Families of Color

• Resources Specific to Down syndrome
  • A Friend Like Anian a children’s book by author and mother Meeka Caldwell who, after noticing she couldn‛t find any children‛s books representing African Americans with Down Syndrome, wrote this book–the first in a series–based on her son
  • African American/Black People Who Have Children with Down Syndrome Facebook group for African American/Black people who have children with Down syndrome and parents/legal guardians of African American/Black children with Down syndrome
  • African American Conference on Disabilities annual conference that addresses the intersection between race and disabilities and examines avenues for self-advocacy to ensure the effective provision of services, resources, and enforcement of civil rights in the African American and disability communities
  • Black Down Syndrome Association connecting Black families in the Down Syndrome community with resources to improve their lives in a more meaningful way by addressing the many inequalities present that increase barriers to access, support, and education 
  • Black Families Down Syndrome Network a subgroup of the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network for black/mixed families expecting or raising a black/mixed child with Down syndrome to connect with other families
  • The Colors of Down Syndrome Facebook group for parents and caregivers of racially/ethnically diverse individuals with Down syndrome
  • DSDN Asian Families Facebook group for Asian/mixed families expecting or raising an Asian/mixed child with Down syndrome to connect to other families
  • Rockin’ Moms en Español – DSDN Facebook group for Spanish-speaking moms of children with Down syndrome
    
  • Sankofa UC Davis support group to meet the unique needs of parents of Black children with autism and other developmental disabilities
  • Yo Soy Yo a children’s book by author and DSAWM mom Katelyn Herrygers about embracing who you are, translated into Spanish with the support of DSAWM’s Spanish-speaking community

  Additional resources for Spanish-speaking families (Recursos del web y lectura recomendada para familias españolas y latinas)

• Local Resources Specific to Families of Color
  • BL²END Business Leaders Linked to Encourage New Directions provides the means to empower African Americans and other minorities to achieve economic self-reliance, parity and civil rights
  • CAIR-MI (Council on American-Islamic Relations) advocates for a better understanding of Islam in Michigan by building bridges of understanding and respect
  • Grand Rapids African American Health Institute seeks to ensure that all people have optimal health care and benefit from health systems without race being an impediment
  • Hispanic Center of West Michigan provides unmet social services to the Hispanic Community in Greater West Michigan
  • Latin Americans United for Progress empowers Latinos to participate in creating a better community for all
  • Urban Core Collective uplifts historically marginalized communities to a place of greater self sufficiency by unifying communities of color in order to reduce the effects of systemic racism
  • Urban League of West Michigan provides the means to empower African Americans and other minorities to achieve economic self-reliance, parity and civil rights
  • West Michigan Asian American Association seeks to build a collaborative, active, and committed Asian American community in West Michigan with a focus on healthcare, education, and civic engagement

  Hello West Michigan maintains a directory of local multicultural organizations, listed by city/county. West Michigan residents are also encouraged to visit the ExperienceGR website to learn more about the history of diversity in Grand Rapids.