Category: Resources

Hispanic Heritage

Posted on by Tiffany Kraker

 

As foster parents, we are often provided the unique opportunity to care for children outside our own race or cultural heritage. This opportunity also brings huge responsibility as we must prepare ourselves to better understand the challenges and successes of people whose lives look different from our own. Hispanic Heritage Month offers a more intentional way for us to bring this education to the forefront to celebrate and to also learn ways to infuse Hispanic Culture into your family. 

Learning more about Hispanic Heritage will take some work on your part. Here are some tips for learning more: 

Be vulnerable.

  • keep in mind
    • you will likely feel uncomfortable, this is okay!
    • preface your questions with the your intentions
    • be prepared to listen well and ask clarifying questions
    • always be respectful
  • who you can ask to learn more about what is important to the child (or future kids) you are fostering
    • the kids
    • caseworkers who work for the agency of the demographic in which you would like to learn more about
    • parents of the children in your care         
    • community resources

 

Infuse hispanic culture any time you can. 

 

Food is one olf the easiest ways you can dive into hispanic culture. We are lucky to have many wonderful, locally owned restaurants and markets right here in West Michigan. 

 

 

 

Local favorites mentioned in the video:

Mi Favorita

Jhomary’s Paradise

 

 

 

 

Do you have any local Hispanic resources you would like to share? Comment below! 

 

Bike Donations

Posted on by Tiffany Kraker

NOW ACCEPTING BIKE DONATIONS

sPRING/sUMMER 2021

Help us get a bike to every foster child in Ottawa County! We are now accepting bike donations. Our biggest area of need currently is 24″ bikes for our older youth.

Please contact tiffany@michiganfosters.com if you have bikes to donate. 

 

Michigan Fosters is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. 

Donation location: 832 E. 8th Street, Holland, Michigan. 
* please contact our organization before making a bike donation

 

Bringing Black History Home:  Books & Movies to Explore as a Family 

Posted on by Tiffany Kraker

 

Reserve time to gather around a good book or settle in for a movie night honoring the Black experience.

 

 

As foster parents, we are often provided the unique opportunity to care for children outside our own race or cultural heritage. This opportunity also brings huge responsibility as we must prepare ourselves to better understand the challenges and successes of people whose lives look different from our own. Black History Month offers a more intentional way for us to bring this education to the forefront and celebrate the contributions Black Americans have made and continue to make every day.  

Reserve time to gather around a good book or settle in for a movie night honoring the Black experience. We have a great list of recommendations meant to both educate and entertain, so go pop some popcorn and get ready for the powerful conversations that are sure to follow.  

February is dedicated to Black History, but books and films like these need space in our lives throughout the year. Commit to furthering your understanding by tuning in to the resources suggested below and dedicating some time for them each month going forward. Kiddos of all colors can benefit from these inspirational stories, and after the year we’ve all just had, who couldn’t use a little inspiration? 

 

Our favorites:

10 Black History Books to Read as a Family 

The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles 

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History / Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History both by Vashti Harrison 

A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon by Suzanne Slade 

Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine 

Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by Doreen Rappaport 

Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X by Ilyasha Shabazz 

My Name is Truth: The Life of Sojourner Truth by Ann Turner 

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson 

I, Too, Am America by Langston Hughes (with illustrations by Bryan Collier) 

The Who Was Series including books such as Who Was Rosa Parks, Who Was Ida B. Wells, Who Was Frederick Douglass, Who Is Barack Obama written by various authors 

*A huge assortment of books focused on Black History and Black voices are available via YouTube as read alouds, as well.  

 

10 Family-Friendly Movies Highlighting Black History in America 

A Ballerina’s Tale (NR) Documentary, 2015 

Hidden Figures (PG) Drama, Historical Drama, 2016 

Remember the Titans (PG) Sports/Drama, 2000 

Loving (PG-13) Romance/Drama, 2016 

Selma (PG-13) Drama, Historical Drama, 2014 

The Help (PG-13) Drama/Romance, 2011 

42 (PG-13) Sports/Drama, 2013 

Harriet (PG-13) Drama/Action, 2019  

Red Tails (PG-13) War/Drama, 2012 

The Great Debaters (PG-13) Drama/Historical Drama, 2007 

*Many of the films with the PG-13 rating are more suitable for older children and teens as they may contain strong and/or offensive language, violence, and other adult content. 

 

 

Do you have the Black History resources you would like to share? Comment below!