"The iron in our blood was formed in stars, billions of years ago, trillions of miles away."- The Perot Museum of Natural Science


As human beings, we are not all acquainted with the same Earth. We do not all wake to the same walls of the same room or have the same two hands tuck us in at night. But when cut, we bleed. We all bleed. And although it sounds strange, we bleed stardust.

The iron that governs our red blood cells is composed of the same atoms that once burned in stars, meaning every human being can be traced back to the very same place. In today's world, it is incredibly easy to see the differences between us because we are so distracted by labels and media and stereotypes, but we must remember that we all need iron to live; what is essential to each of us is the same.

So in case you ever forget, we are here to guide you through the differences of our skin and into the samenesses beneath. We are here to remind you of the iron in our blood.

Send questions and comments to theironinourblood@gmail.com

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Putting The Arts First

Schools everywhere are making cuts to save money, all too often at the expense of the arts. Below is an excerpt from the website of an organization that believes "arts education is essential to children's academic and social success." Spreading its impact to three different continents, ASTEP continues to expand on its mission to teach kids to use creativity as a tool to improve their lives.

"ASTEP was conceived by Broadway Musical Director Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Juilliard students to transform the lives of youth using the most powerful tool they had—their art. Today, ASTEP connects performing and visual artists with underserved youth in the U.S. and around the world to awaken their imaginations, foster critical thinking, and help them break the cycle of poverty.

From improving reading comprehension to advancing creative thinking, from teaching problem solving to fostering collaboration, arts education brings about significant improvements in children’s educational and social development.


We collaborate with our partners to tailor each program to address the specific risks youth face in their communities, such as substance abuse, gender inequality, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, gang violence, and teen pregnancy."



More information at www.asteponline.org
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