster care, and maybe for a lot of people, infertility. The show deals with helping others who are starting out as parents, thinking about becoming parents, people who relinquished a child and all people interested in wanting information about adoption. I was very fortunate to be able to take part in this broadcast and expressed a lot of what I felt like growing up, some of the things I know I experienced in my childhood and never knew how to deal with. The opportunity for me to speak freely and inform others of what not to do when raising a child of a different race was great. I hope parents who listen to the show will understand and take charge of ensuring their children do not grow up with the same sadness I felt I had to be in for my childhood, my youth, and part of my adulthood.

I would like to say to all parents to take the time to listen to what your children come home with, ask questions of them, and most of all, support them, through all of their issues, big or small! Self image - Self confidence - Self esteem - all learned from the role model at home even before they reach the playground at school - so... Love them so they learn to love themselves - teach them so they learn to teach themselves - heal them so they learn to heal themselves!!

You can listen to the podcast athttp://toginet.com/shows/adoptionjourneytomotherhood

Click on 04-05-10 show.

Adoption Journey to Motherhood

Mary Beth Wells

I'm a birth mom that relinquished a child for adoption and ended up coming full circle by adopting two beautiful little girls from Guatemala. My journey led me to start a doll company about adopting baby dolls from around the world so that children could choose their own doll and learn about that dolls heritage ~ thereby embracing another culture other than "our own". The heart knows no boundaries! Check out my site at http://www.preciousbabydolls.com

On my show, we will be talking to all moms and those wanting to become moms. We'll be talking about adoption, infertility, and just motherhood in general. We want to hear all voices sharing their stories that matter to them.

Adoptee author helping children fit in with her books/ Foster Care and Special Needs Adoption

April 5th - My guests will be Ola Zuri who is an adoptee and will be talking about her book, 'Why can't you look like me?" and helping children develop a postive self esteem. Also, I will have Carla Jackson who has adopted a special needs child that is now thriving!

Weekly on Monday's at 9:00 am to 10:00 am EST

Listen in http://toginet.com/shows/adoptionjourneytomotherhood

My books and I are in the news again!

I have had the opportunity to be interviewed by Cara Brady at the Vernon Morning Star in British Columbia and as luck would have it, have also been interviewed by Nicole Baute at the Toronto Star in Ontario. How fabulous to be asked by two different reporters to be interviewed!! Check out their links below to see what they both had to say:

http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/vernonmorningstar/lifestyles/86685567.html

http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/news%20%20features/article/777428--transracial-adoption-has-its-challenges

Books are not only for those touched by Adoption!

I have always believed that the books can be for any child. When the books were first going into the bookstores, some of the staff believed the books were really geared to one area. I went into the stores and noticed the books only in the parenting section of the store and discussed the idea of placing the books in the children's area of the store so they would be in view of any children who would be looking in the books. Knowing the books are meant for all children has been the most important thing for me and the stores noticed the change in sales once the books were being viewed by the children.

This series has been developed with the intent on guiding children throughout their childhood, with topics that will be developmental for their age. Their issues will be talked about and the experiences will be externalized, rather than internalized. Children will therefore start learning to believe in themselves and their feelings at a younger age than those before them, and those same children will learn to feel safe, within their families, and most importantly, ultimately, within themselves.

There have been many comments made by parents, educators, support workers, families and children about these first two books and many are saying they are not only for those people touched by adoption but they are really for ALL children!

What a great feeling this brings to me! Funny... I've known that all along!!

Some things people have said about my books are below:

“Ola Zuri’s debut book, Why Can't You Look Like Me, is fantastic! Zuri's writing is free and lyrical, with sincerity gained by first hand experience. This book is a gem, and although the dominant theme is trans-racial adoption, I highly recommend it for ALL families and classrooms."

"In her second book, Where Do I Belong, Zuri shows why her books belong everywhere there are children! This book artfully teaches children (and adults!) that true freedom is born of inner strength, and we all make decisions every day that either strengthen or weaken our inner selves.”

Sally Bacchetta, Freelance Writer, Author, and Adoptive Parent, New York

"Thank you so much Ola! We sincerely appreciated your visit and thank you for inspiring all of us, the children and staff, with your passion for writing. Once again, your time was truly appreciated!"

Lisa McCall, Vice Principal, Osoyoos Elementary School, British Columbia

“Everyone loved the questions in the back saying they were for both adopted and non adopted children, and loved the illustrations. Bryce my 3 year old likes to point out different people or items as we go thru the books ourselves! Thanks so much, I am so happy we found you! There are so many of the trans-racial children needing this support!”

Shannon Adkins, Adoptive Parent, Central Adoption Support Group, Cincinnati, Ohio

"I’m really looking forward to receiving your book!!! There is little literature here when it comes to topics such as adoption, racism, self confidence, fitting in the family… so your beautiful fresh breath is more than welcome… It’s really an honour getting to know you! Thank you - you make my day! Lots and lots of success and a warm sincere smile from Belgium..

Ingrid Slabinnck, Librarian, Adoptive Parent, Foster Care Alumni, Belgium

“Finally a children’s book for transracial adoptees written by a transracial adoptee. There is no one better qualified to understand the many layers of identity and race than someone who lives it everyday of her life. Ola Zuri has taken her own life experiences and transformed them into stories for young children with the hope that transracial families will use the books in the series to help start discussions within their own families. Many young children will identify with the character in her books and come to realize that they are not alone in their feelings of isolation. I hope all transracially adopted children have the opportunity to read these books with their parents.”

Dianna Mortensen, Adoptive Parent, British Columbia

"We like the way all of the kids start being friends and playing together. The little dolls are cute too!"

Jennifer and Jordin, 8 years old, Ontario

"I read the book, french and english versions. I liked it and I feel there is a real need in our community to provide educational resources which showcase the complexities of diversity."

Karen Ragoonaden, PhD, Faculty of Education, UBC Okanagan, British Columbia

"I went to your website/blog. Your book looks very interesting. I will look into ordering a copy for our Lending Library. We lend books to adoptive and foster families"

Laveda M. Doxey, LCSW, Families First Project Coordinator

Georgia Center for Resources & Support: Serving Adoptive & Foster Families, Georgia

"This resource certainly aligns well with our early years English Language Arts, and to some degree with our Social Studies and Physical Education and Health curricula. In all of these, we emphasize that learners have the opportunity to explore the diversity of families and encourage teachers to use resources that reflect diverse family compositions, and this of course would include multicultural or transracial families. The fact that it is a Canadian publication is also important."

Honourable Peter Bjornson, Minister

Education, Citizenship and Youth, Manitoba

" I checked your website and your books look amazing. Thank you for your remarkable contribution of offering such an authentic insight of the ‘inner issues to the outer relationships’. I sincerely wish you God’s best in your continued endeavours. Our community is blessed to have you among us."

Lorraine Richmond, Leadership Coach, Evangel Church, British Columbia

Black History Month - what is it anyway??

For many years I didn't know what it meant to be a black person in Canada. Only after many years of research, have I come to know what it is to celebrate Black History.

Black History Month commemorates the many leaders who fought and died for the freedom of Black people. It began in the United Sates as "Negro History Week" in February 1926, under the leadership of African American visionary and scholar Dr. Carter G. Woodson. His goal was to raise awareness and understanding in the school curriculum of African Americans and their contributions around the world. The United States formally began to celebrate African History Month in the 1960's.

It also recognizes the historical role which Canada played in the liberation of a people searching for freedom. When freedom fighter, Harriet Tubman set her people on the Underground Railroad, her cry to them was 'if you want a taste of freedom, keep on going' - the country they ran to was Canada.

During the early 1970s, the week became known as Black History Week. It was expanded into Black History Month in 1976.

In December 1995, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month, following a motion introduced by the first black Canadian woman elected to Parliament, the Honourable Jean Augustine. The motion was carried unanimously by the House of Commons.

In February 2008, Senator Donald Oliver, the first black man appointed to the Senate, introduced a motion to have the Senate officially recognize February as Black History Month. It received unanimous approval and was adopted on March 4, 2008.

So, after all of that, where do I really stand now with Black History Month??

Well, when I think about black history, I generally think about the way things used to be for black people in the past. The historical events like Rosa Parks - allowing black people the right to sit anywhere on a public bus - like Martin Luther King Jr. and the March on Washington ending with his speech about black people being allowed to be free, to work, live, walk, eat and be a part of the country they live in with racial harmony - like Harriet Tubman and her wonderful efforts with the underground railroad and the journey to free so many slaves to a new and better life in Canada.

I am wondering then, why are there still so many injustices happening to the black people in our society? The first nations people? The asian people? When will it all end? As a young child, I witnessed first hand how society treats people who are different, who don’t quite “fit in.” what do I mean you wonder - being a child of colour was difficult because the other children name called, picked on, and teased me about the colour of my skin, the kinkiness of my hair, and how weird or different I was. What did I know and what kid wants to go through school feeling weird and being called different!? It was tough and I realized, after many years of soul searching and heartaches, the way for me to make a difference in the world was to write the books I am writing. To bring out the messages of believing in yourself first before anything anyone else says or wants for you. Yes, I have an adoption theme in my stories but my key message to all who read the stories is that of encouragement for all children to believe in what is inside of them!!

Having 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 thrilled to be able to partake in a variety of presentations introducing people in the community, the educators, support workers, families, and, of course, the children, to the series of books that will, in the end, build a positive self esteem and positive self confidence in children. What an opportunity this is for me to be a part of enriching a child's life by bringing the idea of believing in oneself starting at a young age rather than waiting until growing up and trying to figure it all out!

As Kelowna celebrates this month, gathered below you will find some of the fabulous Black Canadian Authors who have come to partake in the celebrations including: Austin Clarke, Giller Award winner for his published work, The Polished Hoe; Mairuth Sarsfield, author of No Crystal Stair, a part of the Canada Reads 2005 list; myself, for my contribution of Why Can't You Look Like Me; Kevan "Scruffmouth" Cameron, poet, performer, and writer of upcoming release New Word Order, Charmaine Lurch, artist and educator who brings form and grace in her artwork, one of her most impressive Coloured, and Gail Nyoka, award winning playwright and children's author of Mella and N'anga: an African Tale.