Were you ever curious about our mission? Well, here's a 1-minute video that sums up exactly what we're up to! Feel free to download the video here and share!
Jennifer Vassel Takes 3rd Place in Zuventurez's 2016 Pitch Competition
On November 15, 2016, Jennifer participated in Zuventurez's pitch competition, powered by Azusa Pacific University.
Zuventurez is a 10-week program that equips the student and alumni community with curriculum presented from a Christian perspective; all the while creating opportunities for team building, professional coaching and mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs.
Each week, participants had to pitch their brand in front of judges. The way they made it to the next round was by points tallied up on the judging scorecards. Participants pitched each week for 3 weeks until 7 teams made it to finals.
Jennifer placed 3rd out of 30+ teams, earning her $2,000 for her business. During one of the 5-minute pitching rounds, 5 of 9 judges purchased I Am Unique! for their daughters! One of them even choked up up thinking about how much it will help his child.
All photos courtesy of Zuventurez.
Cool Kids Read
In celebration of World Literacy Day, the folks over at Southbay Pavillion held a Cool Kids Read event. Cool Kids Read shows kids the fun of reading through games, facepainting, and reading throughout the day. Jennifer read our story to the attendees. Parents also came by the book to learn more about the story.
Her Eyes Matter: Mother-Daugther Picnic
Her Eyes Matter is an event powered by Black Businesswomen Rock, a community committed to increasing the network and net worth of black businesswomen around the world. We spent a sunny afternoon on a mother-daughter picnic at Liberty Park in Cerritos, CA.
Attendees participated in hula hoop and double dutch contents, mother-daughter time, and a reading from Jennifer.
The girls were attentive and participated in the Q&A discussion afterward. It was nice to build community and absorb some of that good ol' vitamin D.
Read Aloud at Compton's CDF Freedom School
Read Lead is an educational initiative that provides literacy and leadership opportunities for youth and young adults in Los Angeles County. They are also the official site sponsor of the national Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools program. The CDF Freedom Schools® program seeks to empower children to make a difference in their communities, families, and most importantly - themselves.
By providing summer and after-school reading enrichment for children who might otherwise not have access to books, the CDF Freedom Schools program plays a much needed role in helping to curb summer learning loss and close achievement gaps.
One of Read Lead's programs is Read Aloud, where guests from the community are invited to come and read to the students. When Jennifer was invited to read I Am Unique! at Compton's Freedom School, she couldn't resist.
The kids were lively and full of energy!
Even Compton's mayor, Aja Brown was in attendance. We had a chance to chat with one of the CDF Freedom School site coordinators, Tatiana McGlorthan. She helped to coordinate a 6-week literacy program, which focused on higher learning, critical thinking skills, and culturally relevant literature. When asked why representation matters in the school system and beyond, here's what she had to say:
We fully support Read and the CDF Freedom School's partnership. To learn more about Read Lead and the other amazing programs they offer, visit their site here.
Radio Interview on It's Time to Talk Show
Jennifer sat down with the hosts of the It's Time to Talk Show, where she shares what inspired her to write I Am Unique!, the issues she sees with today's media, and more!
Beauty, Brains, & Bling 2016
Beauty, Brains, and Bling (BBB) is a quarterly, hands-on session for girls ages 7-11 years old to connect in an interactive, intimate, and inspiring setting. This quarterly event is powered by The Persona Program, which seeks to empower girls by building confidence, developing character, and promoting proper conduct.
This installment of BBB was all about confidence, self-love, and self-discovery. Jennifer was invited to share personal journey and read I Am Unique! to the girls.
After the reading, Jennifer led the group in an activity. Each girl received a handout which asked them to identify something they loved about themselves and why.
Want a copy of this coloring and activity sheet? Get it here.
Jennifer Vassel Visits Hidden Trails Elementary
Jennifer went to her old stomping grounds, Hidden Trails Elementary, and read I Am Unique! during their assembly. The kids were excited to have someone from their school come back and share what they've been up to since promotion. Jennifer read the story and left the students with this final message:
After the assembly, Jennifer attended the book fair where she met and talked to some of the students.
Want Jennifer to come to your school and share the power of self-love and honoring your gifts? Contact us!
SuperMOMs Unite
Special events producer Dunnie Onasanya–Hasan created the Super Moms Unite event series and served as the panel discussion moderator. As a new mother and event producer, she has a vision to create a family-friendly experience that will engage, uplift, and empower mothers in the Los Angeles, CA area.
Jennifer was a vendor at this event. Mothers like comedienne Angelina Spicer stopped by to learn more about I Am Unique! Her daughter and other little girls enjoyed taking pictures with Erin.
