The Look of Love

All Children Deserve the Same Opportunities In School To Be Safe & To Learn

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

"The percentage of kids in juvenile corrections who have disabilities is at least three times greater than the percentage of kids in public schools with them. By the time they get to a juvenile detention center, only 37% will get the support they need via IDEA...

All children deserve the same opportunities in school to be safe and to learn. We must continue to help the children with special education needs before they are sent to correction centers, where their struggle will continue." - Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Read more here: https://bit.ly/Help-Not-Jail

This article was originally published in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on March 27.

Celebrating The Life & Contributions of César Chávez

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

"We celebrate the life and legacy of César Estrada Chávez, a champion for social justice and advocate for hardworking people who build and sustain our Nation. Born into poverty and raised by migrant workers, Chávez courageously dedicated his life to improving conditions for workers across the country. Chávez witnessed firsthand the inequities of an economy that only served those at the top and left millions of hardworking Americans behind. Today, as we continue to build an economy from the bottom up and the middle out and that rewards work and not just wealth, we stand on the shoulders of César Chávez and carry forward his fight to advance the rights and dignity of working people and fulfill the promise of America for all Americans." - President Joseph R. Biden

Discover more: https://bit.ly/CChavezDay

Federal Holiday: March 31. 2022

We Celebrate The Women Behind The CROWN Act

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

"This Women’s History Month is dedicated to the women behind the CROWN Act movement to end race-based hair discrimination nationwide. They are leading the team whose tireless work is ensuring that the fullness and authenticity of Black beauty is not only celebrated but protected in the workplace, schools, and beyond. It is because of their vision and the village of remarkable legislators, scholars, coalition members, and supporters that we all can celebrate legislative wins in 14 states and 34 municipalities. Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the women who are making history and a better tomorrow for future generations." - TheCROWNAct. com

See more: https://bit.ly/1CROWN

Help End Race-based Hair Discrimination Nationwide

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

"Our groundbreaking CROWN research study revealed that Black women are 80% more likely to change their hair from its natural state to fit in at the office. Now, this new body of research illuminates the pervasive nature and deep impact hair discrimination has on Black girls highlighting the horrific multi-generational impact of narrow beauty standards in America... These biases continue to perpetuate unfair scrutiny and discrimination against Black women and girls for wearing hairstyles inherent to our culture. This is unacceptable and why it is imperative that everyone join the movement to make hair discrimination illegal nationwide through the passage of The CROWN Act." - Esi Eggleston Bracey

Email Your U.S. Legislator Today To End Race-Based Hair Discrimination

https://bit.ly/PassTheCrown

An Exhortation To Care For Others

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Every child deserves care, compassion, and an equal opportunity to live out their soul's greatest hopes. Watch with us as former foster youth Amnoni Myers testifies to her experience in foster care and exhorts all who are able to be a mentor for youth in need, inspire in the ways that you can, and extend yourself in the service and care of others. Today she uses her experiences and her profound gift of advocacy to drive policy changes for the child welfare system.

House Passes CROWN ACT

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🚨#CROWNNews Alert!!

"On Friday, the US House passed legislation that would ban race-based hair discrimination in employment and against those participating in federally assisted programs, housing programs, and public accommodations.

The Democratic-led House voted 235-189 to pass the CROWN Act, which stands for 'Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.' The bill seeks to protect against bias based on hair texture." - Essence Magazine - Read more here: https://bit.ly/-HR2116

Watch as the House passes CROWN Act, a bill that outlaws discrimination based on a person's natural hair.

Thank you to Essence Magazine and PBS News Hour for reporting!

#TheCROWNAct #PassTheCROWN

Image from ABC News

Judge Katherine Lucero On Punishment To Healing

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

"Katherine Lucero — a daughter of farmworkers and longtime juvenile court judge who calls for compassion and support rather than jail and foster care — is now leading the most populous state toward a once-unimaginable goal: a future without youth prisons...

She calls the 'over-incarceration of Black, brown and Native youth' something that justice system leaders can’t be afraid to tackle in a more substantive way. She urges 'creative' approaches in handling the cases of youthful offenders, who come from 'the least-resourced neighborhoods, where schools no longer have mental health counselors, sports, art, drama or librarians.'" - Julie Reynolds Martinez and Jeremy Loudenback, The Imprint

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

Marching Forward

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

“In a moment of great uncertainty, those marchers pressed forward, and they crossed. We must do the same. We must lock our arms and march forward. We will not let setbacks stop us. We know that honoring the legacy of those who marched then demands that we continue to push Congress to pass federal voting rights legislation.” - Vice President Kamala Harris

Read more here: https://bit.ly/-Selma57

Image Credit: Reuters

For Makers of Light

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

For those of us who are givers and empaths, we often carry the needs of others in our souls. But in our calling of upholding humanity, it's also important that we take time for our own renewal and healing.

Whether a walk on the beach, a prayer hike on a green mountain trail, cooking your favorite meal, reading a book that propels you onto exotic travels to a distant land, or to a real island destination of your choosing, it's always important to renew oneself.

May the Light that you so graciously share with the world be returned to you in a million ways. You deserve compassion, too. Take time for the things you love.

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

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“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