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MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2015 THE VOICE | 25
FAMILY MATTERSvoicenewspaper www.voice-online.co.uk@thevoicenews
MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2015
FAMILY MATTERSFAMILYFAMILYFAMILYFAMILY FAMILY FAMILY
Write End
INSIDECONFIDENCE BOOSTThree people relate their stories - page 26
FOSTER CARE Education empowers - page 27
CHILDREN’S BOOKSCivil rights - page 28
Award winning writer Dr Jewell Parker Rhodes on writing and unlocking a child’s imagination
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| THE VOICE MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 201526
FAMILY MATTERS voicenewspaper www.voice-online.co.uk@thevoicenews
International model Lauren Sweeney Fen-ton runs events staff-ing agency Brand Angels and Squish
Learning, businesses she set up whilst study-ing at university.My mum has always be-lieved in anything I put my mind to, which has been a great source of confi-dence for me. She encour-aged me to model as a way to overcome my shy-ness. I think confidence is a by-product of knowing who you are. I found my true identity in God and the message that I can do all things. When you’re sure of who you are other people’s opinions can’t shake you.
Leah Garrett, aged 13, is an active member of the Hertfordshire UK Youth Parliament and has in-terviewed Green Party leader Natalie Bennett.I think confidence is not being afraid to do things and not being afraid of re-
jection and being sure of yourself. I feel confident when I’m around people that are confident too. I’ve found that the more prac-tice you put in, the more confident you get when you’re doing something.When I spoke at the House of Commons, I found con-fidence from the passion I had for my subject.My mum and dad are al-ways putting me in new situations where I have to be confident.
Law graduate James Adeleke played foot-ball as a teenager and aspired to play profes-sionally. An accident on the playing field ended his dreams. He is the founder of Generation Success, which helps young people forge ca-reers in business, law or finance. Football taught me the winning mentality needed to take on life, it taught me to have confidence in one’s ability and that hard
work is a formula for true life success. A mistake lasts for a second on the field and the game pro-vides you with 90 min-utes to make up for it. The same can be said in life. We make mistakes, we get stressed, we fall. Those failures only last for as long as we let them. My mum always says that we have to work twice as hard as anyone else. She also says if there’s anyone in your way, if there’s a barri-er or a door that’s closed, have confidence in your-self and work hard to over-come them. She believes in staying in your lane and looking forward.
A dose of confi denceInstilling confi dence in a child or young person is the greatest gift an adult can give. Three people give us their thoughts.
DIRECTORYGeneration SuccessYoung adults and professionals can grow or improve their career ambitions with this organisation that runs a programme of events led by professionals from the fi nancial, business and legal world: www.generation-success.com
Rocking UR Teens encourages young people to fulfi l their potential through mentoring, networking with industry professionals and talks on career development: www.rockingurteens.com
“Knowledge is like gold dust. Education has positively impacted me by keeping me on the right path, so I know that if a young person is given that same opportunity, they are
highly likely to have a better outcome in life.”
“I was only with my foster carers for 18 months but they really support-ed my education and pushed me to do more studying all the time.”Foster care is also about promoting a child’s educational wellbeing.
Find out how you can enrich and empower children”s lives during Foster Care Fortnight run by the fostering Network. (Www.fostering.net).
Join the conversation on Twitter #FCF2015
LAUREN: Model businesswoman
JAMES: founder, Generation Success
Leah Garrett: Youth parliament
ZION: Young Ambassador
Fostering Achievement
Find out how to foster: www.fostering.net
Zion Zachary is studying for a Master’s degree and is a Young Ambassador for Lon-don Fostering Achievement. Foster care has impact.
EDUCATING
RITARITA EDUCATING
RITALIMITED AVAILABILITY 18 JUNE - 25 JULY 01243 781312 cft.org.uk
LENNY LASHANAHENRY LYNCH
MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2015 THE VOICE | 27
FAMILY MATTERSvoicenewspaper www.voice-online.co.uk@thevoicenews
Nat Disu: How important were stories to you as a child?Jewell Parker Rhodes: My grand-mother raised me and she told sto-ries all the time. Summer nights we’d sit on the steps outside and she’d regal me and my cousins with sto-ries. Plus, every weekday afternoon after school, Grandmother and me would watch the 4.00 o’clock movie. These fi lms inspired my imagina-tion. But books and more books really touched my heart and stirred my creativity. All I ever wanted was books.
When I was young, they called me “little professor” – no one imagined I would grow up to be a profes-sor. I am one of the fi rst in my fam-ily to graduate from college. Books played an important part in this fu-ture and, of course, good stories taught me the power of narrative.
ND: Why write for children?JPR: I always wanted to write for children. Books saved my life and taught me it was possible to over-come adversity, loneliness and pov-erty.I think kids deserve the very, very best, so I spent decades learning my craft [writing books for adults] and awaiting the “call” [to write chil-dren’s books]. After nearly four dec-ades of writing, I received the call.
ND: There are a number of books aimed at black children featuring folklore, which some parents may not feel at ease with. What does folklore mean to you and what is its place in your novel Bayou Magic?JPR: Folklore is the most basic of societal impulses – that is to trans-mit culture. Folklore may be tales,
music, oral history, behaviour (such as healing rituals) and even arte-facts. All of us but particularly the grandmother in Bayou Magic is passing down cultural traditions. By learning older traditions, Maddy [the protagonist] is better equipped to navigate her world both the old and the new.
ND: How important is legacy in Bayou Magic?JPR: Legacy and cultural transmis-sion informs everything in my fi c-tional worlds. Telling tales, nurturing generations and transmitting emo-tional, practical, spiritual and scien-tifi c knowledge is an obligation we all have – even children.
ND: How much of the child is still in you? JPR: The child is still very much inside of me. I embarrass my kids with my laughter and love of picture books, animals and animated mov-ies. When I’m giving a talk and I’m super excited, I even start to jump and skip. I can’t help it!
ND: Is it important to write chil-dren’s books with a purpose?JPR: I’m always trying to write dra-
matic, character driven stories. But I try to layer my children’s stories with as much history, imagery and ideas as I would with an adult book. My purpose is to have my books last--for them to be substantive enough to enjoy emotionally and to stimulate intellectually. I want my books to empower youth--so the “rite of pas-sage” becomes a signifi cant the-matic arc as characters learn to trust their heart, their instincts and to build lasting friendships and community.
ND: Is it important to write children’s books that refl ect the “black” experi-ence?JPR: Refl ecting the African Ameri-can experience is important. It wasn’t until I was 19 that I realized black people wrote books! Once I knew that I switched my major to English. So, lack of diversity in books, I think hampers other voices and excludes other stories. Having said that, all my books are multi-ethnic. White characters, Chinese and Vietnamese characters, Creoles and Cajuns - all sorts of people live in my books and I’m always trying to show how friendship and love can bridge culture and enrich humanity.
Acknowledge the role your dad or parent fi gure plays in your life with a present to suit all budgets.• Send an African Caribbean card with a love poem• Give a personalised photo jigsaw puzzle• Impress with a kente cloth or Jamaica inspired waistcoat from CG Couture: www.ClarisciaGill.com• Picnic in the park and cre-ate some delectable Caribbe-an dishes from Gran Cocina
Latina: The Food of Latin America by Maricel E Presilla• Give dad fancy feet with shoes from Mr Hare: www.mrhare.com• Treat dad to gourmet Jamaica - black cake and Jamaica Blue Mountain cof-fee – one of the fi nest in the world.• Give a customised towel or towelling robe. Sit with the children to cut out letters or shapes from colourful fabrics and get them sewn on to a
bath towel or robe. • Love history of the Cinema? Visit the Cinema Museum in Kennington London, home to some cinema memorabilia: www.cinema.org.uk• Take in the street food experience. Fish, Wings & Tings, Brixton, gets rave reviews. Trinidadian • Afrocentric home décor is the rage. Try a lamp or illustration. See Copper Dust London for ideas.
Jewell of a writer
A fresh approach to fostering· Small, friendly and professional.
· Child-focused offering 24/7 quality support to foster families.
· Proven track record in fostering.
· Excellent learning and development opportunities.
· Specialising in parent and child placements.
· £500 welcome grant when fostering.
Do you want to contribute to developing a new, exciting agency where you are valued as key professionals?
CONTACT:
Email: [email protected] Tel: 07956009674
Email: [email protected] Tel: 07534815506
Our team of Immigration Consultants and Solicitorsis made up of former Immigration Advisory Service
employees who have many years of experiencein immigration applications and appeals procedures.
Do you require advice in Immigration, Human Rights and Asylum matters?If so, then contact Immigration Practitioners Service (IPS) for a professional,friendly and affordable service. IPS offers the following applications andappeal services:
• Student applications (Tier 4) and Appeals:• Spouse/Partners Applications• Family Reunion Applications (Dependant children and relative) and Appeals:• Employment based Applications Tier 1 and 2;• Human Rights Applications and Appeals;• Applications against Deportation and Appeal;• EEA applications and appeals;• Asylum applications and appeals and other immigration matters.• Legal Aid
IPSIMMIGRATION PRACTITIONERS SERVICE (LLP)
203 Langdale House, 11 Marshalsea Road,London, SE1 1EN
We are 3 minutes from Borough Tube Station on the northern Line, Near London Bridge Station
Tel: 0203 176 5216 Fax: 0203 176 5217Primerose Makunzva: 07818 066522
Email: [email protected] | Email: [email protected]
www.ipslegal.comRegulated by the Office of the Immigration Service Commissioner (F2011000314)
Regulated by the Law Society Regulation AuthorityRegistered in England and Wales Partnership No: OC366633
Our team of Immigration Consultants and Solicitorsis made up of former Immigration Advisory Service
employees who have many years of experiencein immigration applications and appeals procedures.
Do you require advice in Immigration, Human Rights and Asylum matters?If so, then contact Immigration Practitioners Service (IPS) for a professional,friendly and affordable service. IPS offers the following applications andappeal services:
• Student applications (Tier 4) and Appeals:• Spouse/Partners Applications• Family Reunion Applications (Dependant children and relative) and Appeals:• Employment based Applications Tier 1 and 2;• Human Rights Applications and Appeals;• Applications against Deportation and Appeal;• EEA applications and appeals;• Asylum applications and appeals and other immigration matters.• Legal Aid
IPSIMMIGRATION PRACTITIONERS SERVICE (LLP)
203 Langdale House, 11 Marshalsea Road,London, SE1 1EN
We are 3 minutes from Borough Tube Station on the northern Line, Near London Bridge Station
Tel: 0203 176 5216 Fax: 0203 176 5217Primerose Makunzva: 07818 066522
Email: [email protected] | Email: [email protected]
www.ipslegal.comRegulated by the Office of the Immigration Service Commissioner (F2011000314)
Regulated by the Law Society Regulation AuthorityRegistered in England and Wales Partnership No: OC366633
Our team of Immigration Consultants and Solicitorsis made up of former Immigration Advisory Service
employees who have many years of experiencein immigration applications and appeals procedures.
Do you require advice in Immigration, Human Rights and Asylum matters?If so, then contact Immigration Practitioners Service (IPS) for a professional,friendly and affordable service. IPS offers the following applications andappeal services:
• Student applications (Tier 4) and Appeals:• Spouse/Partners Applications• Family Reunion Applications (Dependant children and relative) and Appeals:• Employment based Applications Tier 1 and 2;• Human Rights Applications and Appeals;• Applications against Deportation and Appeal;• EEA applications and appeals;• Asylum applications and appeals and other immigration matters.• Legal Aid
IPSIMMIGRATION PRACTITIONERS SERVICE (LLP)
203 Langdale House, 11 Marshalsea Road,London, SE1 1EN
We are 3 minutes from Borough Tube Station on the northern Line, Near London Bridge Station
Tel: 0203 176 5216 Fax: 0203 176 5217Primerose Makunzva: 07818 066522
Email: [email protected] | Email: [email protected]
www.ipslegal.comRegulated by the Office of the Immigration Service Commissioner (F2011000314)
Regulated by the Law Society Regulation AuthorityRegistered in England and Wales Partnership No: OC366633
• Human Rights Applications and Appeals
• Applications against Deportation and Appeal
• EEA applications and appeals
• Asylum applications and appeals and other immigration matters
• Student applications (Tier 4) and Appeals
• Spouse/Partners Applications
• Family Reunion Applications (Dependant children and relative) and Appeals
• Employment based Applications Tier 1 and 2
Primerose Makunzva: 07818 066522 Tel: 0203 176 5216 • Fax: 0203 176 5217 • Email: [email protected]
203 Langdale House, 11 Marshalsea Road, London, SE1 1ENWe are 3 minutes from Borough Tube Station on the northern Line, Near London Bridge Station
Do you require advice in Immigration, Human Rights and Asylum matters?
If so, then contact Immigration Practitioners Service (IPS) for a professional, friendly and affordable service. IPS offers the following applications and appeal services:
Dr. Jewell Parker Rhodes is a multi-award winning fi ction and non fi ction writer. She teaches creative writing and is the Piper Endowed Chair and Founding Artistic Director of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing at Arizona State University. She talks to Nat Disu about the power of stories and gives tips on ways to unlock a child’s imagination through reading, writ-ing and observation.
Jew
ell-R
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AWARD WINNER: Dr Jewell Parker Rhodes
Gifts for Father’s Day
| THE VOICE MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 201528
FAMILY MATTERS voicenewspaper www.voice-online.co.uk@thevoicenews
Organization Accreditedby Joint Commission International
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Please contact our dedicated team for your free consultation on 001 246 435 7467 to makeyour dream of a family come true.
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March: Book one, by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, pub-lished by Top Shelf Produc-tions (2013), and March: Book Two (2015)
Award winning graphic novels about the civil rights movement merged with the story of John Lewis, one of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, who became a U.S Congressman. The books, not text heavy, are excellent for starting conversa-tions on equalities, social issues, advocacy, activism and history. The visuals make them ideal for reluctant readers and anyone in-terested in graphics. Suggested reading age range: 13+
Bayou Magic, by Little Brown Young ReadersMaddy is the youngest of three sisters who often sees herself as the odd one out of them all. This changes one summer when it is her turn to spend time with her grandmere (grandmother) who lives in the Bayou. Though her sisters disliked their trip when they went, she starts enjoy-ing the life, learning about her heritage and getting to know the locals and their traditions. Maddy fi nds she has inher-ited the special powers that have been passed down the matriarchal side of her fam-ily for generations. She learns about confi dence and begins to absorb her grandmother’s teachings and words steeped in proverbs and sayings. When an oil spill threatens the commu-nity, Maddy calls on her special powers, evoking the help of Mata Wata, a mermaid that only she can see. Bayou Magic is a story that is beautifully told and so rich in imagery and descrip-tion that one can cook some of the dishes mentioned. Bayou Magic draws on folklore, healing,
values and what community and identity means. It hints that whatever happens, Maddy will always thrive and strive. Sug-gested reading age range: 8+subjheading:
The Jumbies, by Tracey Bap-tiste, published by Alonquin Young Readers (2015)Caribbean folklore runs through this novel about 11 year old Corinne La Mer who has heard stories about The Jumbies (tricksters) but does not believe in them until she manages to stir a jumbie out of the forest on All Hallow’s Eve and then the adventures begin. Children who like fantasy, mystery or sus-pense should enjoy. Suggested reading age range 10+
Marching for Freedom: Walk Together, Children, and Don’t You Grow Weary, by Elizabeth Partridge, pub-lished by Viking Children’s Books (2009)Highlights the role schoolchil-dren and teenagers played in the civil rights movement. Provides accounts from those involved together with docu-mentary photographs from the time. Children as young as 10 were arrested in their quest for equality. It shows how children and young people can effect change. Suggested reading age range 11+
Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom, by Lynda Black-mon Lowery, published by Dial Books (2015)Lynda Blackmon Lowry was the
youngest person to march from her hometown in Selma to Mont-gomery in 1965. This motiva-tional memoir tells how she was inspired to join the movement on hearing Dr Martin Luther King speak at an event she attended with her grandmother. She had been arrested 9 times before the age of 15 and bares a scar on the back of her head from an Alabama state trooper during a demonstration when she was 14. Suggested reading age range: 12+
J is for Jamaica, by Benjamin Zephaniah, Prodeepta Das, published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, (2006)An A-Z book capturing the his-tory and vibrancy of Jamaica
with photographs enhancing every entry. Guess the subject of each letter if you can - O is for One Love and X for Xamayca (one of the earliest names for Jamaica). It is ideal for children to share with relatives living with dementia who may have a link to Jamaica. Suggested reading age range: 6+
Ebony Reads marks the release on DVD of acclaimed movie Selma with these publications and revisits a classic A-Z book.
Children’s books TWEET CHAT WATCH
#Sicklecellchat Thursdays 1am (GMT)Join experts and people living with sickle cell for the weekly live chat on issues.
Catch up by searching for #sicklecellchat.
A tweet campaign #speakonsicklecellobama urges President Obama to give the disease profi le. World Sickle Cell Day is 19 June.
