FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Matthew Smith-Gonzalez
Phone: 415-503-0076
Email: manager@reflectionpress.com
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CLAIMING FACE Curriculum Empowers Children
in the Classroom and in Life
SAN FRANCISCO, CA May 9, 2010 - Developed by award-winning multicultural children’s book artist and author, Maya Gonzalez, Claiming Face curriculum aims to build equality in the classroom and a strong sense of self in the students. Statistics show that our African American and Latino populations live within circumstances that lead to the lowest rate of attaining higher education and economic advancement. Using creativity as a tool to know self, students interacting with the Claiming Face curriculum tip the balance back in their own favor by beginning first with strengthening their sense of self to endure and surmount the current situation. Then through continued involvement with the Claiming Face philosophy and self-portraiture projects develop the ability to expand their personal potential. Engaging in creativity is the most natural and immediate road into ourselves and holds the possibility to build more advanced styles of thinking and stronger self-esteem. Both of which lead students to excel in learning and becoming powerful members of our communities as they grow up and move out into the world. Maya says of the curriculum, "The confidence to explore as well as know and empower self is what’s important for the students. Students will find their own true way of expression and knowing which will serve them in life more than knowing how to draw an accurate perspective or realistic portraiture."
Developed over a lifetime of personal experience growing up as a child of color and 15 years going into classrooms and universities, the Claiming Face curriculum for the first time is assembled into a comprehensive and transformative guide for educators to implement in their lives and classrooms. CLAIMING FACE: Self-Empowerment through Self-Portraiture, An Educator’s Guide to Building the Powerful Link Between Creativity and a Sense of Self includes everything one needs to begin implementing this valuable work in the classroom. From an extensive discussion of the philosophy, information about art materials and how to use Maya’s children’s books alongside the curriculum, to the 26 self-portraiture projects to use throughout the year, Maya guides educators to personally embody the curriculum making it all the more powerful when they share it with their students.
“I believe through my own experience and what I have witnessed in others that the stronger we feel in ourselves, the stronger we are in every aspect of our lives. When we have a strong sense of self it helps us to learn, make personally supportive choices, respect ourselves and those around us, and care about our lives and ultimately our world. Claiming Face and claiming creativity will resource us as a people to create a world in which we are made stronger through genuine reflection, through knowing that we all belong here now, and through understanding our creative potential,” explains Maya. After a year of working with the Claiming Face curriculum one 3rd grader summed it up simply, “[Maya] made me believe in art!”
Claiming Face: Self-Empowerment through Self-Portraiture, the Educator’s Guide is available from Reflection Press, for $39.95 plus $5 shipping/handling.
Reflection Press was founded in 2009 with the mission to empower people to fully claim themselves and their inherent creative force. Definitely not your typical book press, they venture beyond the bounds of publishing and provide workshops, presentations, lectures, and materials that engage the creative force as a tool for self-empowerment.
| Book Statistics: | |
| Title: | Claiming Face: Self-Empowerment through Self-Portraiture |
| Subtitle: | An Educator's Guide to Building the Powerful Link Between Creativty and A Sense of Self |
| Author: | Maya Christina Gonzalez |
| ISBN: | 9780984379903 |
| Category: | Curriculum/Personal Growth/Creativity/Education |
| Length: | 236 pages |
| Retail Price: | $39.95 |
| Format: | Paperback; B&W Interior; 11"(L) x 8.25"(W) x .5"(D) |
| Illustrations: | 140+; line art, diagrams, photographs |
| Additions: | Glossary, Resource section organized by topic, Easy Reference "Cheat Sheet"-summarizes main points, Handouts for Classroom |
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Claiming Face: The Educator's Guide is now available. Written by Maya Gonzalez, this is the first from our Claiming Face series and is specifically geared to educators to assist in bringing the Claiming Face philosophy and practice into the classrooom. Read more>>
Would you like to have Maya teach the lessons of Claiming Face at your school or conference? Please visit our Offerings page for more information about the types of presentations she offers and to schedule.
Reflection Press | San Francisco, CA | info@reflectionpress.com | 
