In Sanskrit, vividhatā means diversity. I offer Vividhatā Scholarships to my Stories, Songs, and Stretches! trainings for many reasons. I want to ensure that the children who participate in these programs and classes see themselves represented and celebrated, yet the education, library, and yoga worlds are overrepresented by white women. Add to this, minority children are severely underrepresented in children’s literature. If I want more equitable representation among the program leaders, I have to do more than profess the value of diversity. The Vividhatā Scholarship seeks to remove barriers that may otherwise prevent people of color from receiving this training. This is me literally putting my money where my mouth is, using what power and privilege I have to broaden who is included in this work. It will not come anywhere close to solving all of the problems of access and privilege in these professions, and I’m sure I will make some stupid mistakes along the way, but I can’t let my need for perfection get in the way of actually doing what I have the power to do today.
Further, this is selfish in some ways, and I own that! The more diverse perspectives from which I receive feedback, try out ideas, and gather input, the better Stories, Songs, and Stretches! will be. And I want this! My vision for this training, these resources, and whatever SSS is yet to be that I can’t even imagine yet is HUGE. These diverse educators, librarians, yoga teachers, social workers, and others? They are going to help me make this program the absolute best it can be.
For the first Stories, Songs, and Stretches! online certification, I have awarded seven scholarships. I have no idea if it will remain sustainable to continue offering this many, but I can do it today, so I am. Welcome, Vividhatā Scholars. I am so looking forward to working with and learning from you in the months to come.
Marlu Abarca is the Bilingual Services Library Assistant for the Des Moines Public Library in Des Moines, IA. She hopes to use this training to expose Spanish-speaking children and their families to a type of program that they have not had access to in the past.
Carolyn Valencia is an outreach librarian and yoga teacher who regularly offers yoga storytime programs. She plans to apply what she learns to her work serving immigrant and refugee families.
Kyra Donahue is a nanny and a yoga teacher trainee in Alaska who hopes to use what she learns to bring more diversity to one of the last truly rural areas of this country.
Peggy Wong is a Children’s Librarian at Piscataway Public Library. Her goal for obtaining SSS certification is to provide a yoga-based story time that can help children feel positive, strong and confident physically, mentally, and emotionally, and to see themselves as being capable of doing anything!
Lianne Clough is a homeschooling mom and library volunteer currently pursuing her MLIS. She hopes to develop play-based, social justice programming for families in her diverse city.
Veronica Cassanova leads the children’s programming at the Exeter Branch Library, and hopes the skills developed in SSS will enrich her programs.
Beth Morris is a transitional kindergarten – 5th grade teacher-librarian and storyteller who plans to use what she learns in her school and her work as a grief camp counselor.
The energy, skills, and passion of this group is already inspiring me. I’m blown away by the experiences you shared and feel honored to welcome you into the SSS community. Please join me in extending a heartfelt congratulations to all of the selected scholars! Know someone who might be interested? We are accepting applications for online trainings on an ongoing basis. In-person public trainings will be included as options as they are added to the schedule.