10 Children’s Books That Celebrate Diversity and Identity
Written By: Zahra Mahamud
Books have the magical ability to open minds and hearts, especially for children. Stories that celebrate diversity and identity not only help young readers see themselves reflected in the pages but also teach them to value the differences in others. Many beautiful books have been written to honor this mission, showcasing vibrant characters, cultures, and themes that resonate with children of all backgrounds.
At Voices of Tomorrow (VOT), we deeply understand the importance of fostering spaces where children and families can retain their identities while growing in a multicultural society. Stories like these are not just about representation; they are about empowerment, encouraging children to see their worth and inspiring families to celebrate their heritage unapologetically. By reading and reflecting on narratives that honor diversity, families can strengthen bonds and build a sense of pride and confidence that lasts a lifetime.
In The Colors of Us by Karen Katz, young readers are introduced to the spectrum of skin tones, celebrating the unique beauty of every shade. Similarly, Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña takes readers on a heartfelt journey through a city, revealing lessons about gratitude and finding beauty in everyday moments.
Self-love and family connections take center stage in Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, a charming story of a father helping his daughter embrace her natural hair. Ibtihaj Muhammad’s The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family shines a light on the strength and pride that comes with wearing a hijab, as told through the eyes of a young girl inspired by her sister.
The complexities of fitting in and staying true to one’s roots are gently explored in The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi, where a young immigrant learns to cherish her cultural identity. In a similar spirit, All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold invites readers into a school where every child—regardless of background—is embraced and celebrated.
Grace Byers’ I Am Enough offers an uplifting affirmation of self-worth, encouraging children to see themselves as capable, strong, and deserving. Themes of acceptance continue in We Are All Wonders by R.J. Palacio, a touching reminder that differences make us extraordinary and that everyone deserves kindness.
In Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho, a young girl learns to appreciate the distinct beauty of her Asian features, connecting her identity to family traditions and heritage. Meanwhile, Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons captures the warmth of familial bonds and the joy of celebrating shared history.
These stories remind us that representation matters. They offer children a chance to embrace their own identities while learning to appreciate the richness of the world around them. With their vibrant illustrations and powerful messages, these books inspire empathy, understanding, and a deep appreciation for the diversity that makes each of us unique.
Books in Order:
- The Colors of Us by Karen Katz
- Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
- Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry
- The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad
- The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
- All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
- I Am Enough by Grace Byers
- We Are All Wonders by R.J. Palacio
- Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho
- Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons
What’s Going on in Burien? Accessible Green Spaces: A Remedy for Winter Blues in Burien
Written By: Zahra Mahamud
Organization Highlight: Green Burien Partnership
As the days grow shorter and the air grows colder, many of us feel the weight of seasonal depression creeping in. During this time of year, green spaces become more important than ever, offering not just physical spaces to unwind, but also mental and emotional sanctuaries where we can reconnect, reflect, and rejuvenate.
One local organization is making sure these essential green spaces are protected and accessible to everyone: Green Burien Partnership.
About the Organization
Green Burien Partnership is a collaborative effort dedicated to restoring and maintaining Burien's parks and urban forests. Their mission goes beyond just planting trees they actively engage community members in meaningful environmental stewardship, ensuring that Burien’s natural spaces are preserved for all to enjoy.
What sets Green Burien Partnership apart is their commitment to equity and environmental justice. Recreation Coordinator Gabbi Gonzales describes it best:
“Green Burien Partnership is an urban forest restoration program that’s set steep equity goals and takes actionable steps to center communities farthest from environmental justice. Stewardship takes many forms in the Green Burien Partnership; we meet community where they live to teach green career skills, the calming aspects of green spaces, the value of relationship while restoring local green spaces. Healthy green spaces, specifically in communities bordering the airport, may reduce levels of some pollutants, including gases and particulate matter, and can [provide] numerous mental health benefits.”
Why This Matters
For many in Burien, especially those in neighborhoods impacted by airport pollution, having access to healthy green spaces isn’t a luxury it’s a necessity. These spaces offer cleaner air, reduce exposure to harmful pollutants, and provide a much-needed respite from the stresses of everyday life.
Parks are more than just open spaces; they are natural sanctuaries that foster physical health, mental well-being, and community connection. By maintaining and enhancing these parks, Green Burien Partnership creates opportunities for everyone to experience the restorative benefits of nature.
A Call to Action
Feeling the winter blues? One of the best ways to combat seasonal depression is to spend time outdoors. Burien is surrounded by Washington State’s breathtaking natural beauty and offers a wide range of parks perfect for restorative escapes.
Take a break. Step outside. Breathe in the crisp, clean air. Whether it’s a leisurely stroll, a brisk hike, or simply sitting quietly under the trees, reconnecting with nature in Burien’s well-cared-for parks can work wonders for your mental health. Let the beauty of these green spaces bring you clarity, calm, and a renewed perspective.
And while you’re at it, consider getting involved with Green Burien Partnership. Your participation helps sustain these invaluable spaces and supports an organization committed to equity, community, and environmental health.
How to Get Involved
While enjoying these green spaces, you might find yourself inspired to give back. Getting involved with Green Burien Partnership is a wonderful way to support their mission and help protect these invaluable community resources. They offer opportunities to volunteer, learn green career skills, and participate in community events focused on environmental restoration. Your efforts contribute to the health of local parks and the well-being of everyone who relies on them.
Spending time in nature isn’t just good for you it’s good for your community. By supporting initiatives like Green Burien Partnership, you’re helping ensure that these spaces remain accessible, equitable, and thriving for generations to come. So, bundle up, head outside, and let the beauty of Burien’s green spaces bring you peace and inspiration this season.
Promoting Child Health and Wellness: A Close Look at the Child Care Health Consultation Program
In a recent discussion with Morgan Carpenter, the Program Manager of Health Services, and Balqisa Hassan, the Health Coordinator of Family Childcare Provider (HUB), we delved into the intricacies of the newly launched Child Care Health Consultation (CCHC) program. This program, officially introduced this summer, is gaining momentum as it strives to provide essential support to immigrant and refugee family childcare providers, with a particular emphasis on the East African community.
At the heart of the CCHC program lies a commitment to building health equity for East African immigrant and refugee children served by Family Child Care (FCC) providers. Through intensive supports, including one-on-one consultations, trainings, and coaching, the program aims to empower providers with the knowledge and resources necessary to address health, cognitive, and social-emotional concerns among children under their care.
The CCHC program offers a range of services designed to enhance the health and well-being of both providers and children. From in-depth consultations to tailored trainings on early childhood development and professional practices for health and safety, the program equips providers with the skills and awareness needed to promote optimal health outcomes.
One of the key goals of the CCHC program is to increase accessibility to health support by building capacity, systems, and resources. Through "light touch" services, providers have access to a menu of trainings, health consultations, and technical assistance, as well as referrals to resources as requested. This approach ensures that providers can access the support they need, when they need it, to best serve the children in their care.
With a renewed emphasis on health promotion and preventive care, the CCHC program aims to increase the number of children who are immunized, screened, and referred for health concerns. Additionally, the program seeks to enhance providers' knowledge of early childhood development and encourage the adoption of professional practices for health and safety.
Recognizing the diverse cultural backgrounds of East African providers, the CCHC program is committed to delivering culturally and linguistically responsive services. By acknowledging and respecting providers' cultural identities, the program aims to foster trust and collaboration, ultimately enhancing the quality of care provided to children.
While the CCHC program has seen positive outcomes in its initial phase, the team remains dedicated to continuous evaluation and growth. By refining their approach and adapting to the evolving needs of providers and children, the program aims to maximize its impact and promote lasting health and wellness within the East African childcare community.
As an integral component of Voices of Tomorrow's commitment to building a resilient and supportive childcare network, the CCHC program stands as a testament to the organization's dedication to promoting child health and wellness. Through tailored support, ongoing training, and community connections, the program aims to empower East African childcare providers to provide high-quality care that promotes the health and well-being of the children they serve. As it continues to evolve and expand, the CCHC program is poised to play a vital role in fostering a nurturing environment for providers and children alike.
Empowering Families: Voices of Tomorrow's New ECLIPSE Program Paves the Way for Holistic Childhood Development
In a bold move toward fostering the holistic development of children and families, Voices of Tomorrow (VOT) is pleased to introduce the adoption of a new program called ECLIPSE, which stands for Early Childhood Intervention and Prevention Services. It is designed to provide mental health and trauma-informed support for children enrolled in the VOT preschool program and their parents and families. At the heart of ECLIPSE is a commitment to providing tailored support for each child. Hangatu Dawud, the program’s mental health professional emphasizes this approach, stating, “Creating a tailored Individual Care Plan (ICP) for each student allows me to identify their areas of need and growth, with the goal of creating measurable treatment goals to improve each child’s well-being.”
The primary focus of ECLIPSE is to offer therapeutic services for families experiencing hardships or facing at-risk factors that could jeopardize overall family development. With a particular emphasis on children with behavioral issues, ECLIPSE recognizes the importance of overall well-being, encompassing the mental, emotional, and social growth of a child.
To further emphasize the urgent need for support, research findings published by Front Public Health in the National Library of Medicine from 2023 highlight a significant prevalence of mental health conditions within the Somali population. The study reveals alarming rates with anxiety affecting 34.9% of individuals, PTSD at 30%, and depression at 32.1%. These staggering statistics underscore the profound impact of prolonged conflict, displacement, and associated psychological distress, emphasizing the pressing requirement for specialized programs like ECLIPSE.
The impact of ECLIPSE extends beyond the confines of the classroom. The program actively engages with families one-on-one in their homes, providing various modes of communication, including Zoom, phone sessions, and meeting families in alternative safe spaces. This ensures that support is seamlessly woven into the fabric of daily life, accommodating the busy schedules of families.
Alongside one-on-one meetings, the program includes monthly check-ins facilitated by a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT). This team includes a licensed mental health professional, a program coordinator, a health manager, teachers, and Family Support Specialists (FSS).
“The goal is to have them throughout the school year, and then provide a transition plan for when they exit the VOT preschool program,” Farheen Khalid, the program coordinator, said.
She emphasizes the importance of these additional monthly meetings, saying that this space allows for ongoing communication between professionals and parents, and gives them an opportunity to address parents’ requests and concerns directly. Establishing a foundation of trust and collaboration early on, ECLIPSE aims to empower families to navigate a spectrum of challenges effectively.
ECLIPSE currently offers 30 slots, ensuring a personalized and in-depth approach. The program utilizes regular screenings, such as the DECA (Devereux Early Childhood Assessment), to monitor a child’s social-emotional well-being, behavior, and self-regulation. If further evaluation is needed, the DECA-C (Devereux Early Childhood Assessment, Clinical), is employed, incorporating 40 questions to understand parents’ observations of their child’s behavior.
ECLIPSE does not adopt a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, the program tailors its support to the unique dynamics of each family. Recognizing and building on existing strengths, ECLIPSE empowers parents to become active participants in their child’s development. To alleviate the stigma associated with therapy, the program adopts a culturally sensitive and informal approach, breaking down barriers and promoting open communication.
To acknowledge and accommodate the diverse backgrounds of the families it serves, the mental health professional leading the ECLIPSE program is fluent in both English and Somali. This offers a dual-language capability to ensure effective interaction and understanding. Families already enrolled in the VOT preschool program can qualify for ECLIPSE by meeting certain indicators outlined in the ECAP (Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program) application.
Voices of Tomorrow’s ECLIPSE program is a beacon of hope for families facing adversity. By combining early childhood intervention with a family-centric approach, ECLIPSE is poised to make a lasting impact on the mental health and well-being of children and parents alike. As the program evolves and expands, it holds the promise of becoming a model for other organizations committed to fostering the healthy development of future generations.
Common Mental Health Disorders in the Somali Community
Voted Best Child Care 2023 by Seattle Times' Best in the PNW
We are pleased to announce that Voices of Tomorrow has been named an award winner in The Seattle Times’ Best in the PNW contest!
Each year, the Best in the PNW contest calls for nominations from all around the Pacific Northwest to determine gold, silver and bronze winners in 282 categories. Voices of Tomorrow was awarded the bronze medal for Best in Childcare.
VOT provides technical assistance and professional development to childcare providers in their native language. In addition to our six preschool classrooms, we work with providers where early learning childcare and education is done in a home setting. We provide back-end support for those who are interested in becoming a licensed childcare provider. We also support existing childcare providers with applying for new grants and prepare them to be successful business owners. Our goal is to help children grow up with a strong sense of who they are and where they come from, while recognizing and embracing their uniqueness as an individual.
We provide wraparound support for the East African community, although we center our services on children with a focus on early learning as well as cultural and linguistic preservation. VOT also started implementing the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to ensure children being cared for by our network of providers have access to good quality, nutritious meals. In addition, we provide mental and behavioral health resources with a focus on trauma-informed care for the children and their whole families.
It is truly an honor to have been chosen as one of these 722 businesses across the Pacific Northwest. This year, The Seattle Times said it received over 14,000 nominations from over 11,110 businesses. During the voting process, 116,321 individuals cast their ballots, and submitted 227,250 votes. This year, 722 businesses were recognized with at least one award.
Thank you to those who voted for our organization. This recognition is a testament to the individuals, supporters, and families we have touched in some way. We are so lucky to call the Pacific Northwest home, and we look forward to many more years of celebrating the best businesses in our region!
You can find the full list of categories and award winners here.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and the Department of Education and Early Learning visit VOT’s Child and Family Center
Members of the City of Seattle and the Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) paid a visit to the Dayaax and Gayleer classrooms at Voices of Tomorrow’s Child and Family Center on Thursday, September 14th. Voices of Tomorrow (VOT) co-founders, Iftin Hagimohamed and Zamzam Mohamed, gave them a firsthand look at what the experience is like for the teachers and students enrolled in VOT’s Seattle Preschool Program (SPP).
Mayor Bruce Harrell was joined by Dr. Dwane Chappelle, the director of DEEL, and Leilani Dela Cruz, the director of DEEL’s Early Learning division. They spoke about their desire to highlight the importance of early childhood education and their hope for more dual-language programs.
“What you see here at Voices of Tomorrow is learning, conflict resolution, love, and bicultural and multicultural training opportunities,” Mayor Harrell said. He praised the hard work and compassion of the teachers and staff inside the classrooms.
DEEL is responsible for leadership, coordination, and policy development for early learning programs in partnership with Seattle Public Schools, community organizations like VOT, and other government agencies.
“I want to encourage all families to take advantage and get your young scholars enrolled in a preschool program,” Dr. Chappelle added. He spoke about the benefits of early learning education and how preschools prepare children for success in K-12 classrooms.
Leilani Dela Cruz is the director DEEL’s Early Learning division, which also oversees the City of Seattle’s Child Care Assistance Program.
“We want to highlight the phenomenal work being done here at Voices of Tomorrow,” Cruz said. “Studies do show that dual language programming impacts a child’s educational training and builds cultural understanding, language proficiency, and cognitive skills.”
Among the guest speakers was also a returning parent, Faraah Hassan. Her son had just finished kindergarten and is starting first grade after going through VOT’s dual-language program. Now, her daughter is also enrolled in the preschool program.
“I’m a testament to so many parents who continue to come to VOT and access their services,” Hassan said. She stressed the importance of VOT’s mission to preserve children’s cultural identities.
“I can proudly say that I still speak Somali, I speak Somali to my kids, and it’s very important for them to also not lose their identities in the education system,” she added.
VOT’s executives, Iftin and Zamzam, expressed the need for more support for teachers as well as more investments in mental and behavioral health services. Mayor Harrell and Dr. Chappelle ended their visit with a promise to continue investing in programs for early learners. VOT was very honored to celebrate our start of the 2023-2024 school year by opening our doors to Seattle’s city leaders, and we welcome the opportunity to have them visit us again!
Fostering Health and Nutrition: Empowering children through Voices of Tomorrow's new Nutrition Program
Voices of Tomorrow (VOT) has started implementing its latest program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), to ensure children being cared for by our network of providers have access to good quality, nutritious meals. CACFP is a USDA-funded childhood nutrition program for qualifying daycare homes who meet the requirements set by the state. It plays a vital role in making nutritious food more accessible to low-income children, families, and providers. By providing children with nutritious and well-balanced meals, we hope to nourish their young minds and continue to help them flourish.
Through this program, dedicated caregivers personally invest in providing nourishing meals and snacks to the children under their care. If they are eligible and if the meals align with the prescribed nutritional guidelines, the CACFP steps in to reimburse providers for two meals and one snack per child on a daily basis. The program is targeted toward children under the age of 12 and homeless youth up to the age of 18. It helps improve the quality of daycare homes by making well-balanced meals more affordable, and it allows providers to supply the children in their care with high quality nutritious meals as well as get reimbursed for related expenses.
Najib Hassan, VOT’s CACFP program administrator and monitoring specialist, oversees the verification of eligibility criteria to determine whether daycare homes qualify for program enrollment.
“Our primary focus is ensuring the providers voices are being heard within this program,” he said. “Having someone who understands you is key, so sharing the same culture and background makes it more comfortable for them to voice their concerns.”
Families with limited financial means also benefit from the program, as it equips their children with the essential resources required for healthy growth and the cultivation of positive habits. By focusing on children under 12 and extending support to homeless youth up to 18, the program touches on a critical period of growth and development.
One of VOT’s core values is being culturally responsive, which makes the implementation of this new program not just fitting but essential. CACFP promotes fairness, community involvement, and cultural understanding to ensure that everyone has a positive and meaningful experience. There are other organizations that sponsor this program, but many of VOT’s providers are East Africans and English is not their first language. That’s where VOT steps in to provide language support and make a culturally responsive program. As an organization deeply intertwined with the community, introducing this program is a natural progression, as it is a vital resource to many providers and families, we are already dedicated to assisting.
In embracing the CACFP, Voices of Tomorrow is not only introducing a new initiative but also upholding the commitment to fostering holistic growth within our communities. As CACFP emerges as a promising childhood nutritional program, it offers a glimpse of our organization’s dedication to quality, equity, and cultural responsiveness in action.
Through the thoughtful leadership of Najib Hassan, CACFP embodies VOT’s values of inclusivity and understanding, reaffirming that the pathway to a more promising tomorrow begins with nourishing the voices of today.
The Mind, Body, and Culture wraps up its second year with notable successes
Voices of Tomorrow’s Mind, Body, and Culture program is the first of its kind to integrate home visits with trauma-informed therapy. The two-year pilot phase of the MBC program, which is aimed at families and children from birth to age 3, finished with notable successes in assisting families and enhancing parent–child connections. This ground-breaking initiative gave over a thousand resources to families which provided critical support, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. These resources included necessities like diapers, wipes, strollers, car seats, and winter clothes.
Since its inception, it has demonstrated its value in treating mental health and creating resilient families. So far, more than 60 families have received assistance from the MBC program, building a community of parents through its "Promoting First Relationships" curriculum. Beyond verbal communication, the MBC program helps parents build stronger bonds with their young children. The program also offers parents activities and suggestions to include and encourage for their older children, extending its reach to older siblings in East African immigrant and refugee households.
The MBC program’s impact extends beyond children. One of its most remarkable accomplishments to date is its commitment to helping parents pursue their educational and career aspirations. Many parents signed up for the fall semester of school, and the program assisted them with FAFSA and the application process. Through their efforts to help parents in addition to children, the MBC program opens doors of opportunity and success for the entire family.
Another way that the MBC program fosters a close-knit community is that it allows parents to engage in an open dialogue about the issues and shared experiences that affect them. The program demonstrates Voices of Tomorrow’s dedication to respecting and understanding various cultural backgrounds through health-related topics, like making wise decisions during Ramadan.
During the two-year pilot phase, home visitors continued their efforts to link families with resources and pathways to stability despite having to contend with busy schedules and parents returning to school or work. The program's flexibility allows parents to request help with everything they need, assuring a customized strategy to handle their circumstances.
VOT is devoted to helping families even throughout the summer as the staff move into their planning phase. The MBC program is structured around the family, devoting an hour to meetings with parents, with the first half concentrating on establishing the first connections. The remaining time is spent addressing any unique requirements parents may have and creating a secure and encouraging atmosphere.
By surveying families at the beginning of the program, the MBC team is able to monitor changes and advancement throughout time, highlighting the program's success in fostering positive improvements in families' lives.
Voices of Tomorrow’s MBC program is committed to enhancing and expanding the influence it has on local families. The program's effectiveness and ongoing demand for its services have encouraged its continuous development to guarantee that East African immigrant and refugee families continue getting the resources and help they deserve.
Provider Success Stories: Khadra and Saida
Interview with Khadra Hassan
“The technical support team has helped me to the best of their ability, Hafsa Mohamed specifically has helped me with the Renovation grant and multiple other grants but that one was a big project, and it was eventually approved.I cannot even begin to put into words how beneficial it has been and how thankful I am to them for their support. I get informed of new grants and latest updates all the time; they also host information sessions which are helpful. Having a support team who are in the system and consist of people who speak the same language as me and have the same culture creates a sense of confidence to be able to ask them any questions I might have. These services are particularly important to have available to providers like me because they work to bring useful grants and information to my attention.
It makes me comfortable hearing things being explained in my language and it is more important than receiving that same information in English because some of us have a language barrier. Even if we talked all day, I could not effectively communicate how important it is to receive this help from Voices of Tomorrow. I am glad I found them. They are different from other services because of the specific community they focus on, in this country there is systemic racism and staff that have the same background are more likely to help you more sincerely while other people could be biased towards you based on your skin color or name. There are stereotypes on people speaking a different language they automatically might assume you don't have the ability to understand, which is not true it's just that there is a language barrier and most of us have learned and become successful in our homeland but how do you get that across to someone who doesn't speak the same language? Language does not equal knowledge because most of us have wisdom and have been through hardships like civil war, but we are still resilient.
So having someone from the same background supporting you is not something to take lightly. It creates comfortability to ask any question you might feel you need to know and guide you in the right direction even if something goes wrong while you might restrict yourself with another person based on the possibility that it might be taken out of context.”
Interview with Saida Alim
VOT: “Tell me about your experience with the support team in your own words?”
Saida Alim: “I attended several information sessions about grants. It helped me understand the grant better and decided if it was a good fit for me beforehand. Each session breaks down deadlines and what to prioritize, so overall it has been extremely helpful. The first grant I worked with Voices of Tomorrow on was the Child Care Stabilization grant, they focused on receipt collection, penalties, what is allowed and what is not, and most of all it helped me prepare in case there was an audit. They gave us diverse ways to not only keep track of our receipts but to prevent them from getting deleted or going missing. The session helped me be more mindful of how I currently keep track of my receipts. These sessions are an effective way to give providers the confidence to apply for funding and use it for what it is meant for.”
VOT: “Why is it important to have services like this available to childcare providers?”
Saida Alim: “The better question is why would it not be important? It is people from your own community teaching you step by step on how to successfully comply with WAC requirements, rules, and policies, how to troubleshoot your handbook in case there is a grant coming up and you do not have the correct wording to apply. VOT (Voices of Tomorrow) speaks on behalf of providers when it comes to DCYF (Department of Children, Youth, and Families) with things like daycare providers being shut down for minor things that could have been prevented. VOT is a backbone for providers because they have someone that is a representative of them that speaks their language and has the same background, so I believe VOT is a valuable tool for providers.
VOT: “Would you recommend the service to others?”
Saida Alim: “In a heartbeat. Just knowing that they are there for me gives me ease, if I have a question that they are there to answer it. Just by their existence, I know I have support even if I do not use some of their other services. If more providers knew the benefits of some of the programs I have participated in, they would be singing songs about you all.”
2023 Auction and Gala Fundraiser raises over $100,000 for East African early learning facility.
The Voices of Tomorrow Auction Gala on Friday, June 9th, 2023 at the Golf Club at Newcastle was a glamorous and fun-filled evening that left a lasting impact on the donors, distinguished guests, and the future legacy of VOT. Set against a gorgeous backdrop with panoramic views of Seattle and Bellevue, guests arrived with excitement, dressed to the nines, ready to support our cause and make a difference. Thanks to the success of this event, Voices of Tomorrow raised about $100,000 to go toward building the first East African Early Learning Center in the region. It will enable us to serve even more families and children through behavioral health programs and additional early learning classrooms.
The live auction took center stage at the gala, offering up exclusive items and experiences for bidding. The items up for auction included beautiful works of art, hand carved African artifacts, a cabin stay near Mt. Rainier and a week-long resort stay in the Bahamas. The attendees inspiring’ enthusiasm and generosity played a big role in creating a successful night to remember. The funds raised will undoubtedly empower Voices of Tomorrow to continue our invaluable work, supporting and guiding the East African community through trauma counseling, healing, and mental health programs. Our donors and sponsors played a crucial role in making all this possible, showing incredible support and generosity. To all who attended, your belief in the mission of Voices of Tomorrow and your willingness to contribute will always be remembered.
We extend our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for your unwavering commitment to nurturing the voices of the future. We also express our sincere appreciation to the dedicated team of volunteers, event organizers, and staff members who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring flawless execution with their meticulous planning, attention to detail, and passion for the cause. We look forward to the fruits of our labor, and continuing our valuable work to ensure each child grows up to be successful and proud of their heritage!
