For over a decade I have been friends with an amazing woman.
Mia is a CEO, change-maker, an author, and she is not afraid to use her voice to amplify the need to make reading and diversity a priority.
Mia has also published THREE books under Audrey Press and we couldn\’t be more proud! Mia\’s books include How To Coach Girls (winner of IBPA Benjamin Franklin Silver Award™), Best #OwnVoices Children’s Books: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Aged 1-12 (a compendium of book reviews to find diversity books) and The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider’s Guide.
For as long as I have known her, Mia has had the same love of books that I do so it was a “meant to be” moment when we came together to create the global non-profit Multicultural Children’s Book Day.
So, I would like to put my friend and fellow mom in the spotlight because she is spearheading a relevant and important project: the release of a kidlit book that honors and recognizes Asian Pacific American female athletes and their accomplishments.
Honoring Asian Pacific American Female Athletes
Mia’s Kickstarter Campaign for Changing the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes began on February 15 and will run until March 15. It’s our hope that all appreciators of diversity in children’s literature and supporters of BIPOC athletes will see the significance of learning about the 18 Asian Pacific American Female Athletes in Mia’s new book and show their support by backing this project.
These women athletes are all history-makers who have worked incredibly hard to excel at a range of sports and they all represent many Asian ethnicities.
Mia has also devised an excellent way for supporters to help Multicultural Children\’s Book Day gets diverse books into classrooms while also helping bring Changing the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes to life.
When you think of Asian American female athletes, does anyone come to mind? Perhaps recent Olympians such as gold medalist Chloe Kim for snowboarding, five-time Olympian Julie Chu for ice hockey, or Natasha “Tasha” Kai for soccer. But there are many Asian American female athletes who are hidden figures. Many also battled racism and poverty while working to excel in their sport. Changing the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes by Mia Wenjen takes a look at some of the trailblazers who have paved the way.
“People used to say girls shouldn’t play hockey. Well, that is starting to disappear. It is the same thing with cultures or ethnicities and who should be doing what sport. Well, let people pursue what they’re passionate about — that’s how it should be.” Julie Chu
\”Any dream you have is completely achievable, but we need to remember that it\’s going to be difficult at times. Like with my midterms yesterday — I know I did my best.\” Chloe Kim, Korean American Snowboarder
Kickstarter Backers have the option of choosing the Donate Three Copies option which will donate copies of Changing the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes for our FREE Diverse Books for Classrooms Project! Multicultural Children’s Book Day has 100s of teachers waiting patiently for a diverse book for their students. It’s a win/win on many levels!
GO HERE to support this Kickstarter and learn more about Changing The Game. GO HERE to read the story of the mother/daughter conversation that started Mia’s quest to honor Asian Pacific American Female Athletes.
Mia Wenjen blogs on parenting, children\’s books, and education at Pragmatic Mom and is the co-creator of Multicultural Children\’s Book Day, a non-profit celebrating diversity in children\’s books. She is also the co-founder of Aquent, a creative staffing agency specializing in digital and marketing talent with 37 locations around the world.
Mia\’s books include the picture book Sumo Joe (a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year) and Asian Pacific American Heroes. She lives in Boston with her husband, three kids, and Golden Retriever. Mia can be found online @PragmaticMom on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, and as Mia Wenjen on LinkedIn and YouTube
