ChangeMakers Come in All Shapes and Sizes
Changemaker– a big word that simply means starting something that matters. Furthermore, being a changemaker could matter to 1 person or 1 million people. But to act on injustice or inequality, I recognize that changemakers come in all shapes and sizes.
Recently, my 7-year-old daughter Havana was featured on national and international news. From the outside looking in, there were millions of people applauding her for being change maker. They even went as far as calling her a hero.
From inside looking out, we were in disbelief watching a simple act get millions of heads to turn in her direction for simply doing what she thought was right in the moment.
Start now... you are never too little to make a difference. #changemakers #werisetogether #letthechildrenmarch Share on X
How It Began: March For Our Lives
A very long story short, after attending the March for Our Lives on March 24, my daughter Havana knew that she wanted to do more to help end gun violence in schools.
She was inspired after she watched another local young girl, Naomi Wadler, speak up for the elementary school students and for black girls who are disproportionately affected by gun violence. In fact, black females are more likely than any other group to be killed due to gun violence than any other group in America.
National School Walkout
Havana decided to participate in the walkout on April 20th on the anniversary of the Columbine school shooting. She chose to wear an astronaut suit, just like she did at the March for Our Lives. Havana wants to be an astronaut when she grows up.
So she wore her astronaut suit to show her friends and the world that little black girls have dreams and aspirations. They are strong and beautiful and deserve the same chance to achieve their goals as everyone else. Orange is also the official color to honor victims of gun violence starting with Hadiya Pendleton in Chicago.
Our conversations with Havana include social justice, the school to prison pipeline, gun violence affecting black and brown communities, among other things. Havana’s cousin Tony was also shot and killed when he was 17 years old, so gun violence is not a topic we wanted to or even had the option to shield her from.
Havana ended up being the only student to walk out of her school in April. Although Havana may have stood alone that day, she’s no stranger to seeing a problem and standing up to be a part of the solution even if it means she is alone.
ChangeMaking is Intersectional
Havana clearly understands that just because she is only seven doesn’t mean that she can’t help other people every day. The older students are affecting change by registering people to vote and making sure that the people who are representing us in Congress and the Senate are fighting for safer gun laws. However kids under the voting age are still able to affect real change in their communities.
President Nelson Mandela said “education is our most powerful weapon that we can use to change the world”, and Ms. Ava DuVernay also told us you have to “fight with light”. So Havana is not simply marching or holding a clever sign. Like so many of you reading this, she is taking action in her community.
For Havana, change making has taken the form of educating other children about issues through simply reading a picture book.
Children’s Book Activist
Havana started a book club called Rhymers Are Readers #37books. “Rhymers are Readers” because they love to sing, dance, and read. She uses #37books because Scholastic did a study this year that shows black and brown children have 37 fewer books in their homes than white children in America. They also found that only 18% of African-American 4th graders are proficient readers.
Havana believes Black lives matter, but that Black books matter too. For this reason, she began to donate books with black girl protagonists to encourage literacy and representation. Havana’s goal was to help her choir friends to feel confident in their reading ability. She also wanted them see kids who look like them in the books they read.
To date, Havana has raised over $12,000 to donate books to her choir. She also partnered with our local bookstore, Mahogany Books, a Black-owned business in Southeast Washington D.C. to purchase the books to reinvest in the Black community.
Download PDF: Rhymers Are Readers #37books Book List
Books can and will change the world. We could not be more proud to see the smiles on these children’s faces every time Havana walks into her choir practice with a huge stack of books.
Joining Forces with Other Changemakers
We believe that one girl is powerful, but a movement of girls is UNSTOPPABLE. So Havana has partnered with Taylor Richardson, an aspiring astronaut as well. Taylor is also an activist and philanthropist, and most importantly a role model to Havana. At just 14 years old, Taylor shows Havana and thousands of girls that you are never too little to make a difference.
Recently they returned from Accra, Ghana where together they raised over $25,000 to donate books, school and soccer supplies, feminine hygiene products and more in person.
Below is the highlight reel of the trip. Special thanks to our special accommodation host Marriott Accra.
Teen Vogue 21 Under 21 2018
Thanks to the incredible advocacy work that Taylor and Havana have been doing this year, Teen Vogue has inducted Havana into the 21 Under 21 Class of 2018. Taylor is an honoree for the 21 Under 21 Class of 2017. Taylor and Havana had the opportunity to attend the Teen Vogue Summit and once again, Marriott Hotels has been our global champion of diversity and inclusion in literacy and STEM.
They sponsored our stay at the Marriott Marina Del Rey for the week to attend the events. Below is a highlight reel of our stay at the Marriott Marina Del Rey, (as well as a few highlights from the Summit)which was just as wonderful of an experience as our stay in the Marriott Accra.
You can see more of what these amazing girls are doing:
Connect with Havana The Tiny Diplomat on Twitter.
Connect with Taylor Astronaut StarBright on Twitter.
You can also donate books to Havana’s book club. Contact information is HERE.
“Just remember,
You are braver than you believe,
stronger than you seem,
and smarter than you think.”
Changemakers Come in All Shapes and Sizes
There are hundreds of ways for children to become change makers.
Here are a few of my favorite books about taking action:
March {Trilogy} by Rep. John Lewis (don’t forget to pick up the accompanying March journal and March postcards to write about your changemaking experiences).
Marley Dias Gets It Done…and So Can You by Marley Dias
Start Now! You Can Make a Difference! by Chelsea Clinton
Books for #changemakers you must add to your TBR pile from @repjohnlewis @iammarleydias and @chelseaclinton! #amreading Share on X
Raising Readers, Activists, and Leaders
Join us at Biracial Bookworms
Join us as we raise and teach children to be readers, activists, and leaders!
06/25/2018 @ 11:55 am
H is inspiring and her book list great!
06/25/2018 @ 1:26 pm
Thank you for your continued support Suzie! It means the world!!