The Look of Love

Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families - And How Abolition Can Build a Safer World!

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

“Once again Dorothy Roberts offers us a bold, visionary critique of the contemporary institutional consequences of colonialism and slavery. Her penetrating analysis of the family policing system and its masquerade as child protective services not only persuades us that reforms alone will forever reinforce the system’s racist and repressive foundations, it also compels us to imagine new modes of care and frameworks for abolitionist futures.”

― Angela Y. Davis, author of Freedom Is a Constant Struggle

https://bit.ly/-Torn

Photo by Unknown

Teen Voice: Discover Their Stories!

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

"Adolescence is one of the most transformative and critical turning points in a person’s life. The attention and care we give to teenagers is crucial. Black teens in America, however, often don’t get the room to be seen and heard when they’re coming of age. Harmful stereotypes, toxic tropes and adultification bias often lead to inaccurate and limiting portrayals of their lives.

But in reality, Black teens are far more powerful, beautiful, creative and multifaceted" than they are often given credit for.

Read along and discover their stories: https://bit.ly/TeenVoice

Thank you to Huffpost!

Together We Can End Hair Discrimination

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

The graphic below illustrates the painful reality that many young Black girls face as they contend with hair discrimination. It's a clear illustration that the same institutionalized racism that impacts adults, also harms children in educational environments and beyond.

Together we can take action to put an end to this sad reality. Visit www.thecrownact.com to take action and sign the petition!

#PassTheCROWN

Letter To The Look of Love

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Here at The Look of Love, we treasure testimonials from our participants and their caregivers!

A visit to the salon can leave a child feeling confident, loved, and reminded that they matter in the world. Read along as we share with you a heartfelt testimonial from Amber N. regarding a recent visit.

#YouAreWorthIt #MayLoveAlwaysWin #TheLookofLove

"Separate But Not Equal: Racial Bias In Salon Culture" by Jill Di Donato

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

"Salon segregation is a dirty secret no one talks about, and unless you’ve experienced it, you might not know it exists. Although the beauty industry professes inclusiveness, stylists aren’t being trained in all hair types, including textured hair common among Black women. As a result, Black women cannot be expertly serviced in all salons. This is problematic, especially as the salon is a place dedicated to self-care, a place to be pampered and feel beautiful." - Jill Di Donato, Huffpost

Thank you to Huffpost's Jill Di Donato for reporting!

Read on here: https://bit.ly/-DiDonato

Hair Discrimination Can Last A Lifetime

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

Race-based hair discrimination negatively impacts young Black girls and should have NO place in our society. Hair discrimination can occur #AsEarlyAsFive and can last a lifetime.

Join @Dove and the #CROWNCoalition as they aim to bring awareness to #TheCROWNAct and #PassTheCROWN nationwide to end hair discrimination in the classroom and beyond. Visit thecrownact.com to take action and sign the petition.

Interview With Patriots Defensive Lineman Lawrence Guy

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

#ICYMI, be sure to check out the @NBCNews Kids Edition interview with Patriots defensive lineman, Lawrence Guy, as he shares words of encouragement, inspiration, and empowerment for children with learning challenges.

Thank you to Lawrence Guy and wife Andrea for all of the wonderful things you do to uplift others!!✨💕

Watch Here:

Part 1: https://nbcnews.to/3A5nomf

Part 2: https://nbcnews.to/3txpFW5

#StandForIzzy

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

"She vows to make Izzy’s life matter by speaking out about bullying, racism and the importance of understanding autism so that no other parent has to suffer like she is." - WGNTV/AP News

It's truly heartbreaking that any child should have to suffer in this way. Our sincerest prayer is that this mother is given the platform that she needs to defend the lives of other children that are bullied.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please know that YOUR LIFE MATTERS and help is just a phone call or text away. To get help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). There is also a crisis text line at 741741. For crisis support in Spanish, call 1-888-628-9454.

#StandForIzzy

https://bit.ly/-Izzy

AP Photo/Rick Bowmer

Black and Missing Docuseries

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"'We’re motivated to help these families that have no other avenues, nowhere else to turn,' said Natalie Wilson. 'They’re not getting the resources from law enforcement, and the media isn’t covering their story. That’s why the Black & Missing Foundation was created, to be advocates for these families.'" - Natalie Wilson of Black and Missing, Inc.

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/-BAMFI

Photo by Black-and-Missing-HBO

Court To Weigh Kinship Priorities

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

"A group of legal rights organizations, including the Washington Defender Association, the NAACP, and the ACLU, filed a friend of the court brief that summer, addressing the case's racial aspects.

'Forced family separation — of which the foster care system is the most recent iteration — is a relic of slavery, wherein the State used the courts to rip Black families apart and ignored their pleas of reunification,' the brief stated."

Follow along here: https://bit.ly/-EAmon

Keyon at home with his mother, Salina Simpson, father, Keyon, Sr., and siblings. Photo courtesy of Simpson

New Laws Take Aim At Foster Care-To-Prison Pipeline

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

“If you could feel the conflagration of rage born out of powerlessness and the feeling of worthlessness that is cultivated inside a young person raised by the state, you might begin to understand the problem — why raising young people in this way, then throwing them out onto the street makes them incompatible with society — at least incompatible with any society that endeavors to uphold the principle of human dignity.” — Arthur Longworth

Read more here: https://bit.ly/-FC2P

We Celebrate The Firefighters That Keep Our Communities Safe!

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

#ICYMI, there was a lot of hard work and planning that went into fighting California's recent wildfires! Watch Great Basin Interagency Incident Management Team 6 (GBIIMT6) explain for students all if the strategy and detail it takes to keep our communities safe!! Thank you to all of the heroes that defend our forests and communities everyday!! ❤️👨‍🚒👩🏾‍🚒👩‍🚒🚒

@GreatBasinCC https://bit.ly/FF-T6