Month: October 2011

Doer Spotlight: Jen Chau

Name: Jen Chau

Point of view: White. Jewish. Chinese. Activist.

Website: swirlinc.org – A national multi-ethnic organization that challenges society’s notions of race through community building, education and action.

Blog: The time is always right – Notes from an activist who won’t quit

Twitter: @jenkchau – A mixed-race community activist and organizational leader fighting for social justice through diversity work and education.

Facebook: Swirl Group

Linkedin: Jen Chau

Google search: Jen Chau

Personal note: I met Jen when she was still in college…via the internet! We have spent hours on the phone and don’t let too much time go by without touching base. I’m proud to call her friend!

Dear Jen,

YOU INSPIRE ME! It’s SO easy to get caught up in “I’m not doing enough” and do nothing. YOU realize that you’re not intended to do it all yourself and that you’re just one piece of the puzzle. Keep doing what you’re doing and know that you are helping to create a better world!

New Catagory: Doers

I could be like most people and just create a “blogroll” on my page, but I just don’t feel that gives these amazing people the props they deserve! At least with a blogpost my reach can be broadened by sharing them with my facebook friends and twitter followers!

Dear Doers,

YOU INSPIRE ME! It’s SO easy to get caught up in “I’m not doing enough” and do nothing. YOU realize that you’re not intended to do it all yourself and that you’re just one piece of the puzzle. Keep doing what you’re doing and know that you are helping to create a better world!

Equity and Diversity Quiz

Take a few minutes to visit our friends over at EdChange.org to take their Equity and Diversity Quiz. I promise, you will be surprised at some of the answers! Here are just a few of the questions:

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, what is the percentage of U.S. schools with no teachers of color on staff?

According to a study by the American Association of Physicians for Human Rights, what percentage of physicians report witnessing a colleague giving reduced care or refusing care to lesbian, gay, or bisexual patients?

According to a 2006 report from the American Civil Liberties Union, African Americans comprise more than 37% of people arrested for drug use, 59% of those convicted for drug use, and 74% of those sentenced to prison for drug use. African Americans comprise what percentage of U.S. drug users?

Online Game: Dress-up Around the World

My 8 year old is forever playing dress-up both at home and online. I ran across this website that has tons (like 70) different women around the world that you can dress-up. Mind you, they are women so go take a look before you send your kid there. I won’t pick it apart (although, I have NO idea what they were thinking for the African woman on page 3). In general, it looks like “fun” (torture if we’re talking about the advertising) and it appears to be the best one online. If you find a better one, post it in the comments below!

(sneak peek) – NEW iCelebrateDiversity.com website coming soon!

I’ve been plugging away on the re-design of iCelebrateDiversity.com. I can’t wait until it’s done! There’s still quite a bit of work to do, but I just couldn’t wait to show you! Ready? Here it is…

Book/Poem – The Crayon Box That Talked

I believe that teaching children to love themselves (and others) is one of the greatest gifts that you can give! I also believe that children should learn to celebrate differences in the home and that their teachers and friends can, and should, be a wonderful source of influence and affirmation. My heart is that my web site and this blog can be tools that ALL people can use to help decrease the gap of hatred and misunderstanding and increase the bond of unity and understanding!

Below is a poem from the book The Crayon Box that Talked that I have read to hundreds of preschoolers. It’s a great book with a simple message, “Together we are better”!

The Crayon Box That Talked

by Shane DeRolf

While walking in a toy store,
The day before today,
I overheard a crayon box,
With many things to say…

‘I don’t like Red!’ said Yellow.
And Green said, ‘Nor do I!
And no one here likes Orange,
But no one knows just why.’

‘We are a box of crayons
That doesn’t get along.’
Said Blue to all the others,
‘Something here is wrong!’

Well, I bought that box of crayons,
And took it home with me,
And laid out all the colors,
So the crayons could all see.

They watched me as I colored
With Red and Blue and Green,
And Black and White and Orange,
And every color in between…

They watched as Green became the grass,
And Blue became the sky,
The Yellow sun was shining bright,
On White clouds drifting by,

Colors changing as they touched,
Becoming something new.
They watched me as I colored.
They watched till I was through.

And when I’d finally finished,
I began to walk away.
And as I did, the crayon box
Had something more to say…

‘I do like Red!’ said Yellow.
And Green said, ‘So do I!

And, Blue, you were terrific,
So high up in the sky!’

‘We are a box of crayons,
Each one of us unique.
But when we get together,
The picture is complete.’

*TM & copyrighted, 1996, 1997, 2001 Shane DeRolf.