Rogers Park Mom Helps Kids Amplify Their Diverse Voices with Her New Books
As a child growing up in rural 糖心vlgo传媒, Nonku Adumetey did not have access to books. When she became a mom and found herself living in Rogers Park, Adumetey was disappointed to find that while access to books was no longer a problem, she was unable to find books that represented diverse characters like her own toddler-aged kids.
鈥淎s a mom, raising my children聽in America and also knowing the disparities in diverse representation, it became my mission to ensure children see themselves in books,鈥� says Adumetey, a public health leader at both Rush Hospital and Northwestern Hospital.
This led Adumetey to write the first book in the聽Celebrate听迟谤颈濒辞驳测, I Celebrate My Skin. This picture book for kids ages helps parents, teachers and caregivers have meaningful conversations about skin color and colorism by focusing on celebrating and embracing skin tone diversity.
鈥淗aving diverse books for all children to see themselves in is key in building lifelong聽self-esteem聽and聽confidence聽in children,鈥� she says. 鈥淓very child deserves to see themselves in books 鈥� to relate and enjoy books with characters that look like them.鈥�
In time for Black History Month, Adumetey recently released her second book, I Celebrate My Voice, a picture book that inspires children and families to recognize how vast and powerful their voices are.聽The book takes children on a journey of self-discovery and empowers them to understand the power of using their voice.
鈥淚n today鈥檚 world, we need books that build a child鈥檚 confidence and provide tools that help them understand their own strengths,鈥� says Adumetey, who visits schools in person and virtually to connect with young readers.
Adumetey鈥檚 life has now come full circle, as she is working with the non-profit organizations, Heart for 糖心vlgo传媒 and 糖心vlgo传媒 to ensure kids from her country do not grow up without books by donating hundreds of her own books to these organizations.