This month Disney’s “Peter Pan,” will join the Walt Disney Signature Collection, when it releases on Digital and Movies Anywhere on May 29 a...

This month Disney’s “Peter Pan,” will join the Walt Disney Signature Collection, when it releases on Digital and Movies Anywhere on May 29 and on Blu-ray June 5. With a little faith, trust and pixie dust, families can let their imagination soar on this epic adventure to Never Land.

Speaking of pixie dust, one of my favorite “Peter Pan” characters is Tinkerbell! So when I was invited to interview Mindy Johnson, author and historian of “Tinker Bell—An Evolution”, I was ready to learn all the behind the scene pixie stuff! That little spark of light and sound brought so such fun to the story.

For those of you who don't know Mindy, here's some background info.

Award-winning author, historian, educator, musician, and preeminent expert on women in early animation, Mindy Johnson’s latest groundbreaking book Ink & Paint – The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation, (Disney Editions) redefines our collective history. This essential volume casts a light on the thousands of unsung female artists behind the creative and technical advances within the animation art forms of the Twentieth Century.

Mindy’s critically acclaimed book, Tinker Bell – An Evolution (Disney Editions) was honored with rare consecutive Family Choice Awards.

Now onto my interview with Mindy about Tinkerbell!

Mindy, as a historian and author, talk about the research you did for Tinkerbell

Mindy Johnson: That was quite an adventure. When I was first diving into it, I met with some of the researchers at the Animation Research Library. They said "we have a binder that has a lot of fairies. We're not quite sure, but we think their Tinkerbells"

That was mystery enough for me. I was fascinated. I've always loved the Tinkerbell character anyway. But to see these different versions, that were so far from what we know and love as Tinkerbell, was fascinating to me. So that spanned a 7 year odyssey of literally going through JM Barrie papers and connecting the dots on this character and how she developed.

The different explorations being done for her was roughly a 15 year time-span that Walt Disney was experimenting. Her hair style changed, along with the prevailing fashions of the day. But going back even to J.M. Barrie development of the character, her original name was Tippytoe. How she was formed in the play as a little flash of light, was one of the challenges that Walt Disney and his artist were exploring in embodying her for the first time. So it was a fascinating journey.

There's been many changes to Tinkerbell over the years, do you keep up or is your version of Tinkerbell separate?

Mindy Johnson: That's an interesting question. I'm always fascinated with how we interpret this character. Because she embodies so much. She's the instigator in the original play. And her role shifts a little bit in the books. But she's a constant presence. It's been great fun to see how the story of Peter Pan and Neverland and the many wonderful characters are a terrific platform to work within to find the before stories and all these other side off shoot stories.

I love seeing how she has expanded a little bit. She can be portrayed a little bit more modern or as J.M. Barrie's original envision of her.

If you could give Tinkerbell a power now in 2018, what power would you give her?

Mindy Johnson: I think she does in many ways *wink* and unify many people. Maybe a wee bit more of that. She teaches us to laugh at ourselves at times. She gets over dramatic with a lot of things but then can quickly turn on a dime with her emotions.

J.M. Barrie stated that she's so tiny she's only capable of one emotion at a time. Walt and the artist of Disney sorta took that idea and tried to find ways to convey her as a pantomime character. So Mark Davis and the various models that he had to work with, including Cathy, helped him to shape and define her.

He designed her to be a little girl from the waist up but a woman from the waist down. So she embodies quite a bit for being so tiny. I think for today's superpowers, I think she's already got what she needs.

Do you think Tinkerbell as a female character, has a relevance for females today?

Mindy Johnson: Absolutely. Like I said, she was a real instigator for the original films and play. But I think she spoke her mind and was tough. As tiny as she was, she could be right in the mix of the lost boys and pirates.

From the generations of reactions I've seen from readers and audiences, I think that's the reason why both men and women embrace and love her. Which is why you see her carried out through the parks and early television. I think that still hold true today.

I so agree. Tinkerbell is still greatly adored by many, who will enjoy watching her in The Walt Disney Signature Collection edition of “Peter Pan”.

Celebrate the 65th Anniversary of Walt Disney Animation's Peter Pan, available on Digital, Movies Anywhere and Blu-ray. Joining the Walt Disney Signature Collection, relive the animated classic with more than two hours of bonus features and new never-before-seen extras.

To learn more, visit - www.movies.disney.com/Peter-Pan

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PeterPan
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TinkerBell
Instagram: www.instagram.com/DisneyAnimation

Knowing how to swim is one of life's important skills. Especially for the African American community. We're drowning out there! And ...

Knowing how to swim is one of life's important skills. Especially for the African American community. We're drowning out there! And why? African American children cannot swim. Which leads to adult who can't swim. Again why?

A few years back, I wrote an article for BabyCenter titled "Why more African American kids need to learn how to swim". In that article I explored some of the excuses and legit reasons why black families aren't swimming.

Note: I received a free YMCA NYC class for the purpose of this review. However, any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.

I'd hope in the following years things would have changed. It literally hurts me to see they have not.

According to the CDC, drowning remains the leading cause of death for children 1 to 4 years old and the second leading cause of death for children 5 to 14.

According to a 2017 study from the USA Swimming Foundation, 64 percent of African American children cannot swim, compared to 45 percent of Hispanic children and 40 percent of Caucasian children. Additionally, 79 percent of children in families with household income less than $50,000 have no or low swimming ability.

Again why, why why?! I'm sure some will still argue finances or accessibility. But there are free and low cost options for families to learn how to swim. So I think it's more about motivation. You have to want to swim. You have to understand that knowing how to swim can save a life.

I *want* to save a life. I want to save my son's life and I want to save my own. Heck, I'll save yours also if I can. But to do ANY of that I have to know how to SWIM.


I confess, I didn't fully learn how to swim as a child. So I had to start all over as an adult. Was it embarrassing? Yes it was. But I soon over came that embarrassment because I had a goal. Save lives and set an example.

To help me reach that goal, The YMCANYC provided complimentary swim classes with a coach. One for me and one for my son.


My swim session took a bit to get started because I had to get use to being *in* the water. I was nervous. I had to let go and learn how to use my body to move while surrounded by...water. I feels hardier and scarier then it sounds.


But my coach was very understanding. She talked me through it. Let me take some time. Then when I was ready to let go, she encouraged me. And I started to learn how to swim. And it felt great! I was SO excited and proud!

But I wasn't the only one. My son was also proud of me. And beyond excited to see me in the water. He even joined me for a bit before it was time for his one on one session. It was nice to be in the water with him.


To say that his session when much smoother then mine is an understatement. HA! My son was eager to get into the pool and learn all the swim things. He learned how to breathe, float, kick and move in the water. Unlike with me, the swim coach had no problem encouraging him.



As I watched my son, I reflected on my own swim lesson. I felt so good, I took the first step to learn how to swim. It wasn't something "I can't do" hanging over me anymore. I can do it. Heck, I just started doing and can continue from there.

It's a great feeling and I hope more families, especially black ones, see the need and take steps to learn. There are resources to help and support your "learn to swim" goals!


The New York City’s YMCA wants families (and individuals) to enjoy their time in the water this summer! And with drowning being the leading cause of death for children, particularly with the minority population, the YMCA wants to ensure both children and adults have the skills and confidence to know how to swim – while also being safe!

For over 100 years, the YMCA has been providing high-quality swim instruction to children and families to prevent drowning and build a love of the sport. In 2017 alone, New York City’s YMCA helped 31,000 people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds learn to swim and develop water safety skills.

In fact, more than half of our 2017 swimming participants were people of color. In addition, to ensure everyone can participate in our programs, the YMCA provides financial assistance to those in need to help cover the costs.

To increase accessibility and enhance instruction, New York City’s YMCA joined Ys across the country to update its swim lessons in January 2018. The enhanced program accommodates varying abilities to build confidence as swimmer’s progress between levels.

“Teaching children to swim and be safe around water is one of the most important life skills parents can offer their children,” said Joann Donnelly, Vice President of Healthy Living for New York City’s YMCA. “New York City’s YMCA is a proud partner for thousands of families to build strong swimmers and confident kids.”

The YMCA of the USA introduced the concept of group swim lessons in 1909. Now, each year in more than 2,000 pools across the country, the Y teaches more than a million children from all backgrounds invaluable water safety and swim skills.

To learn more about New York City’s YMCA swim lessons and water safety classes, visit www.ymcanyc.org/swim

After several weeks in their classrooms studying American history, more than 15,000 NYC area high school students had the opportunity to exp...

After several weeks in their classrooms studying American history, more than 15,000 NYC area high school students had the opportunity to experience the musical HAMILTON, through a special integrated curriculum about Alexander Hamilton and the nation’s Founding Fathers, during an all-student matinee performance at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.

HAMILTON producer Jeffrey Seller – who devised the education program in New York in tandem with HAMILTON creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, The Rockefeller Foundation, the NYC Department of Education and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History – said upon it’s inception,

“Today, one of our greatest dreams for HAMILTON came true – sharing this musical with 1,300 high school students whose participation in the study program and reactions to the performance were unlike anything we’ve experienced before. We look forward to building on this educational program all over America.”

In addition to seeing a performance of HAMILTON, students participated in a Q&A with members of the HAMILTON cast.


The students also performed an original work they created based on their classroom studies – songs, rap, poetry, scenes, monologues – on Broadway’s Richard Rodgers Theatre stage in front of their peers.

The Rockefeller Foundation provided an initial grant of $1.46 million that funded the educational partnership in New York City. After the resounding success of the partnership in New York, The Rockefeller Foundation committed an additional $6 million to the effort to support the national expansion of the program.

The HAMILTON Education Program underscores the Foundation's commitment to nurturing the vitality of American cultural institutions and the role of the arts as a catalyst for social change.

HAMILTON is the story of America's Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington's right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON is the story of America then, as told by America now.

With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, HAMILTON is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.

The musical is produced by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman and The Public Theater.

For information on HAMILTON, visit www.hamiltonmusical.com

Facebook - www.facebook.com/HamiltonMusical
Twitter - www.twitter.com/HamiltonMusical
Instagram - www.instagram.com/HamiltonMusical

When 'National Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day' aka 'Take Kids to Work Day' happened, I was excited to bring my son ...

When 'National Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day' aka 'Take Kids to Work Day' happened, I was excited to bring my son to work with me.

I planned to WOW him with my adult real job skills and inspire good work habits. But of course my plans didn't go as I hoped.

First, a change in my plans for the day meant I had to go somewhere else before going to work. Since it was an adult only thing, my son went to school.

I thought about getting him after my morning plans but, it would have made even more late for work. Being late to work is not a good "worker" example to set with my son sooooooo

I just went to work. Alone.

But after work I decided to take my son to an event I had to stop in that evening. Since it was a food focused event, I figured we could take pictures together, talk about blogging and still have a "work" moment.

Nope. My son grabbed a seat, then a donut, turned on his iPad and left me to do the "work" at the event.

So much for take MY kid to work this year.

Have you taken your kid to work with you?