Week O' Fun

I had an awesome week.  Busy, but awesome.  Luma Mufleh, the coach highlighted in Warren St. John's book, "Outcasts United," spoke at Towson to an audience of about 300. Faculty and students from not only the University, but also the the surrounding communities came. And, lots and lots of young and old soccer fans. More about Luma in a sec.

I had a good time with my fifth graders in Cherry Hill and got to attend a regional residency meeting at Rutgers.  Getting together with fellow residents is always such a great time and being able to do that on the Rutgers campus was really neat! They just started a Diversity Research Center at their Dana Library that is the first of its kind in the nation. And it sounds AMAZING. The center will chiefly work on developing and carrying out research in the study of diversity. It was truly exciting and inspiring to hear about. I can't wait to see what they do.

About Luma -she is fantastic! Her stories about growing up in Jordan were beautiful and some of the anecdotes she told about the Fugees during the Q & A had me cackling.  (It's Halloween, I cackle this time of year.) The book, "Outcasts United," leaves out a lot of the humor that Luma seems to encounter with the kids fairly frequently.  One story she told exposed the differences the Fugees feel in contrast to the teams they often play against.  They are sometimes called not the nicest of names by opponents and their parents. They get taunted for being black, muslim or having accents, or for having a woman as their coach, among other differences. The Fugees have adjusted to this, but once after a game where the taunts had been more stinging than usual,  the kids asked Luma, (who is fair-skinned and almost accentless), "What if they knew the truth?" 

Luma asked, "The truth, what do you mean the truth?"

They said, "That you're an Arab AND a Muslim!"

Sarcastically Luma replied, "Oh, God! What would we do then!"

Here's some press about the Fugees.  And, I encourage you to join their Fugees Family Facebook page to keep on top of updates and happenings with the kids. Enjoy and Have a Great Week!

Geeking out with my boss at the Baltimore Book Festival

I get so star struck when I meet authors! What is that?  Here's me and my boss Patty, (who I love!), sandwiching author Warren St. John at the Baltimore Book Festival yesterday.  St. John wrote, most recently, "Outcasts United: An American Town, A Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference." He also wrote, "Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer: A Road Trip into the Heart of Fan Mania." He gave an interesting talk.  I also gushed over Michele Norris, but didn't get a pic.  Ahhh published authors. I love you guys so much!

Baltimore Book Festival! Or, This is what I hope heaven is like.

The Baltimore Book Festival is this weekend and I couldn't be more excited! Like last year, the author of the book chosen by the Maryland Humanities Council will be speaking and signing along with a whole slew of other great authors waiting at tables with pens poised.

Warren St. John will be discussing his book, "Outcasts United," the true story of a soccer team of refugee kids in Clarkston, Atlanta.  The coach is a woman from Jordan that was cut off by her family after refusing to return home after college in the U.S. The book gives great summaries into the travesties that the kids experienced before coming to the U.S. while informing about multiple different conflicts all over the world.  It's a great read and Towson will be hosting the coach at an event in November.  I'll be there with bells on!

As an NPR freak, I'm also excited about Michele Norris' presence at the Book Festival.  I just saw her on the Today Show talking about her new novel, "The Grace of Silence: A Memoir." (Click here for the NPR story -excellent!)  I'm, sure I will be pouring through her signed copy at this time next week. 

If I manage to last through all this excitement, I might also stay to see Holly Robinson Peete.  Don't tell anyone, but I loved 21 Jump Street when I was a kid and was completely routing for Holly over Brett Michaels during last season's Celebrity Apprentice.  I also think the book she wrote with her daughter, "My Brother Charlie," provides a great way for kids without autism to understand how to connect to kids with autism.

My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete from Expanded Books on Vimeo.

Oh yeah, and there are also bands and lots and lots of food and performances and cocktails and so many great things going on everywhere. If you're in the vicinity, it would be a shame to miss it! See you there! (I trust you'll recognize me, I'll be the one geeking out.)