1998-present Birthplace: Los Angeles, California National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States Poet Activist Author Model. Amanda Gorman was raised by a single school teacher mother, along with a twin sister and older brother. She was diagnosed with an auditory processing disorder and a speech impediment in kindergarten. She struggled with pronouncing “R” sounds which caused problems into her early adult years. Poetry recitals helped her overcome her impediment. Gorman u

1982-present Birthplace: Kansas City, Missouri First African American principal dancer with American Ballet New York Times Bestselling Author As a child facing financial instability, sometimes living in a hotel room as one of six children her single mom worked many jobs to just feed them. At age 13 Copeland and her siblings visited a Boys and Girls Club where ballet teacher Cindy Bradley discovered her and encouraged her to pursue formal ballet training. Very shy and reserved

1913-2005 Birthplace: Tuskegee, Alabama Civil Right icon Presidential Medal Of Freedom Award Author Rosa Parks was home schooled by her mother until the age of 11. She had to leave secondary school to care for her ailing grandmother. At the encouragement of her husband, she finished her high school classes and achieved her diploma in 1933. She became active in defending The Scottsboro Boys , a group of Black men who had been falsely accused of raping two white women in 1931.

February is almost here and to honor Black History Month 2023, I will feature eight of "The Women" that bear witness to the accomplishments we specifically celebrate this month. February has been recognized by every president since 1976 as Black History Month. You will learn more about Katherine Johnson, Misty Copeland, Harriet Tubman, Ruby Bridges, Rosa Parks, Kamala Harris, Amanda Gorman and Stacey Abrams. My goal is to share why I chose to create felted replicas of these