The Look of Love

An Exhortation To Care For Others

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Every child deserves care, compassion, and an equal opportunity to live out their soul's greatest hopes. Watch with us as former foster youth Amnoni Myers testifies to her experience in foster care and exhorts all who are able to be a mentor for youth in need, inspire in the ways that you can, and extend yourself in the service and care of others. Today she uses her experiences and her profound gift of advocacy to drive policy changes for the child welfare system.

House Passes CROWN ACT

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🚨#CROWNNews Alert!!

"On Friday, the US House passed legislation that would ban race-based hair discrimination in employment and against those participating in federally assisted programs, housing programs, and public accommodations.

The Democratic-led House voted 235-189 to pass the CROWN Act, which stands for 'Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.' The bill seeks to protect against bias based on hair texture." - Essence Magazine - Read more here: https://bit.ly/-HR2116

Watch as the House passes CROWN Act, a bill that outlaws discrimination based on a person's natural hair.

Thank you to Essence Magazine and PBS News Hour for reporting!

#TheCROWNAct #PassTheCROWN

Image from ABC News

Judge Katherine Lucero On Punishment To Healing

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"Katherine Lucero — a daughter of farmworkers and longtime juvenile court judge who calls for compassion and support rather than jail and foster care — is now leading the most populous state toward a once-unimaginable goal: a future without youth prisons...

She calls the 'over-incarceration of Black, brown and Native youth' something that justice system leaders can’t be afraid to tackle in a more substantive way. She urges 'creative' approaches in handling the cases of youthful offenders, who come from 'the least-resourced neighborhoods, where schools no longer have mental health counselors, sports, art, drama or librarians.'" - Julie Reynolds Martinez and Jeremy Loudenback, The Imprint

Read more here: https://bit.ly/-Lucero

Marching Forward

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“In a moment of great uncertainty, those marchers pressed forward, and they crossed. We must do the same. We must lock our arms and march forward. We will not let setbacks stop us. We know that honoring the legacy of those who marched then demands that we continue to push Congress to pass federal voting rights legislation.” - Vice President Kamala Harris

Read more here: https://bit.ly/-Selma57

Image Credit: Reuters

For Makers of Light

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For those of us who are givers and empaths, we often carry the needs of others in our souls. But in our calling of upholding humanity, it's also important that we take time for our own renewal and healing.

Whether a walk on the beach, a prayer hike on a green mountain trail, cooking your favorite meal, reading a book that propels you onto exotic travels to a distant land, or to a real island destination of your choosing, it's always important to renew oneself.

May the Light that you so graciously share with the world be returned to you in a million ways. You deserve compassion, too. Take time for the things you love.

Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families - And How Abolition Can Build a Safer World!

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“Once again Dorothy Roberts offers us a bold, visionary critique of the contemporary institutional consequences of colonialism and slavery. Her penetrating analysis of the family policing system and its masquerade as child protective services not only persuades us that reforms alone will forever reinforce the system’s racist and repressive foundations, it also compels us to imagine new modes of care and frameworks for abolitionist futures.”

― Angela Y. Davis, author of Freedom Is a Constant Struggle

https://bit.ly/-Torn

Photo by Unknown

Teen Voice: Discover Their Stories!

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"Adolescence is one of the most transformative and critical turning points in a person’s life. The attention and care we give to teenagers is crucial. Black teens in America, however, often don’t get the room to be seen and heard when they’re coming of age. Harmful stereotypes, toxic tropes and adultification bias often lead to inaccurate and limiting portrayals of their lives.

But in reality, Black teens are far more powerful, beautiful, creative and multifaceted" than they are often given credit for.

Read along and discover their stories: https://bit.ly/TeenVoice

Thank you to Huffpost!

Together We Can End Hair Discrimination

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The graphic below illustrates the painful reality that many young Black girls face as they contend with hair discrimination. It's a clear illustration that the same institutionalized racism that impacts adults, also harms children in educational environments and beyond.

Together we can take action to put an end to this sad reality. Visit www.thecrownact.com to take action and sign the petition!

#PassTheCROWN

Letter To The Look of Love

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Here at The Look of Love, we treasure testimonials from our participants and their caregivers!

A visit to the salon can leave a child feeling confident, loved, and reminded that they matter in the world. Read along as we share with you a heartfelt testimonial from Amber N. regarding a recent visit.

#YouAreWorthIt #MayLoveAlwaysWin #TheLookofLove

"Separate But Not Equal: Racial Bias In Salon Culture" by Jill Di Donato

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"Salon segregation is a dirty secret no one talks about, and unless you’ve experienced it, you might not know it exists. Although the beauty industry professes inclusiveness, stylists aren’t being trained in all hair types, including textured hair common among Black women. As a result, Black women cannot be expertly serviced in all salons. This is problematic, especially as the salon is a place dedicated to self-care, a place to be pampered and feel beautiful." - Jill Di Donato, Huffpost

Thank you to Huffpost's Jill Di Donato for reporting!

Read on here: https://bit.ly/-DiDonato

Hair Discrimination Can Last A Lifetime

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Race-based hair discrimination negatively impacts young Black girls and should have NO place in our society. Hair discrimination can occur #AsEarlyAsFive and can last a lifetime.

Join @Dove and the #CROWNCoalition as they aim to bring awareness to #TheCROWNAct and #PassTheCROWN nationwide to end hair discrimination in the classroom and beyond. Visit thecrownact.com to take action and sign the petition.

Interview With Patriots Defensive Lineman Lawrence Guy

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#ICYMI, be sure to check out the @NBCNews Kids Edition interview with Patriots defensive lineman, Lawrence Guy, as he shares words of encouragement, inspiration, and empowerment for children with learning challenges.

Thank you to Lawrence Guy and wife Andrea for all of the wonderful things you do to uplift others!!✨💕

Watch Here:

Part 1: https://nbcnews.to/3A5nomf

Part 2: https://nbcnews.to/3txpFW5

#StandForIzzy

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"She vows to make Izzy’s life matter by speaking out about bullying, racism and the importance of understanding autism so that no other parent has to suffer like she is." - WGNTV/AP News

It's truly heartbreaking that any child should have to suffer in this way. Our sincerest prayer is that this mother is given the platform that she needs to defend the lives of other children that are bullied.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please know that YOUR LIFE MATTERS and help is just a phone call or text away. To get help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). There is also a crisis text line at 741741. For crisis support in Spanish, call 1-888-628-9454.

#StandForIzzy

https://bit.ly/-Izzy

AP Photo/Rick Bowmer