Hi, everyone — hope your winter is going well!
There’s news, but we’re looking for help to report it. The Class of ’16 needs someone to write this column twice a year. To pitch in, please contact abigail.zelz@maine.edu.
UMaine basketball standout Bella Swan wrote and published her first children’s book titled Do You Know Your Hair is Like Magic? The book is geared to children ages three to twelve. Bella says, “I grew up hating my hair. . . I made this book for my younger self that needed to see other Black girls with curly hair. . . I hope this reaches young people that need it like I did.” You can order Bella’s book through your local bookstore or Amazon.
John Dennis is keeping Mi’kmaq language and culture alive. He is one of the teachers who meets weekly in Presque Isle for classes. Fewer people currently speak the Mi’kmaq language, so John and his colleague focus on language used in family and community settings. After majoring in education at UMaine, John earned a master’s degree in linguistics from MIT, which he says has helped him teach language from a broader perspective.
There’s more news, but we need your help to share it with the class. Have a great winter!