Sonya Bernard-Hollins once produced a coloring book about prominent Black graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools, among them former Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. Now shes at it againthis time shes created a coloring book of firsts of Kalamazoo African-American women and a similar coloring book of firsts about local African-American men. And shes involved her all-girls Merze Tate Explorers travel and community-service group in the project.<\/p>\n
WMUK's Earlene McMichael talks with Sonya Bernard-Hollins (aired 2\/16\/21) Scroll down for a longer version<\/p>\n
We use our organization to not only teach girls about history but to allow them to teach their next generation as well, Bernard-Hollins says in an interview that aired today on WMUK 102.1 FM, as a part of a monthlong series featuring local citizens making a difference. The girls have made mini-documentaries about the women in her new \"Your Turn!\" coloring book series.<\/p>\n
Bernard-Hollins, a Kalamazoo native, and her graphic-designer husband, Sean, own Season Press Publishing. They both earned Community Arts Awards from the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo in 2020. Sean won the Business Arts Award; Sonya won the Gayle Hoogstraten Arts Leadership Award for Arts Education.<\/p>\n
Sonya Bernard-Hollins graduated in 1993 from Western Michigan University with a degree in English and journalism. She named her Merze Tate Explorers travel club after a fellow alumna, Merze Tate, who, in 1927, became the first African-American to earn a bachelors degree from WMU. The group's members, who are in fourth through 12th grades, are exposed to careers and the world through traveling, meeting trailblazing women and doing multi-media projects.<\/p>\n
Tate spoke five languages. She was a world traveler and high-school and college educator in history. Tate would expand her students world view by taking them on trips. Bernard-Hollins has authored a children's book about this accomplished woman. She also developed a traveling exhibit about Tate. It debuted at the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 2011.<\/p>\n
Bernard-Hollins founded the Merze Tate Explorers in 2008. Her girls have visited France, Japan, Canada, Italy, Hawaii and many other places. Every year, they publish a magazine detailing their journeys and interviews with high-profile career women. They also chronicle their projects on their YouTube channel.<\/p>\n
For more about Merze Tate, check out this just released WMU News Service article. For more about Sonya Bernard-Hollins, watch an interview with her at 7 pm Friday, Feb. 26 on the city of Portage's website.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Showing Girls the World With Travel, Service & Media - WMUK<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sonya Bernard-Hollins once produced a coloring book about prominent Black graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools, among them former Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. Now shes at it againthis time shes created a coloring book of firsts of Kalamazoo African-American women and a similar coloring book of firsts about local African-American men. Continue reading