All Children, ages four to 12, are invited to “In The Children’s Room” at the 12th annual St. Martin Book Fair, Saturday, June 7, from 9 AM to 1 PM, University of St. Martin, Room 101, said Jacqueline Sample, president of House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP).
Entrance to all workshops of the three-day book fair is free for everyone.
Nzinga Lake is the coordinator of this year’s Children’s Room. “I’m asking parents and guardians who would like their child or children to be in the Children’s Room to bring their boys and girls dressed as the child’s favorite super hero,” said Lake.
The marketing graduate of St. Thomas University is well known for her creative and successful children and teen pageants; and fashion-oriented calendars showcasing aspiring models. Lake is also president of St. Maarten Small Properties Association and a Chamber of Commerce board member, said Sample.
Lake will be assisted by Riegnald Bakari Arrindell, costumed as Marvel Comics’ Black Panther. Arrindell is a St. Peters community organizer of children’s matinees and other family-oriented activities.
Over the years, the Children’s Room has including storytelling, games, and songs. Storytelling may be in various languages and popular storyteller Papa Umpo and other artists have been known to appear as “surprise” guest performers, said Sample.
The hair workshop also returns to book fair Saturday at USM, from 11 AM to 12:30 noon, said its coordinator Rochelle Ward (Faizah). “Partners in Crime: Going Natural & Staying Natural” is the name of the workshop that addresses “challenges and joys of caring for or returning to the natural beauty and vibrant health of your own hair. Workshop leader Dr. Erica Reid (Ewurama) will listen to your concerns, offer solutions, discuss, and demonstrate hair care techniques and products,” said Ward. Dr. Reid, is a hair products developer and author from Beautiful Earth Natural Salon & Spa in Jamaica.
Among the 13 workshops on Saturday is the media workshop, conducted by Ece Temelkuran. The award-winning journalist, media rights activist, and author from Turkey recently delivered the Freedom Lecture in Amsterdam. Temelkuran will discuss her real and frightening life experiences with “Crime&Punishment,” media resistance to intimidation from her country’s prime minister and military; the murder not long ago of one journalist and the jailing of two others in an attempt to silence the media, said book fair coordinator Shujah Reiph.
“Recognizing mental illnesses at home and in relationships” could never be a one-stop talk but a good workshop can provide expert, helpful ideas with Dr. Balin A. Durr, M.D. The child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist from Chicago will conduct the mental health workshop at USM on Saturday morning. She is also a poet and author. Dr. Durr uses a holistic/collaborative approach to mind-body wellness that incorporates nutrition and traditional and alternative medicine. Currently, she provides psychiatric care in Illinois via tele-psychiatry (seeing patients via camera and television), said Reiph.
“‘Writing French’ in St. Martin, Caribbean” is another Saturday workshop. It takes place at the Chamber of Commerce Building, Spring Concordia, Marigot, between 9 AM – 10:30 AM. Nicole Cage, educator, poet, author from Martinique will lead the workshop that looks at how “in multilingual St. Martin, where the traditional or historical nation language in English, writing poetry, drama, fiction (short stories, novels), and essays in French could be a daunting challenge,” said Sample. This workshop could be considered an immersion exercise where Cage “will help guide you with unique examples and tips toward achieving your goal of confidently writing creative material in French.” The workshop language is French. Cage is versed in English, Kwéyòl, and Spanish.
After bringing their kids to the Children’s Room mothers and fathers can have time for themselves at the “eBook for Better Parenting” workshop. Rodney Davis, a St. Martin social worker and parenting educator, will conduct the Saturday session at USM. He will look at how young and older parents can use new communication and media technologies for better parenting. This workshop draws on parenting expertise, lifecoach practices, and social research to connect parents, and parents-to-be, with effective uses of the new media in their daily parenting, said Davis.
Conscious Lyrics Foundation and HNP are the organizers of the 12th edition of the St. Martin Book Fair, in collaboration with St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, University of St. Martin, LCF Foundation, and St. Martin Tourist Office. The SXM Airport are sponsors of the St. Martin Book Fair 2014. For more Book Fair activities, see http://www.houseofnehesipublish.com/book_fair2040.html. The theme of the 2014festival is “Crime&Punishment.”
- Monday, May 6, 2024
