Children's Book Connections

The following post was written by the YWCA's new Racial Justice Program Coordinator Nell Fleming, pictured at right with her husband and daughter.

It's not every day that an award winning children's picture book author calls a mother two days after the purchase and reading of her book. But let me start at the beginning (if there is such a place), as this tangled web of connections is hard to unravel.

It all started when a librarian at the University of Illinois Center for Children's Books responded to my request to diligently search for any fictional picture book ever published with a white woman and a black man as a couple, married, parents or otherwise – preferably on the cover of the book. I was starting my proposal for a study on the demographics of children's picture books in the current century. Only one book was referred and the librarian who found it thought that perhaps it was a non-fiction book but wasn't sure. I can understand why she thought so, because the main character, Tyler, is a real person and the source of the inspiration for this rhyming tale of how we view people based on their perceived skin color.

This was so far the only book I was able to identify that had a white woman as the spouse or partner of any person of color or in any interracial relationship in a children's fiction picture book and it isn't even completely fictional. Why does it matter if it is fiction or non-fiction you may wonder? The reason is because fiction speaks to our imagination and what is possible, desirable, and worth wishing for. Non-fiction is valuable because it speaks to what is true and real now and in times past.

My proposal was approved and I started my research last week. On the third of 2,500 pages of book covers to research, I spotted the book in question: Am I a Color Too? by Nancy Vogl. I asked myself why I had not yet purchased or checked the book out. And so, I obtained a copy and read it myself and then to my daughter, who is biracial also. Imagine my surprise when the author called me two days later to say she had found me on the Not in Our Town website. She had been following my work as the Racial Justice Coordinator at the YWCA of Charleston – specifically the Women with Biracial Children Support group we just launched last week. It took my brain a minute to figure out what was happening. As I listened to the voicemail, I wondered if she was calling about my work life, my school life, or my personal life. When I returned her call, we discussed a series of additional connections, including mutual friends in Illinois (although we both live in other states), parallel interests and odd coincidences mostly learned through Facebook.

Although I've never been one to believe in fate or purpose behind random synchronicities, it is not hard to see why people would attribute meaning to these kinds of experiences. There is a kind of otherworldly quality when the odds of meeting someone at just the right time and place to connect on so many different levels is statistically improbable at least in the world I was raised in before the internet. The issues that I hold dear used to make me the odd one…the black sheep…the eccentric one. However, now I'm connected with so many thousands of people like myself in my community, nation and the world, that I seem more average all the time. If racial equality becomes the average lifestyle, I’ll take it. I can always dye my hair blue when I turn 65.

2010 YWCA Women of Achievement Honoree #2: Nina Denton Pasinetti

Meet Nina Denton Pasinetti - one of this year’s 2010 YWCA Women of Achievement honorees and the second in our 4-week series of blog posts leading up to this inspirational event on February 18. This year marks the 14th annual YWCA Women of Achievement Awards Luncheon, honoring the outstanding women in our community whose personal and professional achievements inspire and empower other women to strive for their highest goals.

Nina Denton Pasinetti has been passionate about the arts since early in life, when she studied with the National Ballet of Canada, Ballet West, Cecchetti Ballet Council of America, Luigi and the Gus Giordano Center. A former Miss West Virginia, Nina graduated summa cum laude from Morris Harvey College (now the University of Charleston) with a major in mathematics and obtained an M.A. from Ohio University.

Nina returned to Charleston to teach math at George Washington High School, where she also managed, choreographed and directed musicals and plays and later opened Ballet and Musical Theatre Dance Arts Inc. During her early GW teaching days, Nina operated the YWCA’s top floor as a ballet, tap and jazz school of dance. Fifteen years later, she moved to the Oddfellows building and opened Ballet and Musical Theatre Dance Arts Inc. where she continued to teach ballet, tap and jazz for the next 10 years.

During the 1980s, she originated the Appalachian Youth Jazz-Ballet and served as president of Dance West Virginia, where she arranged master classes and dance scholarships to professional schools for talented dancers throughout West Virginia. She began choreographing for the Charleston Light Opera Guild 38 years ago and became their artistic director 26 years ago – choreographing 136 musicals and directing 96 of them to date.

Nina volunteers as board vice president FestivALL Charleston, dance chair on the Clay Center’s programming committee, and adjudicator for the WV State Thespian Festival, while also serving as a member of the University of Charleston National Alumni Board. She is listed in several publications including Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World. Nina is extremely proud of her many successful students that have continued professionally in theatre, film, television and dance, including actress Jennifer Garner.

2010 YWCA Women of Achievement Honoree #1: Deb Copeland

Meet Deb Copeland one of this year’s 2010 YWCA Women of Achievement honorees and the first in our 4-week series of blog posts leading up to this inspirational event on February 18. This year marks the 14th annual YWCA Women of Achievement Awards Luncheon, honoring the outstanding women in our community whose personal and professional achievements inspire and empower other women to strive for their highest goals.

Deborah L. Copeland leads a life with multiple starring roles, including educator, entrepreneur, philanthropist, life coach, community activist, motivational speaker, religious group leader, survivor, wife, mother, and author of the best-selling book, Attitude Therapy. Her greatest joy, however, comes not from her business successes but from her maternal role in a blended family of eight – including three youngsters adopted from abroad. She also takes pride in her strong and abiding faith, which has seen her through many of life’s most challenging trials and tribulations.

From 1981 to 1994, she served as President and CEO of Smart Temporary Services – a recruitment company she started and grew from just one employee to 4,000 employees serving seven states. After selling the company to a global firm, Copeland started Work Smart Business Consultants – a training and development firm that readily became a leading supplier of consultant services to hospitals and major corporations across many industries.

As a speaker and seminar leader, Deb’s compelling messages continue to draw audiences throughout the United States. Her most requested courses enable corporations to get better results from their employees while maintaining and promoting their physical and mental well-being. She is an active community volunteer, serves on numerous boards, and has received numerous awards and accolades, including being named “Entrepreneur of the Year" in the Services Division in 1992 by The Institute of American Entrepreneurs, and being selected as one of 10 business executives profiled in “Who Who’s in West Virginia Business” by The State Journal in 1995.

In June 2009, Deb committed to working one year for God, with her new motto being “where He leads me, I will follow.” She has now officially “retired” (November 2009) to do a lifetime of God’s work, including starting a nonprofit called For Him that will raise money for worldwide charities and a division called A God Thing, which will raise money for local charities on a continuous basis.

A Year in Review: The volunteers who have furthered our work in 2009

As 2009 comes to a close, we wish to pay tribute to the countless volunteers who have furthered our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women throughout the past year. While these photos capture just a tiny fraction of our volunteer base, we thank ALL of our volunteers from the bottom of our hearts for thousands of hours contributed, hundreds of donations collected, and countless lives touched by their generosity.

Jeanne Cochran and WSAZ's Jessica Ralston pose with Soroptimist Club chairwoman Margi High at the annual Soroptimist Fashion Show to benefit YWCA Sojourner's on April 4.

Morgan Miller won WSAZ's "Hometown Hero" award for her Easter basket surprises for homeless children at the YWCA Sojourner's Shelter.

Volunteers at the YWCA's "24: The Underground" rave party on April 24.

DJ Brian Blackout and creative volunteer extraordinaire Alex Morgado.

Volunteers at the India Heritage Fair on May 16, who donated all of the proceeds from their delicious home cooked Indian dishes to the YWCA Resolve Family Abuse Program.

Members of the Vandalia Rotary Club donated a truck full of laundry supplies along with two sets of washers and dryers to the YWCA Sojourner's Shelter.

Local artists Kemp McElwee and Susan Poffenbarger again volunteered as co-chairs of our annual Vintage Art Auction.

Erin Brewster and Julie Jarrett volunteered countless hours to the planning of our 2009 Girls Night Out "Girls in Pearls" event to benefit victims of domestic violence through YWCA Resolve.

Graphic designer Amanda Easter and Girls Night Out co-chair Karen Farmer were instrumental in organizing and spreading the word about Girls Night Out.

Volunteers from the Kanawha County Association of Retired School Employees spruced up the grounds of the YWCA Alicia McCormick Homes.

Immogene Bennington volunteers more than 40 hours each week in the front office of the YWCA Sojourner's Shelter and saves our program the cost of an entire full time staff member's salary each year.

Volunteers from BB&T cleaned windows inside and out at the YWCA Shanklin Center during the United Way Day of Caring on September 16.

BrickStreet Insurance volunteers spent their Day of Caring completing landscaping projects outside the YWCA Past & Present Gently Used Clothing Store.

Volunteers from Star USA Federal Credit Union gave rooms at the YWCA Child Enrichment Center much-needed coats of paint.

Ladies volunteered their time to make our Guys Night Out event on October 1 run smoothly.

Tom and Bobbi Grant, co-owners of Wellington's of Scarlet Oaks, have donated their time, talent, and restaurant space for 23 consecutive years to host the annual Thanksgiving Benefit Dinner to Aid the Homeless.

Volunteers serving a delicious meal at the Thanksgiving Benefit Dinner.

NFL superstar Randy Moss and his entourage surprised the YWCA Sojourner's Shelter with a truck full of new bedding, games and toys for the children on November 25.

Volunteers from Read Aloud West Virginia brought Santa to the YWCA Sojourner's Shelter, along with boxes of books for the residents on December 9.

Not In Our Town

Patrice O'Neil producer and filmmaker traveled to Charleston, WV last month in a whirlwind of follow up presentations to her award-winning PBS documentary “Not in Our Town." Patrice, along with NIOT Civic Engagement Coordinator Jason Wallach, toured West Virginia and led a series of open discussions about how to build safe, strong, hate-free communities throughout the state. Their new NIOT website was created in response to an overwhelming interest nationally as a tool for more discussion on race and tolerance and anti-violence measures.

Individuals from Morgantown, Logan, Charleston, and Montgomery, among others, attended the various sessions to learn more about continuing the dialogue, putting a stop to hate crimes and creating inclusive communities. At the first meeting held at the Charleston Area Alliance, the crowd was larger than expected and quite diverse. Guest speakers from Montgomery, WV were present to tell their story about being the target of a racially motivated harassment and beating (the officers have since been sentenced and incarcerated for their crimes). Attendees were moved by their story and expressed mixed feelings on how to move past dialogue into action and what kinds of dialogue and/or actions would be practical and useful. The crowd was motivated to make use of the new NIOT web page for continued discussion and brainstorming.

The subsequent meeting held here at our YWCA headquarters was also well attended, and several young people expressed their disappointment at the failure of their local school board for not including language to protect the rights of gay and lesbian students under the anti-violence policy. It was encouraging to see young people tell their stories and continue to voice their concerns.

The YWCA of Charleston, in conjunction with its umbrella organization OneKanawha, has since decided to become a virtual NIOT organization to put Charleston, West Virginia on the NIOT map. OneKanawha is a coalition of Charleston area organizations and individuals who share a commitment to living as a part of an inclusive community. Born during the summer of 2008 out of a series of community dialogs, OneKanawha's central purpose is to foster dialogues and conversations that will increase understanding among diverse people. OneKanawha is based out of the YWCA of Charleston, whose Racial Justice Coordinator serves as a facilitator.

Any person who shares a commitment to insuring that the greater Charleston continues to develop as an inclusive community is welcome to join the OneKanawha online network and keep up on the activities and events of OneKanawha. Email nfleming@ywcacharleston.org if you'd like to join the OneKanawha network - OR put yourself on the map by telling us what you've done to take positive action against hate and stand up for inclusion!

Plus, click here for a slideshow of photos from NIOT's visit to Charleston.