Dear Parents, Thank you so much for participating in Westchester County's first-ever observance of the National Day of Racial Healing. This list is compiled by a resident of Westchester Author Annie Turnquest and educator for twenty-five years in the New York Metropolitan area. Here are some Children’s Books that will spark conversations needed today about … Continue reading National Day of Racial Healing – Westchester County Children’s Book List

Malcolm X said, "When 'I' replaced with 'We', even the illness becomes wellness." We gathered in Harlem from as far as Philadelphia, New Jersey, Westchester, and Africa. Stephanie McGraw Founder and CEO of W.A.R.M. We All Really Matter was present. She is known for raising awareness in the community about issues of domestic violence. Erika … Continue reading Human Trafficking Awareness Month

We thank the Village of Spring Valley Police Headquarters and Officer Andre Riobe’ for sharing your space and understanding that reading is fundamental. The conversations about children reading is a needed one. Children have much to gain from having lots and lots of books at home. It is important for us to encourage our children … Continue reading Book Badges & Beverages in Spring Valley

Books. Badges. Beverages. in Mount Vernon, New York 2020. This is not our first partnership. We collaborated for the first time in 2012 with the belief and understanding that every child deserves a gift during the holidays. We collected toys and coat. We even had gingerbread houses to decorate. Let’s not forget the Let Girls … Continue reading Books. Badges. Beverages.

“MVPL Garden Club” Thank You Trustee Hope Marabel for acknowledging me today. Getting acknowledged makes me blush & get very mushy internally. I learned a lot even though I went to support Bro Arthur Muhammad. Actions like tiling, weeding, and seedlings. Brother Muhammed took time to correct with love. “Not dirt, soil”. Cynthia Turnquest-JonesFounder of … Continue reading Tha BUMP Gets Dirty

I started serving the hungry as a student in Elementary school. We would travel with a couple of Nuns to a church in the South Bronx. My parents would drop me off early in the morning and pick me up with smiles. I really didn’t understand what I was doing. All I knew was I … Continue reading Tha BUMP Gives

The current buzz around Urban communities are about schools failing children of color during the pandemic. By now you have heard that there is no other way to say it – this has been devastating for children of color. The interesting thing is that the readings and conversations are lacking solutions. In the city of … Continue reading Mount Vernon Reads

“Giving books as gifts to children wrapped with a groovie bow is the most exciting and extraordinary phenomenon.” -Author Annie Turnquest. Corona Virus is playing a part of a intentionally creative change. Tha Brown Urban Mother Partners, Inc. strategized on how to remix Halloween. “Books are portable. Able to fit in your bag. They can … Continue reading Happy Treat & Read Day

A Residential Treatment Center for children and youth who are identified as being an issue in their community or beyond parental control. The stay at Children’s Village is not long-lasting. The intention is to transition back into society & with parents. Many of the youth were either AWOLs, those with high therapeutic needs, struggling with … Continue reading Know Your Rights Youth Empowerment Town Hall

The Commitment, organized by the National Action Network. This was calling for racial justice and police reform. Al Sharpton first declared plans for the march during a memorial service for George Floyd, the 46-year-old father who was intentionally suffocated by a police officer in Minneapolis who kneeled in his neck for nine minutes. Mayor Shawyn … Continue reading